Psalm 26
Of David.
1 Vindicate
me, O Lord,
for I have
walked in my integrity,
and I have
trusted in the Lord without
wavering.
2 Prove
me, O Lord, and try me;
test my heart
and mind.
3 For
your steadfast love is before my eyes,
and I walk in
faithfulness to you.
4 I
do not sit with the worthless,
nor do I consort
with hypocrites;
5 I
hate the company of evildoers,
and will not sit
with the wicked.
6 I
wash my hands in innocence,
and go around
your altar, O Lord,
7 singing
aloud a song of thanksgiving,
and telling all
your wondrous deeds.
8 O Lord, I love the house in which you
dwell,
and the place
where your glory abides.
9 Do
not sweep me away with sinners,
nor my life with
the bloodthirsty,
10 those
in whose hands are evil devices,
and whose right
hands are full of bribes.
11 But
as for me, I walk in my integrity;
redeem me, and
be gracious to me.
12 My
foot stands on level ground;
in the great congregation I will bless the Lord.
Psalm
26 is a psalm of innocence. The content of the psalm suggests that someone has
brought accusations in accord with sacral law.
If so, the penalty was death.
This context makes understandable the apparent self-righteousness. If we pay attention to our lives, many
elements have the quality of a test or examination.
Psalm 26:1-2 are a
plea for judgment. 1 Vindicate me, O Lord,
for I have walked in my integrity, and I have trusted in the Lord without wavering. Biblical and
Christian hope rests on faith. This is why hope in the prayers of the Psalms is
always in God.[1] First,
2 prove (bahan) me, O Lord,
by examining me in a way that determines my essential qualities, especially
integrity.[2]
Sometimes, the translation is “test” (Psalm 139:23-24). Second, try (nasah) me, assay me in a way similar way one would test the quality or
genuineness of precious metals. The Lord tested Abraham in this way regarding
the sacrifice of his son Isaac (Genesis 22:1. The Lord tests Israel to see if
they would observe the commandments and rely upon God and to see what was in their
hearts (Deuteronomy 8:2). The Lord even tests them with the gift of manna
(Exodus 16:4). The LXX translates it as peiraxw.
It comes into the New Testament in this way at I Corinthians 10:9-13.[3]
Third, test (tsaraph) my heart and mind, in the sense of
refining or purifying in order to remove impurities, as if from silver. The
writer is confident of innocence, so he invites the Lord to cross-examine him. Another
psalm invites the Lord to bashan and tsaraph, for the Lord will find no
wickedness or transgression, avoiding the ways of the violent (Psalm 17:3).
Psalm 26:3-7 are a
protestation of innocence. 3 For
your steadfast love is before my eyes, and I walk in faithfulness to you. The
Psalms constantly extol the kindness and faithfulness of the Lord together. We
have to do here the identity and consistency of the eternal God in the divine
turning in love to the creatures God has made.[4]
4 I do not sit with the
worthless, nor do I consort with hypocrites; 5 I hate the company of
evildoers, and will not sit with the wicked. 6 I wash my hands in
innocence. They must have
"clean hands and pure hearts" (Psalm 24:4) before coming into the
presence of the Lord God -- see Psalms 15 (all) and 24 (all). Further, they go around your altar, O Lord, 7 singing aloud a song
of thanksgiving (Psalms 42:4; 118:26-29), and telling all your wondrous deeds.
Psalm 26:8-10 are
a prayer to the Lord. 8 O Lord, I love the house in which you
dwell, and the place where your glory abides. The house/bayit reference is
to the temple. In the Lord's house, the Lord's glorious, dazzling presence
dwells with his people. The Lord's people assemble to experience that very
presence. 9 Do not sweep me
away with sinners, nor my life with the bloodthirsty, 10 those in
whose hands are evil devices, and whose right hands are full of bribes.
Psalm 26: 11-12 are a reaffirmation of
innocence. 11 However, as for me, I walk in my integrity; redeem
me, and be gracious to me. 12 My foot stands on level ground; in the
great congregation, I will bless the Lord.
On this basis, he will ask for help in his time of trouble.
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