Like Father, Like Son

Like Father, Like Son June 26, 2015

Psalm 101 begins as praise to the Lord (v. 1), but it quickly becomes a description of David’s reign as king. He thinks of his royal house, and his rule, as a replica of Yahweh’s palace and His rule.

One must be pure to enter the courts of Yahweh, and David walks in purity of heart within his house (v. 3) and requires purity in walk of his servants (v. 10).

David dismisses evil counsel from before his eyes (v. 4) and he won’t endure haughty eyes (v. 8) or those who utter falsehood (v. 12), but his ruling eyes range over the faithful in the land (v. 9). Yahweh too has eyes ranging to and fro over the earth, watching to support those who trust Him and to flame out against His enemies. And his house is filled with cherubim who are themselves full of eyes. David watches his house and his land as Yahweh watches the temple of His land.

Psalm 101 can be fruitfully compared with Psalms of entrance like Psalm 15 and 24: Who can ascend the hill of the Lord? Who can appear in His holy place? Psalm 101 poses an analogous question: Who can ascend to the city of David? Who can appear in the palace?

David is a son of Yahweh, the embodiment of Israel. Naturally, his rule mimics the rule of his father: Like Father, like son.


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