Date: 02-15-2020

Title:
Truth, Arrogance, Ignorance or God’s Grace?

(S) cripture:
    Psalm 26:1-12 (NASB77)
1 Vindicate me, O LORD, for I have walked in my integrity; And I have trusted in the LORD without wavering.
2 Examine me, O LORD, and try me; Test my mind and my heart.
3 For Thy lovingkindness is before my eyes, And I have walked in Thy truth.
4 I do not sit with deceitful men, Nor will I go with pretenders.
5 I hate the assembly of evildoers, And I will not sit with the wicked.
6 I shall wash my hands in innocence, And I will go about Thine altar, O LORD,
7 That I may proclaim with the voice of thanksgiving, And declare all Thy wonders.
8 O LORD, I love the habitation of Thy house, And the place where Thy glory dwells.
9 Do not take my soul away along with sinners, Nor my life with men of bloodshed,
10 In whose hands is a wicked scheme, And whose right hand is full of bribes.
11 But as for me, I shall walk in my integrity; Redeem me, and be gracious to me.
12 My foot stands on a level place; In the congregations I shall bless the LORD.

(O) bservation:
    At first look, David seems to have forgotten his past. If this was written before his sin with Bathsheba it seems a little arrogant and in either case he is not blameless. Is this the prayer of a faithful follower? David describes a life that I want to live. I want to mature to the point in my walk with the Lord that I could offer this psalm as a prayer. Certainly there are times when we see David being truthful, arrogant, a little ignorant or maybe naïve and especially aware of God’s grace. Here David is trusting in God’s gracious work in his life and calling on God to act on his behalf. David may have had a strong sense of his identity in God.

(A) pplication:
    I first thought how arrogant of David but then thought how much I would like to pray like that. My desire is to live so faithfully that this prayer could be mine. I am very aware that I do not have a blameless life but I do have a forgiven one and the New Testament declares that because of my faith in Christ I am blameless before God. I want my heart to be filled with God’s truth. I do not want to take the counsel of wicked and evil men but I must confess that I feel compelled to build relationships with men whose hearts are far from God in order to talk with them about faith issues. I am aware that I cannot do this on my own but can by the power of the Holy Spirit working in me. I ask the Holy Spirit to fill me and use me today.

(P) rayer:
    Lord my desire is to live so close to you that by your grace I could pray a prayer like David did. Fill me and use me today. Let my conversations today be productive for you. Amen