Psalm 26
A Psalm of David.
This Psalm bears some resemblance to 25 but is more gentle in its tone. The core of the petition seems to be vs. 9,10, “Gather not my soul with sinners.” Noticeably absent are the common acknowledgments of failure that he just confessed in the previous Psalm. We know that David did not think himself perfect but at the same time he was a godly man who consistently lived in obedience.
Sometimes, and we who believe often experience this, there comes to be a sort of a disconnect with sins that originally went without discipline and an assumption that they will not be visited during times of consistent obedience. Also during such times we forget that discipline is sometimes purely instructive and not chastisement at all.
There seems to be the naivete of the young believer in this passages although we are subject to such confusion whatever our state of development. I can imagine Paul praying such a prayer at times when
he sat in prison for doing nothing more than being faithful.
1 Judge me, O LORD; for I have walked in mine integrity: I have trusted also in the LORD; therefore I shall not slide. 2 Examine me, O LORD, and prove me; try my reins and my heart.
David seems to have been calling for the Lord to come and unfold to him any sin or failure that might be invisible to him. It is truly a dangerous thing to think one’s self to be faithful to God when he is actually in sin and unaware of it.
The only truly faithful test is to submit one’s self consciously and deliberately before He Who sees all and allow His faithful testimony to be the measure of our condition rather than our own evaluation. This
sort of prayer can be a petition for the wisdom which James placed before us as a thing to be sought from God.
James 1:5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
You will notice also that David’s confession is his trust in the Lord, his faith, his confidence in Him, which he places as his hope that he will not ‘slide.’
Next, he began his own spiritual inventory of how things seemed to be to him. No doubt there was a hope that God’s judgment would agree, but it is also the basis of his subtle confusion as to why he is seemingly in danger.
3 For thy lovingkindness is before mine eyes: and I have walked in thy truth. 4 I have not sat with vain persons, neither will I go in with dissemblers. 5 I have hated the congregation of evil doers; and will not sit with the wicked.
He seems to be saying that he has put his own theology into practical application (Psalm 1) and has taken his own admonition to heart, always a wise thing for those who would teach God’s Word to others.
The next three verses call to mind the public acts of worship before the Lord and the reminder that in the doing of them there must be an inward purity as well as an outward cleanliness. Coming before the Lord with a pure heart, with actual thanksgiving (not merely formal), a commitment to speak of the ‘wonderful works’ of God and with a real love for the place where God’s saints gather to worship are the core elements of worship whether it is done in private or corporately.
6 I will wash mine hands in innocency: so will I compass thine altar, O LORD: 7 That I may publish with the voice of thanksgiving, and tell of all thy wondrous works. 8 LORD, I have loved the habitation of thy house, and the place where thine honour dwelleth.
And, so, the cause of his petition. Remember that he began with a request for God to examine him. Even though it seems that he is faithful he does not want to be guilty of hidden sins. Two things might be considered here: (1) he does not want to be chastised for sins he might correct with repentance, or (2) he does not want to be one of those hypocritical religious professors who is blind to his own sin and, therefore, as wicked as a murderer before the All Seeing Eye of God.
Jesus, if you recall, put the accusation of murder before the Pharisees in Matt. 22:7 as well as other places even though they were scrupulously religious. David may have been seeking to make sure that he was not such a religious fraud.
9 Gather not my soul with sinners, nor my life with bloody men: 10 In whose hands is mischief, and their right hand is full of bribes.
However, in spite of what may have been some serious self-doubt, David made the wise decision as to how he would conduct himself while God’s examination went forward.
11 But as for me, I will walk in mine integrity: redeem me, and be merciful unto me. 12 My foot standeth in an even place: in the congregations will I bless the LORD.
Without conscious knowledge of sin and until God revealed something to him he needed to correct David determined to go forward in holiness and depend upon God to reveal any error in him.
It is wise not to make such decisions as “corrections” to life based on a feeling of unease in one’s standing before God. Better to do as the Psalmist and commit uncertainties to Him and await His answer to our prayer.
— May 10, 2020