"Examine Me, O Lord"

Studying Psalm 26.

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When the Lord appeared to Solomon, He urged Solomon to “walk before Him” as his father David had walked – “in integrity of heart and in uprightness” (1 Kings 9:4).

“Integrity” means “whole-heartedness” or “sincerity.”

Psalm 26 is a psalm of David when He calls upon the Lord to examine if he truly has served God with a loyal, sincere, fully devoted heart. Some think David was facing false accusations at this time, and he turned to God with these false accusations, expressing his innocence.

This psalm ought to cause us to look within ourselves and consider our own life – are we loyal to God, serving Him with all sincerity?

“Examine Me, O LORD” (Psalm 26:1-2)

Vindicate me, O LORD, For I have walked in my integrity. I have also trusted in the LORD; I shall not slip. Examine me, O LORD, and prove me; Try my mind and my heart. 

David requests the LORD to carefully examine his case.

Those who have something to hide in their life – who have something they are unwilling to bring to the light (John 3:20-21) – are not so eager for a thorough examination by the Judge.

If we are failing to do something God’s word commands us to do, then God word will show us a picture of ourselves we would rather not see, and perhaps would rather forget (James 1:22-25).

David was by no means a sinless man – but he was faithful in that when God’s examination showed he was wrong, he repented and turned back (2 Samuel 11-12; Psalm 51).

“You’ll Find I’m Loyal to You” (Psalm 26:3-8)

For Your lovingkindness is before my eyes, And I have walked in Your truth. 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. 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. LORD, I have loved the habitation of Your house, And the place where Your glory dwells. 

The Reason for David’s Loyalty (26:3).

Knowing the LORD’s faithfulness to keep His promises, motivated David to be loyal to the LORD.

How do we encourage faithfulness among God’s people? How do we raise our children to love God? How do we keep our own hearts from growing hard and cold?

By remembering all that the LORD has lovingly and faithfully done (1 Timothy 1:12-17; 1 Peter 1:3-5; 1 John 3:1).

The Result of David’s Loyalty (26:4-8).

Avoids wicked companions (v. 4-5).

David is saying he doesn’t “run with the crowd” - including those who are either openly or not so openly rebellious against the LORD.

Joseph refused to commit fornication with Potiphar’s wife by saying, “How can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?” (Genesis 39:9).

Part of the result of both Joseph and David’s whole-hearted loyalty to God was they avoided “running with” a wicked crowd and doing what the wicked crowd was doing.

Embraces worshipping the LORD (v. 6-8).

David loved coming before the LORD in worship – he was “all about it” (Psalm 100:4-5).

David’s devotion to worshipping the LORD is the result of his loyalty to God – and his loyalty to the LORD was motivated by the LORD’s lovingkindness and faithfulness.

If we want to encourage Christians to live holy lives and to be devoted to gathering together to worship God – the reason for such loyalty to God is grounded in remembering what God has lovingly done for us.

“So Be Merciful to Me” (Psalm 26:9-11)

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. 

David’s Plea to Avoid Judgment with the Wicked (26:9-10).

As someone who “lived by faith,” he knew the promises of God regarding the judgment (Psalm 1).

This is a plea to God to, once again, be faithful to His promises, and not “sweep him up” along with the wicked and violent – who’s path David had carefully avoided in being loyal to the LORD.

Those who have been cleansed by the blood of Jesus trust in God’s promises to spare us from His “wrath” and judgment upon sin (Romans 1:18; 5:6-9).

David’s Request for the LORD’s Mercy (26:11).

“Redeem” goes back to the tenth plague in Egypt (Exodus 12:26-27; 13:8) and is connected to the idea of being dedicated to the Lord (Numbers 18:15). Those who were spared from the death of the firstborn were the ones who were “covered by the blood of the lamb” with the blood over the doorpost of the house (Exodus 12:21-23).

Paul referred to Jesus as “our Passover” (1 Corinthians 5:7).

God’s mercy is extended to those “covered by the blood” of Jesus, the Lamb of God offered in our place (2 Corinthians 5:21), who live by faith in Him.

David’s Conclusion (Psalm 26:12)

My foot stands in an even place; In the congregations I will bless the LORD.

We sing a song sometimes that includes the lyrics: “On Christ the solid Rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand.”

David knew he was standing on solid ground – can we say the same?