Week 16 Psalm 101
My main goal in reading-through is to read all 1189 chapters of the bible by the end of the year. That doesn’t mean my main goal is my only goal. Secondary goals are legitimate. And one secondary goal is the pretty personal one of ferreting-out guidelines that help me understand myself and live my life. [Obviously an easier way to understand myself and live my life would be to just absorb the standard 21st-century southern-Alberta cultural norms for self-understanding and life-living. But the one downside there is that I’d have to assume our contemporary Alberta standards are definitive.]
Anyway I was reading Psalm 101. I saw that David had listed about fifteen Intentionality Goals. A few of them sounded like guidelines for political rulers – not so interesting for me. But others sound like guidelines for anyone looking for pretty practical directions for self-understanding and life-living.
I will be careful to live a blameless life
I will lead a life of integrity in my own home
I will refuse to look at anything vile and vulgar
I will reject perverse ideas
I will not tolerate people who slander their neighbors
I will not endure conceit and pride
When I look at the list I don’t exactly feel giddy with excitement – even though I am looking for reliable pointers for living my life. But I don’t guess the writer was writing to promote my happy feelings. And maybe happy’s not a necessary requirement for life-living.
Note: quotes from Psalm 101:2-5 (NLT)