1 Vindicate me, O LORD,
For I have walked in my integrity.
I have also trusted in the LORD;
I shall not slip.
2 Examine me, O LORD, and prove me;
Try my mind and my heart.
3 For Your lovingkindness is before my eyes,
And I have walked in Your truth.
4 I have not sat with idolatrous mortals,
Nor will I go in with hypocrites.
5 I have hated the assembly of evildoers,
And will not sit with the wicked.
6 I will wash my hands in innocence;
So I will go about Your altar, O LORD,
7 That I may proclaim with the voice of thanksgiving,
And tell of all Your wondrous works.
8 LORD, I have loved the habitation of Your house,
And the place where Your glory dwells.—Psalm 26:1-8
Vindicate me, O LORD,
For I have walked in my integrity.
I have also trusted in the LORD;
I shall not slip.
I love David’s heart for God! As you read his Psalms you really can’t miss it. In verse one he calls on the Lord to judge Him...he cares not what man thinks about him only what God thinks. He places his trust in God knowing that although he is not perfect, the overall direction of his life has been one of obedience and fruit toward God. His inward heart for his Lord has been reflected in his outward walk. His word and deed match. In the last part of verse 1 we see David trusting God in whatever would happen next. His heart is steadfastly walking in faith and in truth. His feet will not slide because His God has got him.
2 Examine me, O LORD, and prove me;
Try my mind and my heart.
Verse 2 reminded me of David’s words in Psalm 139:
23 Search me, O God, and know my heart;
Try me, and know my anxieties;
24 And see if there is any wicked way in me,
And lead me in the way everlasting
Beloved...this is a prayer of courage and a prayer one would not pray unless he was confident that his love for his God was without hypocrisy. David gives God is heart and asks Him to search it and lead him in right paths. He WANTS to be ruled by God. His words brought these verses from Psalm 25 to mind
Teach me Your paths.
5 Lead me in Your truth and teach me,
For You are the God of my salvation;
On You I wait all the day.
Skipping down to the end of verse 6 through verse 8 we read...
So I will go about Your altar, O LORD,
7 That I may proclaim with the voice of thanksgiving,
And tell of all Your wondrous works.
8 LORD, I have loved the habitation of Your house,
And the place where Your glory dwells
There are many that might go into the house of God in an attempt to hide their sin and hypocrisy from others...not David. David loved the house of his God because he loved the God of the house! His desire was to be in His Presence, to proclaim His wonderful works and to sing His praises. His heart was all in! There was no falseness in David. His whole being glorified God.
Father...do this work in me! Search ME and know MY heart and lead ME in the way everlasting. Be my strong habitation to which I continually resort. Ending with more of David’s heart from Psalm 37, Psalm 43 and Psalm 27.
3 Trust in the LORD, and do good;
Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness.
4 Delight yourself also in the LORD,
And He shall give you the desires of your heart.
5 Commit your way to the LORD,
Trust also in Him,
And He shall bring it to pass.
6 He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light,
And your justice as the noonday.
7 Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for Him;—Psalm 37
3 Oh, send out Your light and Your truth!
Let them lead me;
Let them bring me to Your holy hill
And to Your tabernacle.
4 Then I will go to the altar of God,
To God my exceeding joy;
And on the harp I will praise You,
O God, my God.
5 Why are you cast down, O my soul?
And why are you disquieted within me?
Hope in God;
For I shall yet praise Him,
The help of my countenance and my God.—Psalm 43
One thing I have desired of the LORD,
That will I seek:
That I may dwell in the house of the LORD
All the days of my life,
To behold the beauty of the LORD,
And to inquire in His temple.
5 For in the time of trouble
He shall hide me in His pavilion;
In the secret place of His tabernacle
He shall hide me;
He shall set me high upon a rock.
6 And now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies all around me;
Therefore I will offer sacrifices of joy in His tabernacle;
I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the LORD.—Psalm 27
