Psalm 26 – "Listen, Linger, Lounge” Will Fail The Test And It Is All Over Series

PSALM 26 – “LISTEN, LINGER, LOUNGE” WILL FAIL THE TEST AND IT IS ALL OVER

Today we will be looking at the first 5 verses of Psalm 26, one of the Lectionary readings for today. (This message was given one Sunday morning in Boston, England, where I had been invited to share in a teaching ministry in the churches.)

{{Psalm 26 v 1. Vindicate me, O LORD, for I have walked in my integrity, and I have trusted in the LORD without wavering. (ESV)

Psalms 26:1 Judge me, O LORD; for I have walked in mine integrity: I have trusted also in the LORD; therefore I shall not slide. (KJV).

Psalms 26:1 “Vindicate me, Lord, for I have led a blameless life; I have trusted in the Lord and have not faltered.” (NIV)

Psalm 26:1 “Vindicate me, O LORD, for I have walked in my integrity and I have trusted in the LORD without wavering.”}} (NASB)

[A]. THE TESTIMONY OF THE OPEN HEART BEFORE GOD

I have provided 4 different translations as the English language gets a bit confused at times because of its extensive vocabulary. How do we understand this opening verse? It is a personal testimony, honest and sincere, though there are those who criticise and say it is boastful, which it is not. There are 4 parts to this verse, all important aspects in a righteous man’s walk. I will consider them, but not in order. They are indicated by certain words I have selected.

(1). INTEGRITY -> David states he has walked in integrity, and that would be, by the leading of the Holy Spirit. It is right for him to say that. The Hebrew word, “tom” means blameless, innocence, integrity, upright, and the word was connected with part of the high priest’s breastplate. The word is connected with the highest morality and ethical standing. Only a person led by the Spirit could attain that. Those Christians who live sloppy and non-committed life will fall short.

(2). TRUST -> David was the man after the heart of God, and that was God’s declaration, not man’s assumption. No one is considered favourable in God’s sight without faith or trust, and that means abiding faith and trust. God wants consistency, not wavering. Without faith it is impossible to please God. We consider those two words as synonyms often, faith and trust, but to be honest in the Christian sense, there is a difference. Faith is what brings a person to Christ, and his walk through his life is the walk of faith. Trust is actually the nearness to the Lord, that holds God’s hand daily, knowing He only has the best for you. It is the warmness of the Lord’s presence, and the position of the sheep that walks closely, almost at the Shepherd’s feet. How is your walk with the Lord? Do you walk as one at the Shepherd’s feet, or do you walk at a distance, afraid of commitment and trust?

(3). NOT SLIDE -> (That expression is used by the KJV translation). When you look at different bible versions, you will notice a few different translations of this word. The Hebrew means “slipping, sliding, tottering, shaking, and what comes from walking unsteadily”. Other versions use “wavering” or “faltered” instead. We need to consider this very carefully and understand David’s mind here. What he writes, he does so in the total belief that the Lord is sufficient to keep him from slipping, sliding, tottering, shaking, and from walking unsteadily. There is no boasting here. His trust is in the Lord. David knew the steadfastness of Jehovah. He knew the power of God. He knew the keeping power of God. He knew God would keep him from sliding. Ask yourself this question, “Do you believe God can keep you from sliding?” (pause) Then ask, “What causes you slide?” How do I slide? What is the reason for it?

In David’s life we know about Bathsheba, and we know of other failings. How do we reconcile all this; that David would say he would not slide when we know that he did? Yes, we acknowledge God is able to keep us from sliding, so we can confidently say, as David did, “I have trusted God, and therefore I will not slide or falter.” The sad thing is, that we are betrayed by our sinful natures, and sin suddenly catches us up. Our prayer should always be as David’s was in {{Psalm 141:9 “Keep me from the jaws of the trap which they have set for me, and from the snares of those who do iniquity. Psa 141:10 Let the wicked fall into their own nets, while I pass by safely.”}}

We can think ourselves into positions to which we have not attained. We are happy to say, we will not fall into sin and our faith will hold us up. Remember it is only the Lord who can hold you up. You can’t do that yourself.