This Psalm is the appeal of conscious integrity for recognition and vindication. The Psalmist calls upon Jehovah to do him justice, pleading the integrity of his life, and offering himself to the searching scrutiny of the All-knowing, upon whose lovingkindness and faithfulness he grounds his confide... [ Continue Reading ]
_Judge me_ Do me justice; shew me to be in the right; vindicate my integrity by discriminating between me and wicked men. Cp. Psalms 7:8; Psalms 35:24; Psalms 43:1. _for I have walked in mine integrity_ Sincerity of purpose and single-heartedness of devotion have been the rule of his life. Cp. Psal... [ Continue Reading ]
The Psalmist's plea for the recognition of his integrity.... [ Continue Reading ]
God knows him already (Psalms 17:3); and fearlessly he offers himself for a fresh scrutiny. This prayer attests at once the clearness of his conscience, and his desire that if aught of evil remains, it may be purged away. Cp. Psalms 139:23-24. Three words are used to express the thoroughness of the... [ Continue Reading ]
The ground of the prayers in Psalms 26:1. He can pray for a favourable judgement, and submit himself to this scrutiny, because he knows God's lovingkindness and faithfulness. They are the object of his constant meditation, the daily experience of his life. Cp. Psalms 16:8; Psalms 25:10, note.... [ Continue Reading ]
_I have not sat_ Of deliberate and prolonged intercourse, implying community of tastes and interests. Cp. Psalms 1:1; Jeremiah 15:17. _vain persons_ Lit. _men of vanity_; hollowness, falsehood, unreality: the opposite of truth and righteousness. See Psalms 12:2; Psalms 24:4. _neither will I go in_... [ Continue Reading ]
The proof of his integrity in his conduct in the past, and his purpose for the future.... [ Continue Reading ]
_I have hated_ R.V., I hate. _the congregation of evil doers_ Cp. Psalms 22:16. Is there not a tacit contrast between the congregation which meets for its own evil purposes, and that which assembles for the worship of Jehovah (Psalms 26:12)?... [ Continue Reading ]
_I will wash mine hands in innocency_ "As the priests, before they came near to the altar to minister (Exodus 30:17-21). What the priest did in symbolical rite, that the priestly people were to do in spiritual reality." _Kay_. Cp. Psalms 73:13: and for the ceremony as symbolising innocence see Deute... [ Continue Reading ]
_That_I _may publish with the voice of thanksgiving_ Better, as R.V., that I may make the voice of thanksgiving to be heard. _thy wondrous works_ Or, _marvellous works_. See note on Psalms 9:1.... [ Continue Reading ]
Taking up the thought of Psalms 26:7, he makes it the ground of his plea in Psalms 26:9. _I have loved_ R.V., I love. It is the correlative of _I hate_in Psalms 26:5. _the place where thine honour dwelleth_ Better, with R.V., the place where thy glory dwelleth: lit. _the place of the tabernacle of... [ Continue Reading ]
His love for God's house is a further reason why he should not be involved in the fate of sinners.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Gather not_ i.e. _take not away_. Let me not share the fate of those whose society and practices I have ever shunned. How natural a prayer if a pestilence was raging which seemed to strike righteous and wicked indiscriminately! The wicked are described as _men of blood_(Psalms 26:6), who do not shr... [ Continue Reading ]
With such evil-doers the Psalmist contrasts himself. His purpose, if his life is spared, is to shape his conduct as hitherto; and therefore he prays _redeem me_(Psalms 25:22), deliver me from the fate of the wicked, _and be gracious unto me_(Psalms 4:1, note).... [ Continue Reading ]
Faith realises the answer to its prayer as already granted, and security assured. He has traversed the rough winding path through the gloomy defile, and stands in the open plain, where there is no more fear of stumbling or sudden assault. Life thus prolonged is the reason and the opportunity for pub... [ Continue Reading ]