Bible Commentaries
Psalms 26

Verses 1-12

Psalms 26

DAVID’S INTEGRITY

Verses 1-12:

Verses 1, 2 relate Daniel’s petition for the Lord to judge him, examine him, and search his reigns or the purposes and intents of his heart. He calls for Divine judgment based on his habitual walk of integrity toward his fellowman, as required in the second half of the law. Exodus 20:5-17; Psalms 7:8. Having trusted in the Lord he affirms that in His care he will not slide, backslide, or fall away morally or ethically, Psalms 25:2; Psalms 28:7; Psalms 31:14; Proverbs 29:25. He also asked the Lord to examine him, test him, or prove him, from the integrity or purposes of his heart, like metal is tested by the flame, Psalms 66:10.

Verse 3 adds that he had walked in the truth of the Lord because His loving kindness, His faithfulness in His promises, were always before David, Psalms 25:5; Psalms 89:27-37.

Verses 4, 5 relate David’s assertion that, 1) He had not sat with vain persons, deceitful people, among scoffers, and scorners of the holy people, holy things, and the holy, living God; He added that neither would he "go in with," in company with, "dissemblers," trouble makers, faultfinders, complainers, Psalms 1:1; Jeremiah 15:17; 1 Corinthians 15:33. See also Genesis 49:5.
Verse 5 adds, 2) that David hated the congregation (rabble assembly) of evil-doers who met for ulterior purposes, as described Psalms 5:5; Psalms 15:4; Psalms 31:5; Psalms 101:3-8; Psalms 119:21-22. He declared that he would not sit around in company with the wicked, as if to give sanction to their thoughts and deeds, 1 Corinthians 6:9-10; 2 Corinthians 6:14-18.

Verses 6, 7 assert that David resolved to wash his hands in innocency (not in hypocrisy) to compass or go about the altar of the Lord, Exodus 30:19; Psalms 73:13; 1 Timothy 2:8; not as Pilate did, Matthew 27:24.
Verse 7 declares David did this that he might publish abroad, testify of the wondrous works of God with much thanksgiving, from Egypt’s deliverance to this hour, Exodus 14:25; Isaiah 63:7.

Verse 8 witnesses that David had loved the habitation, assembly of worship, in the Mosaic order of worship and service. It had been recently placed there where the Shekinah (glory) presence of the Lord appeared, as promised to Israel, under her covenant, and to His church, under the new covenant, as set forth, Psalms 27; Psalms 4; Exodus 40; Exodus 34, 35; Numbers 9:15-16; 2 Samuel 15:25; 2 Chronicles 7:14-15; Luke 24:49; John 14:16-17; Acts 1:8; Matthew 28:20; Ephesians 3:21.

Verses 9, 10 appeal to the Lord to hold him back from identity in deed and in judgment with sinners, with men who survived through shedding the blood of others, 1 Samuel 25:29. For in the hands of such, he asserted, existed deceptive, scheming, mischief, even covetous bribes, for temporary gain for the wicked, as forbidden in the Law of God, expressed in the law of Moses, Exodus 23:8; Deuteronomy 16:19; 1 Samuel 8:3; Psalms 7:3; Psalms 15:5; Isaiah 33:15.

Verse 11 relates David’s resolve to walk continually before God and men, in his integrity of heart, as stated v.1. His upright conduct stood in contrast with those who lived for bribes, willful premeditated breakers of the law of Moses, as thieves and robbers, Exodus 20:15. He asked that the Lord "redeem" and be merciful to him, confessing his need of a redeemer, tho not so grave a transgressor as some. For "there is (exists) no man that sinneth not," that does not need redemption, 1 Kings 8:46; Exodus 14:30; Isaiah 59:20.

Verse 12 concludes that David’s foot continually stood in an even (firm) place, not on slippery ground; For his faith was in the Lord, as his redeemer, Psalms 46:1; 1 Corinthians 3:10-12; Isaiah 40:4; Isaiah 42:16; Psalms 27:11; Psalms 143:10. His final resolve was to bless the Lord, or praise Him, in the congregations, as they assembled, again and again, as called to do, Psalms 107:2; Matthew 5:15-16; Acts 1:8; Hebrews 10:24-25; Ephesians 3:21.