Psalms 26

Psalm 26

1

Of David.

1 Establish justice for me, LORD, because I have walked with integrity. I've trusted the LORD without wavering.
2 Examine me, LORD; put me to the test! Purify my mind and my heart.
3 Because your faithful love is right in front of me— I walk in your truth!
4 I don't spend time with people up to no good; I don't keep company with liars.
5 I detest the company of evildoers, and I don't sit with wicked people.
6 I wash my hands—they are innocent! I walk all around your altar, LORD,
7 proclaiming out loud my thanks, declaring all your wonderful deeds!
8 I love the beauty of your house, LORD; I love the place where your glory resides.
9 Don't gather me up with the sinners, taking my life along with violent people
10 in whose hands are evil schemes, whose strong hands are full of bribes.
11 But me? I walk with integrity. Save me! Have mercy on me!
12 My feet now stand on level ground. I will bless the LORD in the great congregation.

Psalms 26 Commentary

Chapter 26

David, in this psalm, appeals to God touching his integrity.

- David here, by the Spirit of prophecy, speaks of himself as a type of Christ, of whom what he here says of his spotless innocence was fully and eminently true, and of Christ only, and to Him we may apply it. We are complete in him. The man that walks in his integrity, yet trusting wholly in the grace of God, is in a state of acceptance, according to the covenant of which Jesus was the Mediator, in virtue of his spotless obedience even unto death. This man desires to have his inmost soul searched and proved by the Lord. He is aware of the deceitfulness of his own heart; he desires to detect and mortify every sin; and he longs to be satisfied of his being a true believer, and to practise the holy commands of God. Great care to avoid bad company, is both a good evidence of our integrity, and a good means to keep us in it. Hypocrites and dissemblers may be found attending on God's ordinances; but it is a good sign of sincerity, if we attend upon them, as the psalmist here tells us he did, in the exercise of repentance and conscientious obedience. He feels his ground firm under him; and, as he delights in blessing the Lord with his congregations on earth, he trusts that shortly he shall join the great assembly in heaven, in singing praises to God and to the Lamb for evermore.

Footnotes 4

Chapter Summary

Psalm of David. The occasion of this psalm seems to be the quarrel between Saul and David, the former listening to calumnies and reproaches cast upon the latter, and persecuting him in a violent manner. The argument of it is the same, in a great measure, with the seventh psalm, and is an appeal made to God, the Judge of the whole earth, by the psalmist, for his innocence and integrity; Theodoret thinks it was written by David when he fled from Saul.

Psalms 26 Commentaries

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