Psalm 26 Continued…
Psalm 26:2 Test me, O Lord, and try me, examine my heart and my mind;
“Vindicate me (v.1)” and “test me” are bold demands. Not many of the Lord’s people would care to put their lives on the line like that! A man must be very sure of himself before he can say that to God. It can be said only in relation to some particular rule of conduct which he knows he has not broken. David wanted to be judged by God, because He didn’t think that men would judge him fairly. He committed his cause and affairs to Him as a just Judge and merciful Father, and to Him alone. He would trust God to search his heart and life by whatever means He saw fit to use; and then, to make known to himself and the world, and to convince his enemies of his integrity.
As with David’s words in Psalm 18:20-24, this is not an expression of self-righteousness (see Luke 18:9-14), but rather the honest testimony of a real man of God. The words translated “test” and “try” refer to the testing of metals to determine their true value and also to remove the dross (12:6; 17:3). “Examine my heart and my mind” is “kidneys and heart” in the original Hebrew, the kidneys being the seat of the emotions and the heart the place of moral decision—“And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:7).
“Test . . . try . . . examine.” These three invitations to divine scrutiny are essentially synonymous ways of testing, refining and purifying. “The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure.
Who can understand it? ‘I the Lord search the heart and examine the mind, to reward a man according to his conduct, according to what his deeds deserve.’” (Jeremiah 17:9-10).
Psalm 26:3 for your love is ever before me, and I walk continually in your truth.
This psalm is similar to Psalm 1 in content. David says, “I walk continually in your truth.” This is a positive statement. Psalm 1 presents the negative side. “Blessed is the man
who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked” (Psalm 1:1). Furthermore, David states that he has “not sat with deceitful men (v. 4),” nor “with hypocrites (v. 4).” David did not set with false persons. As Psalm 1 put it, “Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked
or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers.” (v. 1). As Christians, we are to separate ourselves from the world—worldly desires and men who commit sinful acts—but, there is another aspect to our separation; we must be separated to the Lord in deliberate preoccupation with the cross. The cross stands between us and the world.
David did not and could not do what his enemies accused him of doing because of the deep sense he had of the Lord’s “love.” He abstained of all such evil practices in order that he not forfeit that loving-kindness that he valued more than life itself. Love is the most powerful motive in the world. A man will do things for love he would not do for fear, hate or gain.
This verse suggests that we should model our lives after the character of God; particularly as it pertains to loving others. “Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.” (1 John 4:11).
Psalm 26:4 I do not sit with deceitful men, nor do I consort with hypocrites;
The setting of these verses is in the sanctuary [We know this because of the mention of the “altar” (v.6) and David’s love for the house of God (v. 8). David’s worship was with integrity. He washed his hands in integrity (24:4), in innocence and sincerity. He praised the Lord and told of his deeds. In contrast to his reaction to the assemblies of the wicked (v. 5) David loved the sanctuary, where the “glory of the Lord . . . dwells.”
“Vain persons” is how the KJV translates “deceitful men” They are the liars, the false and deceitful persons. Vanity is very often used for falsehood and lying in old English. David declares that he has not kept company with liars or taken part in their counsels or enterprises.
“Hypocrites” are those folk who hide themselves by covering their crafty and wicked plans with the pretense of fairness.
Because of God’s faithfulness in refusing to let David fall out of His grasp, he can confidently declare next (v. 5), that he has received God’s strength. He no longer feels irresistibly compelled to set down in the company of deceivers or hypocrites.
PRAY
Thank you Father for godly people and godly counsel. Strengthen my bonds with my brothers and sisters in Christ.