Psalm 26 A Psalm of David.
Verse 1 Judge me, O LORD; for I have walked in mine integrity: I have trusted also in the LORD; therefore I shall not slide.
The Hebrew word translated as “judge” is “shaphat” and it means to judge, govern, punish, or vindicate. Here King David is inviting the LORD (the existing One) to be his judge. He is able to do this because David is secure in his relationship with God and knows that his heart has been pure and righteous. He has nothing to hide. He has such a trust in the LORD that he feels he can not slide because his innocence, honesty, and strong moral principles based on the Law of God will sustain him. He is sure that the LORD can judge him and find no fault.
Application: All converted, Christian believers should occasionally ask the LORD to judge them and to show them anywhere in their earthly and/or spiritual lives that they may be lacking and in need of correction and improvement. It is easy to compare ourselves with others and think that we are very spiritual and righteous and yet there can be sin not recognized or actions that need to be corrected. Most of us struggle with the tongue and with what we may say to others. Most of us have things that are consuming more of our time than they should. There is always room for improvement, and if the LORD is consulted, He will let us know those things in our lives that need to be worked on and improved. It is a good thing to ask the LORD to judge us so that we can be more and more like Jesus Christ.
Verses 2-3 Examine me, O LORD, and prove me; try my reins and my heart. 3 For thy lovingkindness is before mine eyes: and I have walked in thy truth.
The Hebrew word translated as “examine” is “bachan” and it means to examine, to try, to scrutinize, to test, or to try. The Hebrew word translated as “prove” is “nacah” and it means to test, try, or prove. King David is sincerely asking to receive a ‘report card’ from the God who he serves. He is not afraid to have the LORD scrutinize his life and everything about it.
In days gone by people attributed certain characteristics and personality traits to inner organs. The Hebrew word translated as “reins” is “kilyah” and it means kidneys, the seat of emotion and affection metaphorically. The Hebrew word translated as “heart” is “leb” and it means inner man, mind, will understanding knowledge, and thinking. So King David is asking God to examine his soul (mind, will, and emotions). He can do so fearlessly because he know in his heart and mind that he has walked in God’s truth. He has the anointing from the LORD and therefore the presence of the Holy Spirit in his life directing his path.
Verses 4-5 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.
The Hebrew word translated as “sat” is “yashab” and it means to dwell, remain, sit, abide, or stay. The Hebrew word translated as “vain” is “shaw” and it means emptiness, vanity, falsehood, falsehood, or worthlessness. King David tells the LORD that he has not spent time in the presence of people who are worthless and false. Neither has he spent time with those who are not transparent but who conceal or hide things and do things in secret, the Hebrew word translated as “dissemblers” being “alam”. The Hebrew word translated as “congregation” is “qahal” and it means an assembly, a company or an organized body. So King David is indicating that these false and worthless people gather in large groups and that they are evil doers. He will not join them and participate in their wickedness.
Application: In today’s world is there anything that is not corrupted? Having thought about this question for some time, this writer has had to admit that there is nothing in this world that is not corrupted and fighting against the LORD Jesus Christ. All governments, all educational facilities, most religious systems, most medical systems, the judicial systems, corporate entities, and so forth are ripe with greed, fraud, lies, poor management practices, and have one thing in common: the love of money and ingenious methods to get it from the average man or woman. As Scripture says, “Shall the throne of iniquity have fellowship with thee, which frameth mischief by law?” Psalms 94:20 In other words, Christian believers have nothing in common with worldly systems and organizations which are corrupt and which pass laws to justify their evil and wicked actions, most of which are designed to gather and hoard wealth. Just like King David, Christians cannot ‘sit’ or join these people who are vain and who are dissemblers and who are evil and wicked. Christians are in the world but not of the world.
Verses 6-7 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.
In the sacrificial ritual of the Old Testament tabernacle religious system, the priests had to wash their hands before and after handling the sacrifices on the altar that was outside the Tabernacle and later outside of the Temple. And in order to enter the Tabernacle/Temple and perform their duties they had to wash their bodies and be clean before the LORD. This was all metaphor for having a clean heart before the LORD and being free from sin. Only those who are without sin can enter the Kingdom of God. So King David is saying that he will wash his hands, not because he has sin in his life, but because he is declaring his innocence of wrong doing and that he is able to access the altar of the LORD for the purpose of declaring the marvelous and extraordinary works of the LORD and for the purpose of declaring thankfulness to the LORD for His goodness and mercy.
Verses 8-10 LORD, I have loved the habitation of thy house, and the place where thine honour dwelleth. 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.
During the days of King David, the LORD’s presence was in the Tabernacle and it was considered the house of the LORD. Here David is saying that basically he loves being in Church or in the place where he felt the presence of the LORD. He wants to remain in the LORD’s presence and so he prays that God will keep him separate from sinners and bloody men. Remember that King David was Israel’s king of war during his reign as he was always battling the nations around Israel and securing the land promised to the Hebrew people by God. He knew what it was to shed blood and to kill others and he was familiar with other warriors who wanted to kill him and to shed the blood of the Hebrews who had taken over the land that once belonged to them. He knew politics and the evil that went on among men of high position who used bribes of money, of sex, and of influence to accomplish their goals of power and control. David knew that it was a small and slippery step to go from being righteous to being corrupted by the temptations coming from others who could offer him bribes and other things of the world that could be enticing. He was trusting the LORD to preserve his soul (mind, will, and emotions) and not let him fall into sin.
Verses 11-12 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. (Psalm 26)
King David ends this Psalm by declaring positively that he will remain true to the LORD and that he will conduct himself with integrity. He will bless and praise the LORD.