Thought for the day – Psalm 26

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Psalm 26

1 Of David.

Vindicate me, O LORD, for I have led a blameless life; I have trusted in the LORD without wavering. 2 Test me, O LORD, and try me, examine my heart and my mind; 3 for your love is ever before me, and I walk continually in your truth.

4 I do not sit with deceitful men, nor do I consort with hypocrites; 5 I abhor the assembly of evildoers and refuse to sit with the wicked.

6 I wash my hands in innocence, and go about your altar, O LORD, 7 proclaiming aloud your praise and telling of all your wonderful deeds. 8 I love the house where you live, O LORD, the place where your glory dwells.

9 Do not take away my soul along with sinners, my life with bloodthirsty men, 10 in whose hands are wicked schemes, whose right hands are full of bribes. 11 But I lead a blameless life; redeem me and be merciful to me. 12 My feet stand on level ground; in the great assembly I will praise the LORD.

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Psalm 26 – Transparent walk – holy life

(Verses 1-3) David is not boasting about his godly character but is transparently open before God. He asks God to test, try and examine him: this shows he is honest before God – who knows all about him. God can check if his claims are blameless, trusting and unwavering. He focuses on God’s love and truth and his continual walk in His truth. Do you walk so that you can tell God about it and not fear being ‘found out’ for being deceitful?

(Verses 4-5) Negatives in the Christian life are often offset by positives. There is a ‘Divine won’t’ as well as a ‘Divine will!’ David honours, trusts and walks with God. He rejects what may spoil his relationship with his Lord. So should we! He avoids deceit, hypocrisy, evildoing, and even sitting down to spend time with wicked men, unless he can help them repent. We live in a wicked world, too. We also meet with and, at times, work alongside ungodly men. But why emptily ‘invest’ free time in their pastimes and pursuits? (Psalm 1:1-2)

(Verses 6-8) Because David seeks first God’s kingdom and righteousness, he concentrates on spiritual activities that please his LORD, help others, and bless him. He seeks ‘clean hands’ morally and spiritually. He worships God at the altar. He proclaims God’s praise loudly. He tells of all God’s wonderful deeds. He loves to worship at ‘God’s house’, whether earlier at the tabernacle, or later at the temple. It speaks of God’s Old Testament presence: it reminds him of God’s glory.

Turn from your sins, thank Jesus Christ for dying as your substitute on the cross when He took, as your punishment, God’s holy wrath on sin, and trust fully in Him to forgive and save you. You will then have similar priorities to David. You will start a clean life, worship and praise God both alone and with others, help others to trust Christ to be forgiven and converted and Jesus will never leave you. Does paint your relationship with Jesus, now? It can!

(Verses 9-12) Unsurprisingly, David wants to avoid sinful associations, bloodthirsty men, and wicked schemes of men given to bribery. His blameless life – as already noted – flows from God’s saving mercy to this beloved and redeemed sinner. So, David is now on the firm, level ground of assurance. He will praise the LORD in the ‘great assembly’. He knows, and so will others, what a wonderful Saviour he has!