In The Word
Read: Psalm 26
A Psalm of David.
26 Vindicate me, Lord, for I have walked in my integrity,
And I have trusted in the Lord without wavering.
2 Examine me, Lord, and put me to the test;
Refine my mind and my heart.
3 For Your goodness is before my eyes,
And I have walked in Your truth.
4 I do not sit with deceitful people,
Nor will I go with pretenders.
5 I hate the assembly of evildoers,
And I will not sit with the wicked.
6 I will wash my hands in innocence,
And I will go around Your altar, Lord,
7 That I may proclaim with the voice of thanksgiving
And declare all Your wonders.
8 Lord, I love the dwelling of Your house,
And the place where Your glory remains.
9 Do not take my soul away along with sinners,
Nor my life with men of bloodshed,
10 In whose hands is a wicked scheme,
And whose right hand is full of bribes.
11 But as for me, I will walk in my integrity;
Redeem me, and be gracious to me.
12 My foot stands on level ground;
In the congregations I will bless the Lord.
New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation
Walking In The Word
The Lord never sleeps, and He keeps His ear attentive to the prayers of His people continually. Knowing and understanding this truth lets us see that David, here in this psalm, spoke a bold statement to the Lord. He started by asking the Lord to vindicate or judge him. The judging God does is, however, based on more than just our outward actions, but it is also based on the motives of our hearts. David goes on to speak to the Lord on how he has been honoring God: with unwavering trust, applying His truth, and keeping the right relationships. David was getting before the Lord to make sure that he was pure, that he may proclaim whom God is to others.
God is looking all across the earth for someone to send so they may proclaim the gospel and further His kingdom. We must, by the Spirit of God inside of us, become vessels of honor in the hands of our Master. We must, as Paul said, discipline our bodies and make them our slaves; therefore, when we preach to others, we won’t be disqualified (I Corinthians 9:27).
Today, ask God to judge you, to judge the intentions of your heart, your speech, and your behavior. If there is something that needs adjusting, the Holy Spirit will speak to you. Then it’s your job to make the adjustments through the Spirit of God. Don’t wait until tomorrow to fulfill what God is telling you to do today because tomorrow isn’t promised to us. If tomorrow does come, it will have enough cares of its own. Allow God’s vindication to bring you closer to Him today and each day.