Psalm 26

[Al Moak]

Psalm 26

This is another song of preparation – but this time it's preparation needed before entering God's holy house and coming before God's very Presence.  It ought to be obvious that such Preparation must begin with a consideration of the wondrous grace of God that absolutely must already have been experienced in the life of the worshipper.

The rest of the song continues to be about self examination, and it's sung to a God Who, after all, sees all that's in the heart.  It's not a boastful song, even though it seems to declare the singer's entire innocence, but it's a song about the general direction and foundation of a life that's been redeemed, a life that's  innocent before the Lord because, by God's grace and Spirit, every moment of it is lived in dependence upon Him.  It's a life committed to and resting on the Lord.

So this is a song about redeemed lives.  The worshipper isn't merely boasting when he sings, "I shall not slip," because he knows he can't trust in his own strength, but in that of the Lord.  Because of such trust he can confidently say to a Lord Who, after all, perfectly knows him, "Examine me, O Lord, and prove me; try my mind and my heart."  He's confident because it's God's own work that has kept him.  So he says, "Your lovingkindness is before my eyes, and I have walked in Your truth."

By the grace and mercy of God alone, the whole direction of the psalmist's life has been to live as one of God's own covenant people.  He sings, "I have not sat with idolatrous mortals, nor will I go in with hypocrites - I have hated the assembly of evildoers, and will not sit with the wicked."

In other words, after careful and prayerful self examination, he's become aware - not that he is sinless - but that God has indeed kept him, that he is indeed still a committed member of the covenant assembly.  So he can joyfully sing, "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!"  

It's a joyful thing for any of us to know we're in God's favor!  The psalmist knew he really needed first to seriously think about his life.  But now that he's done that and now that he's seen God's keeping grace and power, he's overjoyed, because he can confidently say, "Lord, I have loved the habitation of Your house, and the place where Your glory dwells!"

He wants it always to be this way; he wants always to be kept from falling. He prays, "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."  Instead, the psalmist - and hopefully those he's leading in worship as well - purpose to remain right where they are at this moment.  They sing, "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 congregation I will bless the Lord."

What about you?  David wrote this song while doing his own self examination, but he also wrote it so that people coming to the temple in the morning might prepare their hearts as well.  Are you ready to come before the Lord? Of course you know you've failed often.  You've sinned times without number.  But you've always come back, always repented, always trusted Jesus Christ to keep you and to intercede for you.  And He's done it.  You, therefore, CAN come into His presence!  You CAN worship Him!

[Marilyn]

What about you?  David wrote this song while doing his own self examination, but he also wrote it so that people coming to the temple in the morning could prepare their own hearts.  Are you ready to come before the Lord? You've failed often.  You've sinned times without number.  But you've always come back, always repented, always trusted Jesus Christ to keep you and to intercede for you.  And He's done it.  You, therefore, CAN come into His presence!  You CAN worship Him!

How ironic that you should ask this question, becausze that is exactly what I was doing as I read this Psalm. Thank you Jesus.[/b]

[Al Moak]

How wonderful it is to be able to tell our Lord that we have depended upon Him and that He has honored that dependence!