Psalm 26 Continued…
Psalm 26:9 Do not take away my soul along with sinners, my life with bloodthirsty men,
“My soul,” as used here means “my life.” “With sinners” refers here to shameless and obstinate sinners. “Bloodthirsty men” are those who use violence to obtain their ends. So long as he remains one of God’s faithful, God may indeed try him and prove him (v. 2); but God Himself will uphold him in those tests, just because He is always faithful and loyal to His loved ones.
David wanted the Lord to keep him from those kinds of people—sinners and bloodthirsty men—to build up obstructions in his life. “Lord,” he says, “If you see me leaning toward people like that, do something about it. Keep me from my own folly!” Thank God for divinely obstructed life! Thank God for all those things God, in His infinite grace, sends into our lives to make us stop and think, to make us watch and pray, to make us think fresh thoughts of Calvary.
David refused to join the gang in this world—he had shunned the practices of sinners, murders, and payoff men (v. 10) in life; now he pleads to escape their company in death.
Psalm 26:10 in whose hands are wicked schemes, whose right hands are full of bribes.
“In whose hands are wicked schemes” denotes those who not only envision misbehavior in their hearts, but perform it with their hands and keep it up for as long as it pleases them to do so.
Psalm 26:11 But I lead a blameless life; redeem me and be merciful to me.
The king brought sacrifices of thanksgiving (Leviticus 3:1-17; 7:11-38) because he loved the Lord and the Lord’s house (27:4-6; 42:4; 122:1-4, 9; 1 Chronicles 29:3). He glorified God at the place where God’s glory dwelt (Exodus 40:35). David is a good example for us to follow in our worship.
“But I lead a blameless life.” Can we also assert our integrity—that is, our wholeheartedness? (Job 2:3, 9; 27:5). Is our heart open toward God? Are our motives pure? If so, though we still need grace to help, in which there is no pitfall or cause of stumbling, and from which the glad song of praise will ascend as sweet incense to God. The outcome of the prayer of faith is that David commits himself to be the sort of person that he asked God to make him.
Psalm 26:12 My feet stand on level ground; in the great assembly I will praise the Lord.
“My feet stand on level ground” means that David is sure-footed now. He is firmly established on the Rock. The “even place” speaks of that. When you are on the side of a slippery hill, you are apt to lose your footing and fall. A lot of Christians are in that position today. They are messing with evil and they get very close to it.
It reminds me of a little boy in the pantry. His mother heard a noise in the back of the kitchen and asked, “Willie, where are you?” The boy replied, “I am in the pantry.” She asked, “What are you doing?” He said, “I am fighting temptation.” That was not the best place for Willie to fight temptation. Friend, it is good to have your feet on even ground. Where are you standing today? The reason a great many people fall is because they are fighting temptation in the pantry.
The “level ground” as opposed to the slippery places where wicked men are said to be. The sense seems to be—I stand upon a firm and solid foundation, where I don’t need to worry about falling, or being overthrown by the assaults of my enemies, for I am under the protection of God’s promises, and His almighty and watchful providence.
Though David occasionally fell, as we all do, the habitual bent of his life was toward the Lord and His Word. He refused to have fellowship with the hypocrites who pretended to worship the Lord and keep His covenant. David was balanced: he hated sin but he loved the things of God (v. 5, 8). In walking (vs. 1, 3, 11), standing (v. 12), and sitting (v. 4), he kept himself from evil.
David couldn’t stop the hypocrites from joining the worshipping congregation, but he could help from becoming like them; so he asked the Lord to deliver him from that sin. The sheep and goats, and the wheat and tare may be mixed today, but there is coming a day when God will separate them; on that day, the wicked will perish (1:4-6; Matthew 7:21-23; 25:31-46). To remain faithful, we must ask God to be merciful to us and help us to maintain our integrity. Once we begin to waver (v. 1), it becomes easier to stumble and fall. “So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall!” (1 Corinthians 10:12). David was standing on level ground (see 27:11; 143:10; Isaiah 40:4). He would not waver.
We should note that there is an aspect of separation that is not brought out in this psalm. Though we should be separate from sinners as far as silent ascent or complicity with their evil is concerned, we should not be isolated from them when it comes to telling them about their need of Christ. The Lord Jesus Himself was a friend of sinners; He not only received them but ate and drank with them. But He never compromised his loyalty to God or failed to tell them about their sin, and their need of forgiveness
What this psalm is telling us loudly is that “the church” does not teach people “to be good.” It leads them to that source and power which enables them to live in love and loyalty to both God and man.
PRAY
Father help me to walk in integrity and to show, share and live out your love before men.