A Prayer for Divine Scrutiny and Redemption
Psalms 26
David walked in integrity, are you too?
#prayer
#integrity
#David
Published October 21st, 2017
Main point summary
Arc
Meditation
notes
Main point summary
Examine me, O Lord, for I have walked in Your truth. Redeem me and be merciful to me, so will I bless your Name in the congregation.
Arc
editing
OT
Psalms 26:1-12
nkjv
Vindicate me, O Lord ,
For I have walked in my integrity.
I have also trusted in the Lord ;
series
I shall not slip.
bilateral
Examine me, O Lord , and prove me;
Try my mind and my heart.
ideaexplanation
For Your lovingkindness is before my eyes,
And I have walked in Your truth.
inference
ground
I have not sat with idolatrous mortals,
Nor will I go in with hypocrites.
progression
I have hated the assembly of evildoers,
And will not sit with the wicked.
I will wash my hands in innocence;
So I will go about Your altar, O Lord ,
That I may proclaim with the voice of thanksgiving,
And tell of all Your wondrous works.
actionpurpose
Lord , I have loved the habitation of Your house,
And the place where Your glory dwells.
negativepositive
Do not gather my soul with sinners,
Nor my life with bloodthirsty men,
In whose hands is a sinister scheme,
And whose right hand is full of bribes.
But as for me, I will walk in my integrity;
Redeem me and be merciful to me.
My foot stands in an even place;
In the congregations I will bless the Lord .
discourse
Meditation
David could say that he walked in his integrity and has also trusted the Lord. This is the reason for why he will not slip but stand. He is open to the Lord and hides nothing. He looks to the Lord and His loving kindness. This is tremendous ground to walk with confidence. To walk in integrity does not mean that he never failed in what he was doing, or was never disappointed in what he did, but it means that whatever he is going to do, he'll do it in integrity, not with an idolatrous heart as the hypocrites, with wrong motives in claiming something they do not have in order to gain. David can walk in integrity because he looks to the lovingkindness of the Lord. That means that when he looks to the Lord, he is aware that the Lord supplies everything that is necessary and withholds anything that would be bad for him and the glory of God. This liberates him to abide by the truth. He doesn’t need to claim to be, know or do more than he actually does. David developed a proper hatred of evil. The fact that God created people in His image should lead us to hate evil action and yet love the person who does the action, just as the Lord Jesus perfectly displayed throughout His life on earth. That might mean to confront, rebuke, correct and encourage that person to walk righteously. If it is a Christian we may even point to Christ and what is true of us and show how their action is inconsistent with the truth about us because of Christ. Every Christian should be open to be approached and pointed to the truth, just as David was when Nathan came in the Name of the Lord. David knows his sins forgiven and rejoices in that fact. As a response, he has given his all to the Lord. He rejoices over all the wondrous works of the Lord. He might have thought of God’s mighty work with Israel, from slavery in Egypt to a Kingdom in which he is privileged to be King. He also could have thought about the promise of the coming of the suffering and reigning Savior. The hope of glory was surely before him when he gave thanks and blessed the name of the Lord.
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