Thoughts for the Day

Plea for Justice and Declaration of Righteousness. Of David.

Vindicate me, O Lord,
for I have walked in my integrity,
and I have trusted in the Lord without wavering.
Prove me, O Lord, and try me;
test my heart and mind.
For your steadfast love is before my eyes,
and I walk in faithfulness to you.

I do not sit with the worthless,
nor do I consort with hypocrites;
I hate the company of evildoers,
and will not sit with the wicked.

I wash my hands in innocence,
and go around your altar, O Lord,
singing aloud a song of thanksgiving,
and telling all your wondrous deeds.

O Lord, I love the house in which you dwell,
and the place where your glory abides.
Do not sweep me away with sinners,
nor my life with the bloodthirsty,
those in whose hands are evil devices,
and whose right hands are full of bribes.

But as for me, I walk in my integrity;
redeem me, and be gracious to me.
My foot stands on level ground;
in the great congregation I will bless the Lord.

(Lectionary, New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

Have you ever felt unjustifiably criticised? Nowadays many who are famous are constantly being criticised on social media, to the extent that the general public end up not knowing what is true and what is false. It's a case of put your head above the parapet and it will get shot at! In today's psalm David has made a choice. Notice his defensiveness at the opening of the psalm, indicating he is under pressure from others, perhaps to support them or even to clear himself of blame. He must decide what to do. After some thought he decides not to take the advice of his friends or enemies, but to appeal to Yahweh.

He asks God to "test him" and he sets out his case almost like a lawyer. He says, "I do not sit with the worthless, nor do I consort with hypocrites; I hate the company of evildoers, and will not sit with the wicked." His statement that he "washes his hands in innocence" reminds us of the singing procession of priests who wash their hands in the "laver" before going to the altar. It also links this psalm to No. 73 where we saw, two days ago, Asaph also "washing his hands in innocence".

David leaves his vindication to God. Having made his case he ends the psalm with a look at today and at the future, saying "I walk in my integrity", and "I will bless the Lord." The self-righteous man who opens Psalm 26 is not the same man at the end who is humbly content to spend his days in the congregation worshipping Yahweh, trusting that He will save him.

↠ When criticised can we hand the problem to God, before reacting?

Lord God,
when we feel criticism is unjustified
and we are innocent,
may we learn not to just react
and make the situation worse,
but to turn to You for help.
Help us to build a bridge
and not a chasm
between those who are critical
and ourself.
Amen.