PSALM 26 written by David. He was probably being falsely accused. It could have been because of Saul’s persecution of him, Absalom’s rebellion, some political crisis, etc. Nothing can be determined for certain.
1 Vindicate me, Lord, for I have led a blameless life; I have trusted in the Lord and have not wavered.
2 Test me, Lord, and try me, examine my heart and my mind;
3 for I have always been mindful of your unfailing love and have lived in reliance on your faithfulness.
4 I do not sit with the deceitful, nor do I associate 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, Lord,
7 proclaiming aloud your praise and telling of all your wonderful deeds.
8 Lord, I love the house where you live, the place where your glory dwells.
9 Do not take away my soul along with sinners, my life with those who are bloodthirsty,
10 in whose hands are wicked schemes, whose right hands are full of bribes.
11 I lead a blameless life; deliver me and be merciful to me.
12 My feet stand on level ground; in the great congregation I will praise the Lord.
SECTIONS:
I Author’s integrity
1I Evidence to support his claim
III Plea for God’s mercy
THEME: petition for God’s mercy and protection
QUESTIONS
What has David always been mindful of about God?
Why do you think David asks God to test him and try him?
What reasons does David give for vindication from God?
Verse 3 different translations for verse 3:
New Living: For I am always aware of your unfailing love, and I have lived according to your truth.
Berean: For Your loving devotion is before my eyes, and I have walked in Your truth.
Christian Standard: For your faithful love guides me, and I live by your truth.
NIV – “For your love is ever before me, and I walk continually in your truth.
ADDITONAL VERSES:
Romans 12:19 ESV Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.”
Isaiah 35:4 Say to those who have an anxious heart, “Be strong; fear not! Behold, your God will come with vengeance, with the recompense of God. He will come and save you.”
If we have lived our lives for God, then our vindication is not about showing ourselves as righteous, but proving God to be true to His word. If we only want to be justified in people’s eyes, then that’s pride. We should want to be vindicated so that people will know that our faith in God is not in vain. Often we have self-centered attitudes and prayers desiring things in life to go the way we want. It’s one thing to destroy my reputation and slander my name. But it’s our greater concern when others slander God’s name.
David’s examination begins in his heart and the mind. Luke 6:45, “ The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks.” A sinful heart and mind will lead to sinful actions. David turns to God to check his heart and mind. We need the Lord to test our hearts.
David speaks of spiritual hypocrisy. How sad so many who claim to be Christians pursue ungodly activities. Hypocrisy is also tolerating evident sin in our lives and others. An example is engaging in gossiping, and slander. When we see other Christians not acting in a godly way, we shouldn’t follow their example. Follow Jesus’ example.
One of the greatest aspects of our worship is to praise God and be thankful for his great blessings. We must not take our blessings for granted. But even if all our physical blessings were stripped away, we would still have the love, guidance, and protection of God and a relationship with him. We should still be able to say “Blessed by the name of the Lord.” David also says he will tell about the wonderful works of the Lord. What has God done for you? When is the last time you recounted the wonderful deeds of the Lord to yourself and to others?
Do you like to be near God? Do you enjoy spiritual pursuits, prayer, reading God’s word? I love what David says in verse 8, “Lord, I love the house where You dwell, the place where your glory resides.” David is saying he loves to be around God. Do we realize that we can be as close to God as we want to be? If we feel distant from God, draw near to God and He will draw near to you (James 4:8). All the above taken from: westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com
enduring word.com
In the modern world we choose associations in our entertainment, and we often choose very poorly. We allow the wicked to amuse us, then to be our examples, our models, and our idols. David’s statement applies to these kind of contacts and associations. “Many Christians can trace a lost youth or fruitless middle years to the bad influence of evil persons, whom they looked up to and even envied at one time.” (Boice)
“Many people have a very strong desire to meet celebrated or ‘important’ people, including those whom they disapprove…. But I am inclined to think a Christian would be wise to avoid, where he decently can, any meeting with people who are bullies, or lascivious, cruel, dishonest, spiteful and so forth. Not because we are ‘too good’ for them. In a sense we are not good enough. We are not good enough to cope with all the temptations, nor clever enough to cope with all the problems, which an evening spent in such society produces.” (C.S. Lewis, cited in Boice)
MY REFLECTIONS
I love the story of how David defeated Goliath when no one else was brave enough to fight him. Goliath didn’t believe in the God of Israel and mocked him. But David never would stand for people mocking his God. Today in the world I see so much mocking of Jesus on TV and movies. People even swear using Jesus’ name. I once saw a movie about a man in the 1800’s who traveled in time to our present generation. He went to see a movie and heard people in it swearing by using Jesus name and saying things against God. This man ran screaming from the show shouting out to the people, “How could you allow this to happen!” Sadly, we have all allowed it to happen in our generation. When movies first began, there were censors who reviewed movies to be sure there was nothing unwholesome in them. How far we have fallen. Even some of our PG movies would have never been allowed to be shown in the 1940’s. But now it’s acceptable to make fun of Christians and call them intolerant, hateful and stupid for believing in God and what he says. Why don’t they see this as the very “hate speech” they rail against themselves? Our faith is being tested in the United States. But unfortunately in other countries Christians have experienced much worse. They’ve lost jobs (which we are starting to see) been tortured, thrown into prison and killed for standing up for Jesus.
At best, I try to share what Jesus has done in my life in conversation, and contribute to organizations to help spread the gospel, and I wear faith-based T shirts with Jesus name on it. It’s so pitifully little. I know standing up for Jesus is not about volunteering for organizations or giving money to the poor. Everyone does, whether you are a Christian or not. I know it’s somehow reflecting Christ living in me day by day. Sometimes I do a sad job of that. Jesus calls us to do things that are really hard. I’m to forgive everyone no matter how badly they have hurt me, just like he has forgiven me. And he’s called me to continue to forgive them no matter how many times they hurt me. He wants me to love my enemies who come against me and my faith, and pray for those who persecute me. He said in this way people will know I’m his disciple—by my love.
Yet we also all need to stand up more for God. Faith is being lost in this country. Not many people are willing to stand up for Jeus. We are afraid what people will think instead of what God thinks. We are afraid to stand up for our Christian values. One baker did stand up for those values and lost his business. This is happening all over our country. We blend in with culture, but we are not supposed to fit in with culture. We are called to be “peculiar” people because we are set apart for God. We are not citizens of this world. It’s not our home. It’s like visiting a foreign country with my husband. When we visit we don’t get involved in their culture or overly concerned with their government or politics because it’s not our home.
It’s so easy to get caught up in the divisiveness going on today. But God is faithful and he always helps me have a shift in my attitude when I start to adopt the culture’s way of thinking. It’s not about being filled with vindictiveness, blame and hate. It’s not focusing on the differences that divide us. It’s about forgiveness, love and seeing one thing we share in common is that we are all God’s creation (whether we know it or not). So my challenge is to try to love people no matter how different they think from me, how they may come against me, no matter they believe about in God or politics. The only thing that matters is the love I show, walking in God’s way and standing up for my God.
SONG: Trust and Obey