Choose Your Side

Everyone has to choose a side. From brawls in the school yard to the modern political scene lines have been drawn and we are all required to choose some sort of side. Some make it more obvious than others, and some spend a lot of effort trying to make it look like they don’t choose sides. However, even those who claim neutrality have really sided one way or another. There will always be some sense in which refusing to vote for either candidate helps one side more than the other. In spiritual matters we must always choose a side. We are either on the Lords side or we are not. It is not always an easy truth but it is a clear one. Either you know Christ or you don’t. That does not always mean that we live up to our calling. Just because you believe something doesn’t mean you perfectly display its attributes. Even on our chosen side we fall short.

Psalm 26 presents a number of contrasts which are essentially sides that must be chosen. For instance David says that he will walk with integrity rather than sit with the men of falsehood. He contrasts hating the world with loving the presence of God. David is declaring, perhaps as much to himself as he is God, whose side He is on. The question this Psalm makes us ask of ourselves is two-fold. First, whose side am I on? Second, do I strive to live up to the standard of that calling?

Psalm 26 “Of David. Vindicate me, O Lord, for I have walked in my integrity, and I have trusted in the Lord without wavering. Prove me, O Lord, and try me; test my heart and my mind. For your steadfast love is before my eyes, and I walk in your faithfulness. I do not sit with men of falsehood, nor do I consort with hypocrites. I hate the assembly of evildoers, and I will not sit with the wicked. I wash my hands in innocence and go around your altar, O Lord, proclaiming thanksgiving aloud, and telling all your wondrous deeds. O Lord, I love the habitation of your house and the place where your glory dwells. Do not sweep my soul away with sinners, nor my life with bloodthirsty men, in whose hands are evil devices, and whose right hands are full of bribes. But as for me, I shall walk in my integrity; redeem me, and be gracious to me. My foot stands on level ground; in the great assembly I will bless the Lord.”

Tried and True (v. 1-3)

Vindicate Me

It is a dangerous thing to ask the Lord to vindicate you. What if you were wrong all along?

David’s confidence that he will be vindicated comes from three sources.

Knowing that he was personally innocent of whatever charges that brought about the writing of this Psalm.

His own personal attempts to walk with integrity

Putting his trust in the Lord without wavering.

Prove Me

David doubles down in v. 2

Prove me, try me and test my heart.

This time the source of his confidence is

The steadfast love of God (v. 3a) - The loyal, faithful, merciful lovingkindness of God.

His walking in the faithfulness of God (v. 3b)

David’s point in the first three verses is not to exemplify his own goodness, but rather to show outright whose side he is on. The one who has been vindicated by God and tried and proven true by God is clearly on God’s side. While at the same time we know that David was far from perfect. We don’t know if this Psalm was written before or after David’s more public sins. The thing is, it doesn’t matter. If God is the one who vindicates you it is just and right. David may seem overly confident but consider first his declaration “Vindicate me because I have walked in my integrity and I have trusted in the Lord without wavering.” Is it possible that the integrity and the trusting are connected? I would say so.

Liars and Hypocrites (v. 4-5, 9-10)

Character

Liars- men of falsehood, worthless, deceitful

Hypocrites - pretenders

Evildoers

Wicked

Sinners

Bloodthirsty

Making evil schemes and taking bribes

Response

Twice in this Psalm David states that he will not sit with them.

Meaning he will not linger in their presences or take part of in their sin. He will not be known as one of them.

The picture of sitting contrasts with the picture of walking. He will walk with integrity and in the faithfulness of God, but he will not sit with these evil men.

In other words David has chosen his side.

He also states that he will not consort or associate with them.

He even states that he hates them. Which of course offends our modern and western sensibilities. However, as I have stated before God is able to both perfectly hate and perfectly love. It is also important to note that David states he hates their assemblies or congregations which speaks more to what they represent.

The point of all of this again is not just an expression of David’s animosity for them but a declaration of separation from them. David’s desire is a total separation of lifestyle. He has chosen his side and it is the Lords.

Thankful and Redeemed (v. 6-8, 11-12)

As we consider what made David both thankful and redeemed we should note that this section of verses is centered on Davids desire to dwell with God in God’s house. Why would David choose the Lord’s side? Because one the Lord’s side there are:

Clean Hands (v. 6,7)

Even today at the approaches to the Western Wall in Jerusalem, provision is made for worshipers to wash their hands before entering the holy space demarcated by barriers. We also know that the southern steps leading up to the Temple Mount contained numerous “ritual baths,” where worshipers could cleanse themselves before entering to worship.

In this Psalm clean hands represents David’s innocence, and only in the God of David can we find such innocence.

Let me ask you a question, do you long for heaven? That day when sin of every kind will no longer have any power or presence in your life. We see that longing in David’s heart here in Psalm 26. The innocence that he found in Yahweh moved to to praise God with thanksgiving in the knowledge that it will one day be perfectly realized.

Safe Home (v. 8)

Where did David want to be? In God’s house or we might say in God’s presence. The place where His glory dwells. In David’s day there was a physical place that was symbolic of that heavenly reality, the temple.

In our day the representation of this heavenly reality is us. We are God’s temple by being indwelt by the Holy Spirit. And like David it does all the more to makes us long for our heavenly home when God’s presence is fully realized.

Righteous Living (v.11)

David comes back to earth in verse 11.

“As for me...” or we might say “In the mean time...” “I shall walk in my integrity.” Which points us back to v. 1 I will do everything I can to live righteously by putting my trust in God everyday. I will walk in His faithfulness upheld by His steadfast love.

Solid Ground (v. 12)

You may be able to picture David in the temple surrounded by an assemble of worshipers praising God.

That is where he felt the most secure.

That is where his feet were on solid ground.

Conclusion: Like David may we strive to walk with integrity by placing our trust in God, keeping His steadfast love before us and walking in His faithfulness. Like David in this Psalm may we strive to separate from the wickedness of the world. And finally may we long for heaven and home with God in all His glory.