Psalm 26--I Will Bless the Lord

Psalm 26
English Standard Version

I Will Bless the LORD
Of David.
26 Vindicate me, O LORD
    for I have walked in my integrity,
    and I have trusted in the LORD without wavering.
2 Prove me, O LORD, and try me;
    test my heart and my mind.
3 For your steadfast love is before my eyes,
    and I walk in your faithfulness.

4 I do not sit with men of falsehood,
    nor do I consort with hypocrites.
5 I hate the assembly of evildoers,
    and I will not sit with the wicked.

6 I wash my hands in innocence
    and go around your altar, O LORD,
7 proclaiming thanksgiving aloud,
    and telling all your wondrous deeds.

8 O LORD, I love the habitation of your house
    and the place where your glory dwells.
9 Do not sweep my soul away with sinners,
    nor my life with bloodthirsty men,
10 in whose hands are evil devices,
    and whose right hands are 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 level ground;
    in the great assembly I will bless the LORD.

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David feels as if he needs God to act in a way to vindicate him and show that he is "not guilty."  Perhaps bad things are happening to David and the people are saying, "Bad things only happen to bad people" or "God would bless you if you were righteous."  We see these kinds of comments coming Job's way from his "friends" in the book of Job, and I'm sure that David is getting much the same treatment since that was the prevailing thought even through the time of Christ (and it still exists at some level today).

David lists all the ways in which he has followed the Law of the LORD, from refusing to associate with those who are evil to loving to worship in the house of the LORD and make sacrifices at His altar and loving to tell others of the marvelous works that the LORD has done on his behalf.

David then asks that the LORD not let him get caught up in the judgment of the wicked, though in all honesty, we know that's exactly what David and all of us deserve--none of us deserve God's blessings, especially the blessing of heaven and eternal life.  It is the free gift of God that we must receive by God's grace and mercy.

David says he will walk with integrity (one of my favorite words) and knows that he is secure in his position before God because he is sure that the LORD has answered his request to redeem him and be gracious to him.  For this reason, regardless of the situation and what men say about David and the LORD and their relationship, David will choose to stand in the assembly (gather for corporate worship) and bless the LORD.