Psalm 101

When David became king, first in Hebron and then at Jerusalem, he inherited a divided land and a discouraged people whose spiritual life was at low ebb. Asaph described the situation in 78:56-72 and named David as God’s answer to Israel’s problems. Everything rises and falls with leadership, but many of King Saul’s officers were fawning, flattering “toadies” who were unable to work with a man like David. Once David was established on the throne in Jerusalem, he had a consuming desire to bring the ark of God back to the sanctuary so that God’s throne might be near his throne. His question in verse 2 (nkjv), “When will You come to me?” reflects this desire. The ark had been in the house of Abinidab for many years (1 Sam. 6:1–7:2) and then in the house of Obed-Edom after David’s aborted attempt to relocate it (2 Sam. 6:1-11). This psalm of dedication was probably written early in his reign in Jerusalem. We could accurately call this psalm “Leadership 101” because in it David spells out the essentials for successful leadership in the work of God.