how do I commit to wise living?

One thing I do...
is admire a man of his word.

I mean, it's one thing
to set a goal for yourself
and reach it.
But when someone boldly proclaims
the character they want to establish,
and then lives it out in front of others
​that is special!

Listen to what David says...
I will sing of mercy and justice;
To You, O Lord, I will sing praises.
I will behave wisely in a perfect way.
Oh, when will You come to me?
I will walk within my house with a perfect heart.
I will set nothing wicked before my eyes;
I hate the work of those who fall away;
It shall not cling to me.
A perverse heart shall depart from me;
I will not know wickedness.
Whoever secretly slanders his neighbor,
Him I will destroy;
The one who has a haughty look and a proud heart,
Him I will not endure.
My eyes shall be on the faithful of the land,
That they may dwell with me;
He who walks in a perfect way,
He shall serve me.
He who works deceit shall not dwell within my house;
He who tells lies shall not continue in my presence.
Early I will destroy all the wicked of the land,
That I may cut off all the evildoers from the city of the Lord.
Psalm 101

In this, one of his shorter Psalms,
David doesn't simply seek to live wisely.
Notice the he commits to do so.
I will behave wisely in a perfect way.

For him, it is an act of his will.
And he promises to fulfill this by...
setting nothing wicked
before his eyes.
He will not be a part of slander,
haughtiness, or pride.
He will not tolerate deceit nor lies.
But will seek only to be faithful and
walk in a perfect way.

So David has committed ALL of himself...
his eyes, ears, lips and his heart
​to walk in an upright way.
He seeks to behave wisely
in a perfect way.
David actually knows
that perfection is not achievable
by human effort.
But this word perfect actually means
to walk with all integrity and honor.

And look what others noticed of him...
So David went out
wherever Saul sent him,
and behaved wisely.
And Saul set him over the men of war,
and he was accepted in the sight
of all the people and also
in the sight of Saul’s servants.
1 Samuel 18:5

David, clearly a man of his word.
The character he sought to achieve
was seen not only by Saul,
but by all the people.
Not only that, but he was rewarded
with responsibility as a leader.

And David behaved wisely
in all his ways,
and the Lord was with him.
Therefore, when Saul saw
that he behaved very wisely,
he was afraid of him.
​1 Samuel 18:14-15

Soon David's wisdom
became too much for Saul,
and caused envy.

And eventually, even at war,
Israel's enemies,
the Philistine troops
noticed his cunning wisdom.

Then the princes of the Philistines
went out to war.
And so it was, whenever they went out,
that David behaved more wisely
than all the servants of Saul,
so that his name became highly esteemed.
1 Samuel 18:30

How awesome to have
the Lord on your side.
To be considered wise
by those who observe,
​not just your words,
but your behavior as well.

Word of God,
train me, today...
to be humble and still, listening for Your words of wisdom,
to keep my eyes from wicked and my mouth from slander and lies.

Lord,
I too, long to behave wisely
as David did.

I too, long for You
to be at my side.

Guide my thoughts,
words, and actions
that I might be observed
like David, wise in all my ways.