Psalm 26 The psalmist appeals to God for his integrity and desires to be brought to the Divine test in order to have his innocence proved, vv. 1-3; shows that he had avoided all fellowship with the wicked, and associated with the upright, vv. 4-8; prays that he may not have his final lot with the workers of iniquity, vv. 9, 10; purposes to walk uprightly before God, vv. 11, 12. Notes on Psalm 26 This Psalm, and the two following are supposed by Calmet to be all parts of one ode, and to relate to the time of the captivity, containing the prayers, supplications, complaints, and resolutions of the Israelites in Babylon. This is probable, but we have not evidence enough to authorize us to be nice on such points. See on Psalm 26:1 (note).
Psalm 26:1
Judge me, O Lord—There are so many strong assertions in this Psalm concerning the innocence and uprightness of its author that many suppose he wrote it to vindicate himself from some severe reflections on his conduct or accusations relative to plots, conspiracies, etc. This seems to render the opinion probable that attributes it to David during his exile when all manner of false accusations were brought against him at the court of Saul.
I have walked in mine integrity—I have never plotted against the life or property of any man; I have neither coveted nor endeavored to possess myself of Saul’s crown.
I have trusted—Had I acted otherwise, I could not have been prosperous, for thou wouldst not have worked miracles for the preservation of a wicked man.
I shall not slide—I shall be preserved from swerving from the paths of righteousness and truth.
Psalm 26:2
Examine me, O Lord—To thee I appeal; and feel no hesitation in wishing to have all the motives of my heart dissected and exposed to thy view, and to that of the world.
Psalm 26:3
For thy loving-kindness—A sense of thy favor and approbation was more to my heart than thrones and scepters; and in order to retain this blessing, I have walked in thy truth.
Psalm 26:4
I have not sat with vain persons—מתי שוא me they have, men of lies, dissemblers, backbiters, etc.
Neither will I go in with dissemblers—נעלמים naalamim, the hidden ones, the dark designers, the secret plotters and conspirators in the state.
Psalm 26:5
I have hated the congregation of evil doers—I have never made one in the crowds of discontented persons; persons who, under pretense of rectifying what was wrong in the state, strove to subvert it, to breed general confusion, to overturn the laws, seize on private property, and enrich themselves by the spoils of the country.
Psalm 26:6
I will wash my hands in innocency—Washing the hands was frequent among the Jews and was sometimes an action by which a man declared his innocence of any base or wicked transaction. This Pilate did, to protest his innocence of the maltreatment and death of Christ. I will maintain that innocence of life in which I have hitherto walked, and take care that nothing shall be found in my heart or life that would prevent me from using the holiest ordinance, or worship thee in spirit and truth.
So wilt I compass thine altar—It is a mark of respect among the Hindoos to walk several times around a superior, and round a temple.
Psalm 26:7
That I may publish—I have endeavored to act so as always to keep a conscience void of offense towards thee and towards a man. I have made a profession of faith in thee, and salvation from thee, and my practice gives no lie to my profession.
Psalm 26:8
Lord, I have loved the habitation of thy house—I have carefully used thine ordinances, that I might obtain more grace to help me to persevere. And I have not been attentive to those duties, merely because they were incumbent on me; but I have loved the place where thine honor dwelleth, and my delight in thy ordinances have made my attendance as pleasant as it was profitable. This verse would be better translated, Jehovah, I have loved the habitation of thy house and the place of the tabernacle of thy glory. The habitation must mean the holy of holies, where the Divine Presence was manifest; and the place of the tabernacle must refer to the mercy-seat or the place where the glory of the Lord appeared between the cherubim, upon the lid or cover of the ark of the covenant. From his dwelling there, משכן mishcan, the place, and the appearance were called שכינה Shechinah; the dwelling of Jehovah, or that glorious appearance which was the symbol of the Divine Presence.
Psalm 26:9
Gather not my soul with sinners—As I have never loved their company, nor followed their practice, let not my eternal lot be cast with them! I neither love them nor their ways; may I never be doomed to spend an eternity with them!
Psalm 26:10
Their right hand is full of bribes—He speaks of persons in office, who took bribes to pervert judgment and justice.
Psalm 26:11
But as for me, I will walk in mine integrity—Whatever I may have to do with public affairs, shall be done with the strictest attention to truth, justice, and mercy.
Redeem me—From all snares and plots laid against my life and my soul.
And be merciful unto me—I deserve no good, but thou art merciful; deal with me ever in thy mercy.
Psalm 26:12
My foot standeth in an even place—On the above principles I have taken my stand: to abhor evil; to cleave to that which is good; to avoid the company of wicked men; to frequent the ordinances of God; to be true and just in all my dealings with men; and to depend for my support and final salvation on the mere mercy of God. He who acts in this way, his feet stand in an even place.
I will bless the Lord—In all my transactions with men, and in all my assemblings with holy people, I will speak good of the name of the Lord, having nothing but good to speak of that name.

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  • “It is probable that David penned this psalm when he was persecuted by Saul and his party, who, to give some color to their unjust rage, represented him as a very bad man, and falsely accused him of many high crimes and misdemeanors, dressed him up in the skins of wild beasts that they might bait him”.

    This is a great example of our lives today, no matter how nor who dislikes you or come after you, try to destroy your character, First we have to know that we are in the right standards with God. And I believe that’s why David came the way he did to God, Search me Lord, this day. That way we have a clearance to God, and knowing that we are not trying to hide, appealing to God Honestly.

    He appeals to God’s righteous sentence (Ps. 26:1): “Judge me, O God!

    “Saul, who was himself supreme judge in Israel, was his adversary, so that in a controversy with him he could appeal to no other than to God himself”. We sometimes be in a place that only God, it’s you and God. You have no other choice but to call and depend on God.

    He submits to his unerring search (Ps. 26:2): Examine me, O Lord! and prove me, as gold is proved, whether it be standard.

    Hebrews 4:12

    For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

    God knows, He really do…Love this..

  • Amen i agree

    Prophetess Kira Hatcher said:

    Psalm 26 is about integrity and unwavering trust and dedication.

  • Amen...when u ask God to search u be readyy... Cause he dose throughly. This is very powerful scripture and reading it brings more and more of understanding where we should be with God.

  • AMEN Queen Apostle Teyshana Wiley for the breakdown of Psalms the 26th chapter in the BIBLE it's always good to learn all there is to know about what GOD wants us to do to see and to understand AMEN.

  • Psalm 26 is about integrity and unwavering trust and dedication.

  • David, in this psalm, appeals to God touching his integrity.

    David here, by the Spirit of prophecy, speaks of himself as a type of Christ, of whom what he here says of his spotless innocence was fully and true, and of Christ only, and to Him we may apply it. We are complete in him. The man that walks in his integrity, yet trusting wholly in the grace of God, is in a state of acceptance, according to the covenant of which Jesus was the Mediator, in virtue of his spotless obedience even unto death. This man desires to have his inmost soul searched and proved by the Lord. He is aware of the deceitfulness of his own heart; he desires to detect and mortify every sin; and he longs to be satisfied of his being a true believer, and to practise the holy commands of God.

  • "He appeals to God", the supreme Judge, in the testimony of a good conscience, bearing him witness; first, of his endeavour to walk uprightly as a believer, Ps 26:1-3; secondly, of his keeping himself from the contagion of the evil counsel, sinful causes, and examples of the wicked, Ps 26:4-5; thirdly, of his purpose still to behave himself holily and righteously, out of love to be partaker of the public privileges of the Lord's people in the congregation, Ps 26:6-8 Whereupon he prayeth to be free of the judgment coming upon the wicked, Ps 26:9-10 according as he had purposed to eschew their sins, Ps 26:11 and he closes the prayer with comfort and assurance of being heard, Ps 26:12.

     Judge me, O Jehovah. A solemn appeal to the just tribunal of the heart searching God, warranted by the circumstances of the writer, so far as regarded the particular offences with which he was wrongly charged. Worried and worn out by the injustice of men, the innocent spirit flies from its false accusers to the throne of Eternal Right. He had need have a clear case who dares to carry his suit into the King's Bench of heaven. Such an appeal as this is not to be rashly made on any occasion; and as to the whole of our walk and conversation, it should never be made at all, except as we are justified in Christ Jesus: a far more fitting prayer for a sinful mortal is the petition, "Enter not into judgment with thy servant." For I have walked in mine integrity. He held integrity as his principle, and walked in it as his practice. David had not used any traitorous or unrighteous means to gain the crown, or to keep it; he was conscious of having been guided by the noblest principles of honour in all his actions with regard to Saul and his family. What a comfort it is to have the approbation of one's own conscience! If there be peace within the soul, the blustering storms of slander which howl around us are of little consideration. When the little bird in my bosom sings a merry song, it is no matter to me if a thousand owls hoot at me from without. I have trusted also in the Lord.Faith is the root and sap of integrity. He who leans upon the Lord is sure to walk in righteousness. David knew that God's covenant had given him the crown, and therefore he took no indirect or unlawful means to secure it; he would not slay his enemy in the cave, nor suffer his men at arms to smite him when he slept unguarded on the plain. Faith will work hard for the Lord, and in the Lord's way, but she refuses so much as to lift a finger to fulfil the devices of unrighteous cunning. Rebecca acted out a great falsehood in order to fulfil the Lord's decree in favour of Jacob—this was unbelief; but Abraham left the Lord to fulfil his own purposes, and took the knife to slay his son—this was faith. Faith trusts God to accomplish his own decrees. Why should I steal when God has promised to supply my need? Why should I avenge myself when I know that the Lord has espoused my cause? Confidence in God is a most effectual security against sin. Therefore I shall not slide. Slippery as the way is, so that I walk like a man upon ice, yet faith keeps my heels from tripping, and will continue to do so. The doubtful ways of policy are sure sooner or later to give a fall to those who run therein, but the ways of honesty, though often rough, are always safe. We cannot trust in God if we walk crookedly; but straight paths and simple faith bring the pilgrim happily to his journey's end

  • Lord as I seek You each and every day keep my feet on even ground that I may walk in all in Your truths.

     

  • AMEN. This is powerful it shows commitment UNTO GOD and how he desires to prove himself to him that he's not just about lip service but that his heart, soul, mind, and spirit is dedicated UNTO GOD.

  • Amen. I love the book of Psalms for there are so many verses that uplift and empower you to continue. 

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