Where Do You Stand

OPENING PRAYER:

Faithful Father, bring your cleansing, renewing power to my wayward heart.

READ: PSALM 26

Of David.

1 Vindicate me, Lord, for I have led a blameless life; I have trusted in the Lord and have not faltered. 2 Test me, Lord, and try me, examine my heart and my mind; 3 for I have always been mindful of your unfailing love and have lived in reliance on your faithfulness.

4 I do not sit with the deceitful, nor do I associate with hypocrites. 5 I abhor the assembly of evildoers and refuse to sit with the wicked. 6 I wash my hands in innocence, and go about your altar, Lord, 7 proclaiming aloud your praise and telling of all your wonderful deeds.

8 Lord, I love the house where you live, the place where your glory dwells. 9 Do not take away my soul along with sinners, my life with those who are bloodthirsty, 10 in whose hands are wicked schemes, whose right hands are full of bribes. 11 I lead a blameless life; deliver me and be merciful to me.

12 My feet stand on level ground; in the great congregation I will praise the Lord.

PSALM 26

REFLECT:

Think about someone you love. You know they are not perfect, but you filter everything they do and say through that love. Thank God that he sees you that way because of what Jesus has done.

Really?! (v 1). Who are we kidding here? Look back at Psalm 25:7. David is a self-confessed sinner, yet he claims to be without blame. When we examine David’s life, we find moments of astonishing faithfulness (e.g., 1 Samuel 24) alongside appalling moments of moral failure (e.g., 2 Samuel 11). This guy is a long way from sinless. Just like you and me! And yet he says with such confidence that his life is ‘blameless’ (v 11). How can this be?

The truth is that this is a song about God’s love and forgiveness rather than about David’s virtues. The key is found in verse 3. God loves and forgives David. That’s all that really matters. Certainly, David is at pains to explain how he seeks to live (vs 4-8), but that’s not really the point. What matters is what God thinks about David. That’s where the good news starts.

It is easy to misread this psalm as the words of a deluded, arrogant man. In truth, these are the reflections of a man who knows he is loved and forgiven. These are words of assurance, not hubris. He is describing how God sees us through the sacrifice of Jesus.

APPLY:

Take a moment to contrast the reality of your weakness with the overwhelming power of God’s love. And be thankful!

CLOSING PRAYER:

Almighty God, you have loved me with an infinite love despite what I have been or said. Remove from me those things that hamper me from loving others as I have been loved.

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