Singing of Love and Justice

I will sing of your love and justice; to you,

 Lord, I will sing praise.

Psalm 101:1 

King David opens Psalm 101 not with a cry for help or a complaint, but with a song—an intentional act of praise focused on God’s steadfast love (chesed) and justice (mishpat). These qualities are not in tension but in perfect harmony within the nature of God. Love without justice becomes weak and permissive; justice without love becomes harsh and oppressive. In God, they meet and shine together. Alexander Maclaren notes that David’s resolve to sing of both reveals a heart in tune with heaven’s rhythm: “To unite these in our praise and in our practice is to catch the key of heaven’s music.”

This psalm also reads like a personal code of conduct, a vision for ethical leadership grounded in worship. David’s commitment to integrity is both public and private: “I will be careful to lead a blameless life… I will conduct the affairs of my house with a blameless heart” (v.2). Worship is not limited to the sanctuary—it must transform our households, habits, and hearts. Patrick D. Miller reminds us that “justice and righteousness are not just divine characteristics; they are the very framework of how God governs the world and how humans are meant to reflect His image.” David’s worship forms the foundation of how he intends to rule—as a servant shaped by God’s own character.

Walter Brueggemann often emphasizes how Israel’s worship shaped its communal identity and moral compass. In Psalm 101, the act of praise becomes a declaration of values: truth, humility, mercy, and discernment. The song becomes the soil in which moral courage grows. Singing of God’s character is not merely a poetic exercise—it reshapes us. It reorders our desires, aligns our will with God’s justice, and forms a people who reflect His kingdom on earth. Eugene Peterson captures this beautifully: “My theme song is God’s love and justice, and I’m singing it right to you, God. I’m finding my way down the road of right living.” This is our calling too—to sing what we believe, and to live what we sing. May our lives become a melody of integrity, compassion, and truth.

Prayer

Lord, tune our hearts to sing of Your steadfast love and perfect justice. May our praise rise not only in worship but flow into every decision, every relationship, and every ordinary moment. Shape us by Your character, that we may walk in integrity and lead with mercy. Amen.