Psalm 26

Picture this: At the end of your last semester of your senior year, you walk into your teacher's office and challenge him to create the most thorough, excruciatingly detailed, no holds bar, everything goes exam. Every chapter, every lecture, every book, every footnote covered would be fair game for the test. This is no mere cross-section of material covered with an explicit study guide helping you prepare. Furthermore, no extra credit is going to be offered and an 100 is an A and a 99 is an F. On top of all that, you tell your professor that you have to pass this exam to graduate. Everything is on the line! And, finally, though some might view it as arrogance, before leaving his office, you confidently tell him to bring it. "Test me! Go ahead! Examine me to the fullest! I will pass!"

Psalm 26 is the first of three consecutive psalms which describe David entering into the house of the Lord in order to admire the glory of God (vs 8). This psalm has three major portions which can be clearly identified. David prays to be vindicated in vs 1, examined in vs 2, and redeemed in vs 11. Thus, I see the psalm breaking down with the first verse being David's prayer for deliverance, verses two through seven being David's prayer for examination, and finally verses nine through twelve being David's prayer for salvation.

Prayer for Deliverance (Vs 1)
David's prayer to be vindicated means there are charges against him which he obviously deems are false. David wants the Lord to judge him according to these charges and declare him to be exonerated. What criteria does David base his cry upon? His personal integrity and his single-hearted devotion the Lord.

Prayer for Examination (Vs 2-7)
David wants to be examined and tested. Can you imagine telling the all-knowing God to examine you? David is confident the Lord will clear him of all charges against him because the Lord's lovingkindness is always before him and he walks in His truth! David also knows that since he is innocent before the Lord he may proclaim the Lord's greatness and wonder.

Prayer for Salvation (Vs 8-12)
David expresses his love for the house of the Lord, namely the place where God's glory dwells. David fears that if his enemies were to prevail over him, he would be kept from the Lord's house. Therefore, his cry to be redeemed is a cry for salvation.

To wrap things up... We must strive after lives of absolute personal integrity. This can only be possible when the lovingkindness of the Lord expressed in Jesus Christ is ever-present before us. When we walk in the truth, we will become like the Truth. May it truly be our prayer today that the Lord "Vindicate us, Examine us, Test us, and Redeem us!"

Grace and Peace,
John Michael