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Psalms 26:1
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A Prayer for Divine Scrutiny and Redemption

A Psalm of David.

1 Vindicate ame, O Lord,
For I have bwalked in my integrity.
cI have also trusted in the Lord;
I shall not slip. 
2 aExamine me, O Lord, and1 prove me;
Try my mind and my heart. 
3 For Your lovingkindness is before my eyes,
And aI have walked in Your truth. 
4 I have not asat with idolatrous mortals,
Nor will I go in with hypocrites. 
5 I have ahated the assembly of evildoers,
And will not sit with the wicked. 
6 I will wash my hands in innocence;
So I will go about Your altar, O Lord,
7 That I may proclaim with the voice of thanksgiving,
And tell of all Your wondrous works.
8 Lord, aI have loved the habitation of Your house,
And the place1 where Your glory dwells. 
9 aDo1 not gather my soul with sinners,
Nor my life with bloodthirsty men, 
10 In whose hands is a sinister scheme,
And whose right hand is full of abribes. 
11 But as for me, I will walk in my integrity;
Redeem me and be merciful to me.
12 aMy foot stands in an even place;
In the congregations I will bless the Lord. 
Commentaries:
Barnes' Notes
<< Psalms 25:22   Psalms 26:2 >>


Psalms 26:1

Judge me, O Lord - That is, determine in regard to my case whether I am truly thy friend, or whether the evidences of my piety are genuine. The psalmist asks an examination of his own case; he brings the matter before God for Him to decide; he submits the facts in regard to himself to God, so that He may pronounce upon them whether they constitute evidence of real piety.

For I have walked in mine integrity - On the word "walk," see the notes at Psalms 1:1. The word "integrity" here is the same which is elsewhere rendered "perfection." See the notes at Job 1:1. Compare Psalms 37:37. See also Psalms 7:8; Psalms 25:21; where the word is rendered, as here, "integrity." It means here "uprightness, sincerity." This is the first thing which he brings before God for him to examine - the consciousness that he had endeavored to live an upright life; and yet it is referred to as if he was sensible that he "might" have deceived himself, and therefore, he prays that God would determine whether his life had been really upright.

I have trusted also in the Lord - Of this, likewise, he felt conscious; but this too he desired to submit to God. Trust in Yahweh, and an upright life, constituted the evidence of piety, or were the constituents of true religion according to the views of the Hebrews, as they are the constituents of true religion everywhere; and the purpose of the psalmist was to ascertain whether his piety was really of that character.

Therefore I shall not slide - If these are really traits of my character, if I really possess these, I shall not be moved. My feet will be firm, and I shall be secure. Or this may be regarded as a further declaration in regard to himself, as indicating firm confidence in God, and as meaning that he was conscious that he would not be moved, or would not swerve in this purpose of life. And yet the next verse shows that, with all this confidence as to his own character, he felt that there was a "possibility" of his having deceived himself; and, therefore, he pleaded that God would search and test him.


 
<< Psalms 25:22   Psalms 26:2 >>

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