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Vindicate me, O LORD

Psalm 26 is one of the so-called vindication psalms. The psalmist has been falsely accused and protests his innocence to God.

This particular psalm is couched in very general terms and it is not really possible to tie it down to one specific incident in the life of David. As such it provides us with an excellent model with a prayer whereby the person who has been unjustly accused may bring his cause to the LORD.

It is exceedingly frustrating, not to saying annoying, to be accused of something you haven't done. It is tempting to respond by denigrating those who are spreading the accusations and/or rumours but that is not really the Christian way and this psalm shows how we can all proceed in such circumstances.

For anyone to pray as does the psalmist in this psalm then personal integrity must be maintained to a high degree as the matter of the psalmist's integrity forms the major framework of this psalm. That is not to say that the psalmist is proclaiming himself to be totally sinless in every area of life but rather he is proclaiming that in the matter for which he is being accused he is innocent.

Let's now turn to the psalm more closely.

In Hebrew writing as in any other type of writing there are a variety of techniques to communicate what the author wants to get across. In our own language and culture we are used to a variety of methods and we take them in our stride – eg. Saturday morning cinema would move the story along to a critical moment and then the credits would roll with "To be continued". We are also used to the idea of interrupting the flow of a story with one or more flashbacks.

When we contemplate another language and/or culture the same techniques may be used and we are immediately at home. On the other hand other devices may be employed which we may have more difficulty recognising because they are new and foreign to us.

Hebrew writing and in particular Hebrew poetry has strategies and structures which we don't tend to use in English. This is the case with this Psalm.

In English we are used to a crime novel dropping hints and clues all the way through the book and then in just about the last chapter everything is resolved in a short compass and then the book ends.

In Hebrew authors often preferred to use a structure that looks more a pyramid. The author builds up his argument to a high point in the middle of his work and then descends slowly the other side echoing in reverse order the points that he developed in the first half.

A simple structure of this type would be:

A – B – C – B - A

And it is just this simple structure that we find in Ps.26.

A           vv.1-3  The Psalmist asserts his integrity – he walks in integrity  vv.11-12

B           vv.4-5  The Psalmist's relation to the wicked  vv.9-10

C           vv.6-8  The Psalmist's relation to worship.

By such a technique the Psalmist highlights what is for him of first importance – the point of the pyramid which is C: in this case worship.

As the psalm moves along the psalmist adds new information, developing and enlarging upon what are his themes.

The Psalmist wishes to proclaim that he is innocent of the charges lodged against him by asserting the integrity of his life and his devotion to the LORD. To describe this life he makes use of the verb "to walk" – this is used to describe his whole way of life, a regular repeating pattern:

v.1 "walk in integrity"

v.3 "walk in faithfulness"

cf. v.11 where he returns again to the idea of walking in integrity.

That his lifestyle was one of devotion to the LORD is brought out by the rest of the Psalm.

v.2 "heart and mind"

v.3 "eyes"

v.6 "hands"

v.12 "foot"

The integrity that the Psalmist proclaims is one that involves his whole life.

At the same time the Psalmist makes it clear that he is not trying to develop his own form of works righteousness because he is careful to declare that he is counting upon the LORD:

v.1 "I have trusted the LORD"

v.3 "steadfast love" this is part of the LORD's character and a blessing for those within the Covenant.

v.3 "I walk in your faithfulness".

The psalmist demonstrates that his integrity is not something sterile or purely academic. It had a profound affect practically upon his behavior.

Ps 66:18 "If I had cherished iniquity in my heart, the Lord would not have listened."

Because the Psalmist is sure of his integrity he is confident in making his appeal to the LORD.

This appeal comes in v.1 "Vindicate" and is repeated in v.11 "redeem me, and be gracious to me".

The word "vindicate" could be translated "judge me" – this idea lies behind v.2 where he asks the LORD to check him out thoroughly.

True Bible religion, while being intensely personal, is not something that can be restricted to one's private space. Bible religion cannot remain a purely private matter because it must affect how one relates to others.

The psalmist affirms that in his daily living he has not colluded with evil, wicked or immoral folk. He has been careful about the company he kept:

Cf. Ps.1:1 "Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers;"

But the psalmist's life has not been characterized only by his refusal to adopt the lifestyle of those who were not concerned in the slightest with the establishing of a life of integrity. No, the psalmist is not negative alone but has positively chosen Godly alternatives.

vv.6-8 The psalmist has not withdrawn from life in the world to life a hermit's existence but has taken his delight in the company of the LORD's people participating actively in worship. He is far from being embarrassed or ashamed of his religious choices. He is glad to belong to the LORD's people. He is glad to be able to associate with them in worship and he longs to declare the goodness of the LORD to others.

·       Jesus in early life grew in favour with man and God – Lk.2:40+52:

"And the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom. And the favour of God was upon him."

"And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favour with God and man."

·       His whole life was characterised by a sinless engagement with the world about Him.

At 12 He was to be found in the Temple discussing truth with the teachers of the day in Jerusalem.

In the last week of His life truth was still the focus of His ministry as He sought to bring light into a dark world – posing and answering questions with those who would come to Him.

Has He brought such truth and light into your life?

·       His entire life was one of unblemished integrity in a way so unlike the rest of us. We might be innocent in certain limited circumstances but He was spotless and pure in every area of life. In the presence of His enemies He could say as in Jn.8:46:

"Which one of you convicts me of sin?"

His disciples having spent three years in the closest proximity to Him could declare of Him:

"He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth." 1Pet.2:22.

·       Cf. v2. He was indeed tested severely in the wilderness - yet remained steadfast.

·       V.3 The Lord always did what was pleasing to the Father – He taught what His Father had given Him and throughout His life was utterly God-focused. "Heavenly-minded" and of tremendous "earthly use"!

·       He did not live the life of a recluse – He was fully in the world relating to those about Him but He never compromised and He never took on board the evil plans of wicked men. Cf. Peter's response to Him following on from his confession of faith. Cf. also the way in which He interacted with the Scribes and Pharisees – they were corrupt in their practices and instead of colluding with them He relentlessly exposed their hypocrisy even at great risk to Himself.

·       Cf. vv.6-8 His whole purpose in coming into the world was to become the Saviour of the World. To that end He showed exactly who God was and what He was like. In His High Priestly prayer in Jn.17 Jesus declared:

v.4 "I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do."

v.6 "I have manifested your name to the people whom you gave me out of the world. Yours they were, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word."

v.26 "I made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them."

Cf. how He cleansed the Temple, the designated place of worship, not just once but twice during His ministry.

·       Cf. v.9  Although at first appearance it might appear that He was swept away with the wicked as He was crucified – remember criminals either side of Him and buried in a borrowed tomb. But the third day allowed the glorious reality to shine forth.

·       Finally we can consider how the teaching of this psalm about integrity forms the foundation of our Lord's High Priestly ministry. His spotless life enabled Him to offer His own life as a perfect sacrifice for sinners. He was without spot of blemish. The word integrity that is used in the psalm is related to the word used of sacrifices that had to be without blemish.

Let us then finish on this note:

Heb.4:14-16

"Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.

Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.