PSALMS 26

, , and 28 reveal David’s love for God’s sanctuary (26:6–8, 27:4–7, 28:2), which in David’s day was the tabernacle on Mt. Zion. God didn’t permit David to build the temple (), but He did give him the plans for the temple and helped him accumulate from the spoils of battle great wealth to provide material for constructing the temple (, ).

But not all who gathered to worship at the sanctuary were sincere in their walk or their worship, and some of them were openly disobedient and spread lies about the king. It was this situation that led to the writing of this psalm. In it, David makes three requests of the Lord.

1. Vindicate Me (v. 1)

The enemies who were slandering David are described in verses 4–5 and 9–10. They were deceitful, hypocritical, and wicked evildoers, sinners who schemed to rob others and even accepted bribes (; ), murdering those who stood in their way.

David the king was a godly man, but not every judge and official in the government was walking with the Lord. Perhaps all of this occurred at the time when Absalom was trying to seize the throne by spreading lies about his father (see ).

David would see these deceitful men at the tabernacle altar, bringing their offerings, and it deeply grieved him.

Throughout the history of both Israel and the church, there was a “congregation of evildoers” (v. 5; 50:16–21) along with the congregation of true worshipers (v. 12), the tares among the wheat (, ), and wolves in sheep’s clothing (, ).

“Vindicate” means “give me justice, defend my reputation” (see 7:8; 35:24; 43:1). David was a man of integrity , a fact that was affirmed by the Lord Himself (). The people attacking him were “dissemblers” (v. 4, KJV) or “hypocrites,” play-actors who wore masks to cover up their evil character.

Integrity means wholeness of character, an undivided mind and heart, completely devoted to the Lord. Without wavering, David stood for what was right, but double-minded people are unstable in all their ways ().

His life revealed a balance of faith (“I have trusted”) and works (“I have walked”).

When your character and conduct are attacked, it isn’t wrong to vindicate yourself, as Paul did (), or to ask the Lord to vindicate you. We aren’t just defending ourselves; we’re defending the name of the Lord whom we serve. Our vindication is “for his name’s sake” (23:3; 25:11).

2. Examine Me (vv. 2–8)

This is not an expression of self-righteousness (but rather the honest testimony of a real man of God. The words translated “examine” and “try” refer to the testing of metals to determine their true value and also to remove the dross (12:6; 17:3).

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 in the congregation, the “men of vanity, nothingness” who pretended to worship the Lord and keep His covenant. This doesn’t imply that he was isolated from the real world , but rather that he didn’t allow it to defile him.

As with David’s words in 18:20–24, this is not an expression of self-righteousness (see ), but rather the honest testimony of a real man of God. The words translated “examine” and “try” refer to the testing of metals to determine their true value and also to remove the dross (12:6; 17:3). “Heart and mind” is “kidneys and heart” in the original, the kidneys being the seat of the emotions and the heart the place of moral decision. (See 139:23, and .) David’s life was motivated and controlled by God’s love and truth (faithfulness; see 6:4; 25:5–7, 10; 40:10; 57:3; ). The Lord was faithful to His covenant and David was faithful to the Lord. 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 in the congregation, the “men of vanity, nothingness” who pretended to worship the Lord and keep His covenant. This doesn’t imply that he was isolated from the real world (), but rather that he didn’t allow it to defile him (1:1–2; ). While the assembly of the wicked needs our witness, it’s with the congregation of the righteous that we share our worship (35:18; 40:9–10; 89:5; 107:32; 149:1). David was balanced: he hated sin but he loved the things of God (vv. 5, 8). In walking (vv. 1, 3, 11), standing (v. 12), and sitting (v. 4), he kept himself from evil (see 1:1).

While the assembly of the wicked needs our witness, it’s with the congregation of the righteous that we share our worship. David was balanced: he hated sin but he loved the things of God (vv. 5, 8). In walking (vv. 1, 3, 11), standing (v. 12), and sitting (v. 4), he kept himself from evil (see 1:1).

The wicked came to the sanctuary to hide their sins; they made it a “den of thieves,” the place where criminals run and hide (; ). But David went to the sanctuary to worship God and bear witness to His grace and mercy.

His hands were clean (24:4), his sacrifice was acceptable (see ), and his voice was clear as he praised the Lord. Cleansing comes from the blood of Christ (, ) and the water of the Word (; ).

3. Redeem Me (vv. 9–12)

Redeem Me (vv. 9–12)

David couldn’t stop the hypocrites from joining the worshiping congregation, but he could help from becoming like them; so he asked the Lord to deliver him from that sin.

“Don’t sweep me away with the wicked!” 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.

The godly must constantly beware of the evil influences of the world and especially of those who profess to love God but are using “religion” as a cover up for their sins.

To remain faithful, we must also ask God to be merciful to us and help us to maintain our integrity. Once we begin to waver (v. 1, NASB), it becomes easier to stumble and fall. “Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall” (, NKJV). David was standing on level ground (see 27:11; 143:10; ). He would not waver.

Exported from Logos Bible Software, 8:07 PM September 18, 2018.

Warren W. Wiersbe, Be Worshipful, 1st ed., “Be” Commentary Series (Colorado Springs, CO: Cook Communications Ministries, 2004).