Friday, 3 February 2017

Psalm 26 – God will vindicate the upright

In Psalm 26, David expressed his yearning that God would uphold his innocence of all the false charges brought against him. He must have felt the weight of the accusations hurled at him when he was fleeing from his own son Absalom. Remember the people from Saul’s house were saying all kinds of unkind things against him. David knew that the person who knew best concerning the situation was God Himself. So he turned and appealed to God to help clear his name. Bear in mind that people often look for scapegoat when things go wrong. We may be the victim of someone’s malicious scheme and is grossly misunderstood. God is the best refuge in such a situation. Like David we can always escape to Him to see our vindication.

Though not morally perfect, David was confident that as best as he knew how, he had lived an upright life and was innocent of the charges brought against him. One of David’s constant practices was to ever behold the Lord before him. Hence he was self-assured that the way he had conducted his life was ever before the eye of Jehovah, the ever present God. Hence, he could boldly assert his innocence for he was sure he had lived a life that could stand the most intense of divine scrutiny. He was sure that God could detect his guiltlessness concerning all the accusations. Three things marked out David’s attitude in life. (1) He had set the Lord and His lovingkindness ever before his eyes. (2) He had sought to walk in the truth of God. (3) And he abhorred all kinds of evil doers and had refused to fellowship with them.  

The only one desire that drove David’s life on was his strong determination to worship God, to be thankful to Him and to always give Him praise. And these he would do with a clear conscience. This was the attitude that had seen him often before the altar of God, lavishing Him with thanksgiving and praise. So in verses 8-11, David then chose to pray for favour. He asked to be spared by God. He knew that his hand was in God’s hand. Nothing could happen to him outside of God’s ordination. Nothing could be better than to abandon one’s life to God’s care in sweet surrender. He knew that God was merciful, unlike his enemies. Hence God would deliver him from the destructive intention of his enemies and he was sure of His deliverance.  

This Psalm urges us to live a life of integrity, seeking to walk blamelessly before God. When we do that, we will not be afraid of accusations that will be hurled against us. At all times, as best as we can, we should maintain an upright life wholeheartedly, and trust God to act on our behalf. He has said, “Vengeance is mine and I will repay it!” 

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