Psalms 26:1-12

Psalms 26

DESCRIPTIVE TITLE

An Ideal Levite's Prayer for Vindication by the Prolongation of his Life.

ANALYSIS

An introductory Petition, ver. la, is sustained by six stanzas of protestations and prayers. Stanza I., Psalms 26:1 b, c, Psalms 26:2, A protest of blamelessness and trust, is sustained by Prayer for further Testing. Stanza II., Psalms 26:3-4, Protest continued, of right feeling, right conduct and avoidance of evil company, Stanza III., Psalms 26:5-6, Protest prolonged, and pointed towards worship! Stanza IV., Psalms 26:7-8, To proclaim Jehovah's wonders, his House is loved. Stanza V., Psalms 26:9-10, Plea for life, in contrast with evil doers. Stanza VI., Psalms 26:11-12, Blamelessness moves to prayer for redemption, and gives assurance of public praise.

(Lm.)By David,

1

Vindicate me[255] O Jehovah![256]

[255] Cp. Psalms 7:8, Psalms 43:1.

[256] Cp. short line for emphasis Psalms 1:1; Psalms 1:3, Psalms 8:1; Psalms 8:9.

For I in my blamelessness have walked,

and in Jehovah have I trusted without wavering:[257]

[257] Cp. 2 Kings 18:5.

2

Try me Jehovah and prove me,

test thou my motives and my mind.[258]

[258] U.: my reins and my heart. Cp. Intro., Chap. III., heart, reins.

3

For thy kindness hath been before mine eyes,

and I have walked to and fro in thy truth;[259]

[259] Cp. Isaiah 38:3.

4

I have not sat with worthless men,[260]

[260] -Insincere persons-'; (or frivolous persons: lit. men of unreality)Dr.

and with dissemblers would I not enter.

5

I have hated an assembly of evil-doers,

and with lawless men[261] would I not sit.[262]

[261] Implies disloyal association with the heathen, the impious outsidersThirtle, O.T.P., 106.

[262] Cp. Psalms 1:1.

6

I can bathe in pureness my palms,[263]

[263] Psalms 73:13.

and would fain march around thine altar O Jehovah.

7

To proclaim aloud[264] a thanksgiving,

[264] Ml. with voice.

and to tell of all thy wondrous works

8

Jehovah! I have loved the dwelling of thy house,

even the place of the habitation of thy glory.[265]

[265] Note the continued presence of the shekinah.

9

Do not take away with sinners my soul,

nor with men of bloodshed my life:

10

In whose hands is an evil device,

and their right-hand is filled with a bribe.

11

Since I in my blamelessness do walk[266]

[266] Cp. Psalms 26:3 and Isaiah 38:3.

ransom me and be gracious unto me Jehovah.

12

My foot hath taken its stand in a level place,

in assemblies do I bless Jehovah.[267]

[267] Cp. Isaiah 38:20. In the choirs of the congregation do I praise JahveDel. In full assemblies will I bless JehovahDr.

(Nm.)

PARAPHRASE

Psalms 26

Dismiss all the charges against me, Lord, for I have tried to keep Your laws and have trusted You without wavering.
2 Cross-examine me, O Lord, and see that this is so; test my motives and affections too.
3 For I have taken Your lovingkindness and Your truth as my ideals.
4 I do not have fellowship with tricky, two-faced men; they are false and hypocritical.
5 I hate the sinners-' hangouts and refuse to enter them.
6 I wash my hands to prove my innocence and come before Your altar
7 Singing a song of thanksgiving and telling about Your miracles.
8 Lord, I love Your home, this shrine where the brilliant, dazzling splendor of Your presence lives.
9, 10 Don-'t treat me as a common sinner or murderer who plots against the innocent and demands bribes.
11 No, I am not like that, O Lord; I try to walk a straight and narrow path of doing what is right; therefore in mercy save me.
12 I publicly praise the Lord for keeping me from slipping and falling.

EXPOSITION

This is a bright and beautiful psalm, with a ring of sincerity in it, and lighted up with a glowing hope of public blessing. The experiences of both David and Hezekiah lie behind it. Thirtle well says of it:Words in every sense suited to the times of either king. Psalms 26:8 recalls Hezekiah's love for the Temple, and Psalms 26:9 expresses his revulsion at the thought of dying the death of a sinner, which was his interpretation of the mortal sickness with which God had smitten him (Thirtle, O.T.P., 315-6.) The references appended to the text will transport the reader into a realm of reality, and the Analysis prefixed to it will probably make detailed exposition appear unnecessary.

QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION

1.

Integrity is a grand virtuehow can we plead it before an absolute holy God? Is this the circumstance of Psalms 26:1 through Psalms 26:7? Discuss.

2.

Can we really love God without truly hating sin?

3.

Before whom or to whom, is the psalmist trying to demonstrate his integrity? Is this normal? Discuss.

4.

The company we choose is always an index of our characterDiscuss.

5.

When cut loose from social or civilized restraintsto where do we gravitate? This is a revelation of our real selvesis this true? Discuss.