Psalms 26 - Printer Friendly

This psalm is not easily connected to any events recorded in the Bible. Whatever situation David was facing here, the details are not part of Scripture. Apparently, David felt he was under ruthless attack from enemies. These assaults seem to have included malicious rumors. In response, David appeals to the Lord for vindication. He reasons that God will justify him because he has led a life of integrity and has consistently trusted God. It is this sincerity which makes David confident in his relationship to the Lord (Psalm 26:1–3).

As proof of his integrity, David lists the ways in which he pursues righteousness. In this context, that includes refusing to associate closely with evil people. Balancing a need for holiness (1 Corinthians 5:9–11; 1 Peter 1:14–15) with a call to reach the lost (Matthew 5:16) can be difficult. Yet that discernment is important. David insists he does not "sit," or fellowship, with those known to be dishonest. Neither does he keep company with hypocrites. He avoids being in the same place as groups of evildoers. He stays clear of sin and gives thanks in the tabernacle. Because he deeply loves God and His truth, David publicly proclaims all the Lord's wondrous deeds. He loves the tabernacle, the place where the Lord reveals His glory (Psalm 26:4–8).

As someone who stays away from evil, and evil people, David confidently asks God not to be "swept away" by judgment against sinners. This echoes a theme of the Bible, which is that sin can bring earthly consequences—and those close to evil people risk being caught in those results (Proverbs 13:20). David knows hypocritical sinners accept bribes and commit depraved acts. As for himself, he seeks to live an honest life. He asks the Lord to deliver him and be gracious to him. David affirms that he will not be shaken from his faith and will praise the Lord when God's people assemble (Psalm 26:9–12).

Psalm 26:1–3 begins with David asking the Lord to vindicate him. His enemies were bringing false charges against him, but he had led an honest life. His enemies could not point legitimately to one wrong thing he had done. David claims that he had always trusted in the Lord. He invites the Lord to test him. He would find that David's focus is on the Lord's steadfast love and faithfulness.

Psalm 26:4–12 is practical evidence of the commitment David expressed in this psalm's introduction. While imperfect, David's life demonstrated consistent emphasis on godliness and obedience to the Lord. David draws a contrast between him and the evildoers that corrupted the worship of God (Psalm 26:5). David loves God's house and thanks the Lord for His miracles. David notes that because he does not associate with those who are evil, he does not expect to be caught up in their judgment.

Some of David's psalms connect directly to events recorded in Scripture. Psalm 26, however, does not seem to match any biblical events in David's life. This might have been David's response to a specific challenge, or a general plea for God to preserve him from deceptive attacks. In this psalm, David reaffirms his lifestyle of godliness and integrity. He is confident that he will not be judged with the wicked; the psalm offers evidence that he honors the Lord.

This Davidic psalm affirms David's integrity and his deliberate separation from evildoers. It also reveals his love for the tabernacle on Mount Zion. In several ways Psalms 26 resembles Psalm 25, though this song does not include a request for forgiveness (Psalm 25:18). David declares his sincere pursuit of the Lord, including attention to genuine worship. He does not participate with evildoers—likely meaningfalse worship —and he recognizes that the Lord will sweep away the souls of sinners.

The book of Psalms is composed of individual songs, hymns, or poems, each of which is a ''Psalm'' in and of itself. These works contain a wide variety of themes. Some Psalms focus on praising and worshipping God. Others cry out in anguish over the pain of life. Still other Psalms look forward to the coming of the Messiah. While some Psalms are related, each has its own historical and biblical context.