Psalms 26

Of David.

1 Vindicate me, LORD, for I have led a blameless life; I have trusted in the LORDand 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.

Psalms 26 Commentary

Chapter 26

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 eminently 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. Great care to avoid bad company, is both a good evidence of our integrity, and a good means to keep us in it. Hypocrites and dissemblers may be found attending on God's ordinances; but it is a good sign of sincerity, if we attend upon them, as the psalmist here tells us he did, in the exercise of repentance and conscientious obedience. He feels his ground firm under him; and, as he delights in blessing the Lord with his congregations on earth, he trusts that shortly he shall join the great assembly in heaven, in singing praises to God and to the Lamb for evermore.

Cross References 23

  • 1. S 1 Samuel 24:15
  • 2. Psalms 15:2; Psalms 7:8; Proverbs 20:7
  • 3. Psalms 22:4; Psalms 40:4; Isaiah 12:2; Isaiah 25:9; Jeremiah 17:7; Daniel 3:28; Psalms 28:7
  • 4. 2 Kings 20:3; Hebrews 10:23
  • 5. Psalms 66:10; Psalms 17:3
  • 6. S Deuteronomy 6:6; S Psalms 7:9; Jeremiah 11:20; Jeremiah 20:12; Ezekiel 11:5
  • 7. Psalms 6:4
  • 8. S 1 Kings 2:4; 2 Kings 20:3
  • 9. Psalms 40:11; Psalms 43:3; Psalms 86:11; Psalms 119:30
  • 10. Psalms 1:1
  • 11. Psalms 28:3; Matthew 6:2
  • 12. Psalms 31:6; Psalms 139:21
  • 13. Psalms 73:13; Matthew 27:24
  • 14. Isaiah 42:12; Isaiah 60:6
  • 15. S Joshua 3:5; Psalms 9:1
  • 16. Psalms 122:6; Isaiah 66:10; Psalms 27:4
  • 17. S Exodus 29:43; 2 Chronicles 7:1; Psalms 96:6
  • 18. Psalms 5:6; Psalms 28:3; Psalms 55:23; Psalms 139:19; Proverbs 29:10
  • 19. S Psalms 21:11
  • 20. S Job 36:18; S Isaiah 1:23; S Ezekiel 22:12; 1 Samuel 8:3
  • 21. Psalms 31:5; Psalms 69:18; Psalms 119:134; Titus 2:14
  • 22. Psalms 27:11; Psalms 40:2; Psalms 143:10; Isaiah 26:7; Isaiah 40:3-4; Isaiah 45:13; Zechariah 4:7; Luke 6:17
  • 23. S Psalms 22:25; Psalms 22:22

Chapter Summary

Psalm of David. The occasion of this psalm seems to be the quarrel between Saul and David, the former listening to calumnies and reproaches cast upon the latter, and persecuting him in a violent manner. The argument of it is the same, in a great measure, with the seventh psalm, and is an appeal made to God, the Judge of the whole earth, by the psalmist, for his innocence and integrity; Theodoret thinks it was written by David when he fled from Saul.

Psalms 26 Commentaries

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