Devotion to God (vv. 1-2). The king of Israel was God’s representative on earth and was expected to rule the way God commanded (Deut. 17:14-20; and see 2 Kings 23:1-3). The emphasis here is on the heart, for the heart of leadership is the leader’s devotion to the Lord. This devotion results in a life lived blamelessly to the glory of the Lord. David was determined to be that kind of leader, and he opened the psalm with “I will” and repeated this promise eight more times. He made it clear that there must be no separation between the leader’s personal life and his or her official life, the private and the public. David wanted his reign to be characterized by lovingkindness (mercy) and justice, for this is the way God rules the world (89:14; Isa. 16:5).

“Blameless” does not mean “sinless,” for David was a sinner like the rest of us. However, unlike David, we have not seen the account of our sins written down for all the world to read! “Blameless” is another word for integrity, cultivating wholeness of heart and singleness of mind, instead of a double heart and a double mind (15:2; 18:23, 25; 26:1, 11; 78:70-72; 86:11; Gen. 6:9; 17:1). Believers today should have integrity whether we are leaders or not (119:1; Matt. 5:8; Eph. 1:4; Phil. 1:10; 2:15). Faith is living without scheming, and the way of faith is “the blameless way” (v. 2 nasb). David vowed to live a godly life in his “house” (palace) and have an administration characterized by mercy, justice, and integrity.