David pens another lament requesting vindication from his enemies based on the righteousness of his heart.
Verses 1-3
David opens with a general request based on previous action.
Vindicate me, Lord, because I have lived with integrity.
He asks God to test his heart to prove what he says is true. He is confident he will pass all scrutiny because he lives according to God’s truth.
Verses 4-7
David expounds upon the opening verses, laying out his good works before the Lord.
- David is careful who he spends time with
- He is worthy to approach the altar due to clean hands innocent of wrongdoing
- David praises God and tells others about Him
Verses 8-10
Verse 8 seems a little out of place unless you know the stanza is repeating elements of the previous section.
Lord, I love the house where you dwell, the place where your glory resides.
This is a powerful verse. It reflects the Old Testament understanding that God met with His people at the tabernacle or temple. Rarely did the Spirit indwell a believer.
Thankfully, today the Holy Spirit indwells all believers. We are where the gory of the Lord resides. This brings up two very important questions.
- Am I treating myself and my body as the dwelling place of God?
- Am I treating fellow believers with the respect worthy of the dwelling place of God?
David continues his request for vindication in verses 9 and 10. He requests he not be destroyed along with those who have committed evil works.
Verses 11-12
David reminds the Lord that he lives with integrity and actively pursues praise to the Lord. This says to me it’s okay to remind the Lord that you are living rightly. But keep in mind, God will show you if you’re bluffing. He knows the thoughts and intents of the heart. You cannot come to Him with one open hand while clinging to sin in the other closed fist.
If we are to be people of integrity, we must be willing to confess our sin and live in obedience to God.
This post is Day 26 of the 31 Days of Journaling through the Psalms series. If you would like to read the first post, Psalm 1: The Wise and the Wicked, click here. The introduction to the series can be found here.
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