Three Pearls, Three Minutes, Thirty Days. (Day 26)

Psalm 26: Vindicate me, Lord, for I have led a blameless life; I have trusted in the Lord and have not faltered. 2Test me, Lord, and try me, examine my heart and my mind; 3for I have always been mindful of your unfailing love and have lived in reliance on your faithfulness. 4I do not sit with the deceitful, nor do I associate with hypocrites. 5I abhor the assembly of evildoers 6I wash my hands in innocence, and go about your altar, Lord, 7proclaiming aloud your praise and telling of all your wonderful deeds. 8Lord, I love the house where you live, the place where your glory dwells. 9Do not take away my soul along with sinners, my life with those who are bloodthirsty, 10in whose hands are wicked schemes, whose right hands are full of bribes. 11I lead a blameless life; deliver me and be merciful to me. 12My feet stand on level ground; in the great congregation I will praise the Lord.

 Today’s Three Pearls

• Vindicate me, Lord, for I have led a blameless life – v.1: It takes a lot of chutzpah to take one’s case to God and ask to be judged; we are more likely to be asking God not to judge us. David’s integrity was was based on trust in God. He knew that commendation from other men or self-commendation could never equal approval from God -2Cor. 10:18. It is good to keep this in mind when we are being admired by those who observe us for how well or how far we have walked with Christ on our Christian journey. God sees all and knows all…….
• I do not sit with the deceitful, nor do I associate with hypocrites. I abhor the assembly of evildoers. I wash my hands in innocence, and go about your altar, Lord, – v.4-5: We must see, speak, trade and work with worldly people but we do not have to rest or sit with them; here sitting is used as leisurely abiding in their company and being at ease with them. It is easy to go from tolerating their vanities and profanities to admiring the way they balance their hypocrisies, for the senses are easily corrupted. We take special care to hate the vices in the congregation of those who are solely vested in this world, and not their persons.
• Do not take away my soul along with sinners, my life with those who are bloodthirsty, in whose hands are wicked schemes, whose right hands are full of bribes – v.9: If we do not want to enjoy the company of the wicked in the next world, we should not be enjoying their company in this world. It appears that even the wicked are terrified of what lies ahead at the point of death. Balaam begged to be gathered in with the righteous, Num.23:10. Self-preservation is common to both saints and sinners but the motive is different.  For saints, the hope of seeing Christ and the horror of that not happening motivates them to stay pure in heart (1John3:3) and avoid evil-doers. Sinners on the other hand are not bothered about seeing Christ, only about the discomfort of a burning hell.

Ref: Treasury of David