Psalm 26: A Psalm of David.
Vindicate me, O Lord, For I have walked in my integrity. I have also trusted in the Lord;
I shall not slip. 2 Examine me, O Lord, and prove me; Try my mind and my heart. 3 For Your lovingkindness is before my eyes, And I have walked in Your truth. 4 I have not sat with idolatrous mortals, Nor will I go in with hypocrites. 5 I have hated the assembly of evildoers, And will not sit with the wicked. 6 I will wash my hands in innocence; So I will go about Your altar, O Lord, 7 That I may proclaim with the voice of thanksgiving, And tell of all Your wondrous works. 8 Lord, I have loved the habitation of Your house, And the place where Your glory dwells. 9 Do not gather my soul with sinners, Nor my life with bloodthirsty men, 10 In whose hands is a sinister scheme, And whose right hand is full of bribes. 11 But as for me, I will walk in my integrity; Redeem me and be merciful to me. 12 My foot stands in an even place; In the congregations I will bless the Lord.
We often marvel at David’s bold invitation for the Lord to test him, try him, and examine his heart and mind. We/I marvel because of what is often hidden – even from us – deep within our hearts and the fear that it may be exposed to our shame. If we, like David, always remain “mindful of God’s unfailing love” and “walk in [His] truth” we should not be so hesitant to declare “test me, Lord”. If we detest the assembly (the action of gathering together as a group for a common purpose) of those bent of doing evil, we would not hesitate to say “try me, Lord”. If we refuse to sit (willfully join with) those who hate the commandments of God, we would readily say “examine my heart, Lord”. If we are confident in our love for the Lord and our faithfulness to His commands, we would not be afraid to say “examine my mind, Lord).
Like David, we would boldly proclaim our innocence and the reverence with which we approach His altar. We would confidently praise the Lord and boldly proclaim His work in and through us; a testimony of His wonderful works to a generation of skeptics. We would love to gather in His house, leaving the world behind and simply bask in the presence of His Holy Spirit.
The third verse of this Psalm demands a second look. We live in an era of “alternative facts”, “fake news”, and “my truths” but David here declares faithfulness to God’s truth; the only truth. Whatever is contrary to God’s word is not truth and whatever distorts His word to suggest something other is false. There is no spin to God’s truth and no two ways to interpret it; It is what it is! We may apply it to many circumstances but it does not change. It may appeal differently to others across cultures but it remains unaltered. His word is Truth!
Can you be confident in your integrity and would it stand up to the probe of God’s Spirit? Are your feet set in an even place; on the Rock of our salvation (Yeshua)? Do you assemble with the righteous to bless the Lord? Or do you only come with arms extended expecting to receive His blessing?
Do you willingly say “Come, Holy Spirit”?……This is the invitation for the Lord to examine and prove us!
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