Read Psalm 26
Of David.
1 Vindicate me, Lord,
for I have led a blameless life;
I have trusted in the Lord
and have not faltered.
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.
Go Deeper
In Psalms 26 we see that David is writing from a time of trouble. Despite his present difficulties he clings to hope: “Your steadfast love is before my eyes and I walk in your faithfulness.”
In this passage, David models praying through his suffering. The posture of his heart is evident in verse 6 and 7 as he proclaims thankfulness and tells everyone of the Lord’s wondrous deeds. David discusses integrity and purity but what he displays is his trust in the Lord. David understands that the Lord will not immediately deliver us from trouble, but that God is working all things together for our good. He sees us through. He knows the other side. He delivers us from our enemies. David trusted that no matter his present circumstances, God’s hand was on him and that allowed him to walk in integrity, despite the danger to his life and the wickedness around him. He stood confidently on level ground because of his hope in Jesus.
This text, written thousands of years ago, is relevant and applicable today. Suffering is all around us. We are living through unprecedented times that have many people feeling like the ground beneath them is an earthquake. And yet still, God is on His throne. The enemy uses chaos and disorder to lie to us and convince us that there is nothing good about our current reality. He wants our story to end in disappointment, discontentment, and despair. But Jesus carried all of that on the cross. It’s as if He’s whispering to us, “I see you. I felt that. I carried the burden of sin and shame for you.”
Let’s take a moment to remind ourselves of this grace. Let us not grow numb to this truth. Let us combat the lies of the enemy with not our own doing, but with what Jesus did on the cross. We see how David is able to proclaim his thankfulness and share the work of the Lord to all who will listen. We serve a God who is consistent. Regardless of our circumstances, He is still using us. And our story doesn’t end in suffering.
Questions
- How do you tangibly see God’s steadfast love and faithfulness today?
- In what ways are you bitter toward your current circumstance? How can you surrender that to God?
- Do you believe your feet stand on level ground? What characteristics of God allow you to believe or live that out?
a quote
“Christianity teaches that, contra fatalism, suffering is overwhelming; contra Buddhism, suffering is real; contra karma, suffering is often unfair; but contra secularism, suffering is meaningful. There is a purpose to it, and if faced rightly, it can drive us like a nail deep into the love of God and into more stability and spiritual power than you can imagine.” -Tim Keller
4 responses to “Psalm 26”
3 for I have always been mindful of your unfailing love
“Unfailing”. What a beautiful word. Lord God, direct my day such that I will live in confidence of your unfailing love!
David had a heart for God. He often made mistakes (sins), but always turned back to God in repentance and stated a positive relationship with God. What would happen in our lives if we confessed the things God says about us on an every day basis such as: I am a son of God. I believe the accuracy of His Word. I have the peace of God. I stay my mind on God. By his stripes I was (not will be) healed. I am more than a conqueror. I am forgiven. I am redeemed. I have the ministry of reconciliation. I have the mind of Christ. I go to Him with all boldness. I cast out fear before me. I BELIEVE GOD!!!
BUT GOD
Who are you? Are you who God says you are? Are you who the world says you are? This is not something I have been good at. I am confessing that I am a woman after God’s own heart, but what about all the other negativity that comes out of my mouth or rolls around in my head? UGG!
When I first read this chapter I thought, Whoa David you sound egotistical, but as I researched and looked at more about this chapter I see that he is looking at himself through God’s eyes. I ask for love goggles often to see others as God sees them but do I look at myself in those same goggles?
God thank You for Your HESED love that is that amazing lovingkindness. God help me to see others through Your love goggles and speak the positives over them instead of the ugliness that is coming out of my mouth. God in the moments that I say what I am thinking, help me to stop in that minutes and pray because I KNOW that will change my thoughts. God hellp me to also see myself and confess who You say I am according to Your word. Thank You for today, these minutes of this day and my seeing myself and others as You see us, covered by the blood of Jesus, washed as white as snow, in Jesus name amen
WOOHOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
“Lord, I love the house where you live,
the place where your glory dwells” (v8).
Once you’ve experienced the incomparable glory of the Lord, nothing else will suffice. We were made to be in his presence and enjoy unbroken fellowship with him, nothing else will satisfy the deepest longings of our souls.