Psalms 26
Psalms 26:1-12 (NLT)
1 A psalm of David. Declare me innocent, O LORD, for I have acted with integrity; I have trusted in the LORD without wavering.
2 Put me on trial, LORD, and cross-examine me. Test my motives and my heart.
3 For I am always aware of your unfailing love, and I have lived according to your truth.
4 I do not spend time with liars or go along with hypocrites.
5 I hate the gatherings of those who do evil, and I refuse to join in with the wicked.
6 I wash my hands to declare my innocence. I come to your altar, O LORD,
7 singing a song of thanksgiving and telling of all your wonders.
8 I love your sanctuary, LORD, the place where your glorious presence dwells.
9 Don’t let me suffer the fate of sinners. Don’t condemn me along with murderers.
10 Their hands are dirty with evil schemes, and they constantly take bribes.
11 But I am not like that; I live with integrity. So redeem me and show me mercy.
12 Now I stand on solid ground, and I will publicly praise the LORD.
Confidence toward God is a necessity for any expected experience of His care and protection. David’s confidence was established by his diligent pursuit of God and how it determined his choice of actions. This was what was available to him, what he knew – a system of pleasing and gaining the favor of God based on merit and behavior. For David, the cry and the plea of his heart was for mercy and security because of his own righteousness. He ends this prayer with a statement of belief that this confidence has indeed been established.
We are still in need of confidence in order to advance to God’s throne for the care and protection we need. Gratefully, our heart’s cry and plea doesn’t have to reference our righteousness. We don’t have to wait until we’ve demonstrated some level of goodness over some random period of time in order to establish a basis for this confidence. We can boldly come right to His throne by the blood of Jesus and the righteousness we’ve been given as a gift, no matter how long it’s been since we’ve failed . Our confidence is in what He has done and not what we have done. There is yet a need, though, for a similar statement of faith to reset our footing secure on this truth. Stepping into the realm of faith requires this confidence established on righteousness revelation, our acceptance into His presence and favor because of nothing we’ve done or not done. Our simple turning to Him and past the power of shame and guilt to find an affirming embrace that sets us aright.
I like the amplified in verse one, ““VINDICATE ME, O Lord, for I have walked in my integrity; I have [expectantly] trusted in, leaned on, and relied on the Lord without wavering and I shall not slide.””
It is in the steadfast leaning on and remaining in His presence that allows us to not waver or slide. I love how David’s heart is so for God and His presence, and is always striving to have the deep conversations with Him versus shallow prayers. I think sometimes it’s easy to get in the routine of praying for meals or at bedtime, that we can make our prayers almost mechanical. David’s prayers are never mechanical. They are always full of passion and closeness.