What does Psalm 26:4 mean?
As part of his commitment to holiness, David sought not to have close association with known liars or hypocrites (Psalm 26:5). This is often a difficult issue to balance when trying to live a God-honoring life. Completely disconnecting, in every way, from those who sin would not only be practically impossible (1 Corinthians 5:9–10), it would leave those persons without evidence of God's goodness (Matthew 5:16). Sensible boundaries are healthy; David recognized the value of avoiding those steeped in sin (Proverbs 13:20). Believers should try to draw unbelievers to Christ, but an unequal yoke will draw believers away from Christ (2 Corinthians 6:14; 1 Corinthians 15:33).Jesus sent His followers into the world. But He did not tell them to copy the culture of the world. He prayed, "I do not ask that you take them out of the world…They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world" (John 17:15–16). First John 2:16 indicts the world's culture as full of evil desires: "the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life." By contrast, the believer's desire should be to do God's will (John 7:17). The world is passing away, but the person who does God's will abides forever (John 11:25–26).
