Andy Nagahara
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Leading a blameless life (Psalm 26)
A. The way you had come with Jesus
1 Vindicate me, O LORD, for I have led a blameless life; I have trusted in the LORD without wavering.
2 Test me, O LORD, and try me, examine my heart and my mind;
3 for your love is ever before me, and I walk continually in your truth.
4 I do not sit with deceitful men, nor do I consort 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, O LORD,
7 proclaiming aloud your praise and telling of all your wonderful deeds.
8 I love the house where you live, O LORD, the place where your glory dwells.
9 Do not take away my soul along with sinners, my life with bloodthirsty men,
10 in whose hands are wicked schemes, whose right hands are full of bribes.
11 But I lead a blameless life; redeem me and be merciful to me.
12 My feet stand on level ground; in the great assembly I will praise the LORD.
1. Changed values of your life (1-3, 6-8)
Vindicate me, O LORD, for I have led a blameless life; I have trusted in the LORD without wavering. Test me, O LORD, and try me, examine my heart and my mind; for your love is ever before me, and I walk continually in your truth. (1-3)
I wash my hands in innocence, and go about your altar, O LORD, proclaiming aloud your praise and telling of all your wonderful deeds. I love the house where you live, O LORD, the place where your glory dwells. (6-8)
You know the way to the place where I am going.” Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?” Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. (John 14:4-6)
2. Examples of how not to behave (4, 5, 9, 10)
I do not sit with deceitful men, nor do I consort with hypocrites; I abhor the assembly of evildoers and refuse to sit with the wicked. (4, 5)
Do not take away my soul along with sinners, my life with bloodthirsty men, in whose hands are wicked schemes, whose right hands are full of bribes. (9, 10)
B. The way you will go with Jesus (11-12)
But I lead a blameless life; redeem me and be merciful to me. My feet stand on level ground; in the great assembly I will praise the LORD. (11, 12)
1. Blameless life
2. Where are we heading?
Summary
Psalmist is expressing how his past life was “blameless” and “innocence”. Moreover, he is asking God to examine his heart. However that is not because he is so confident in his right, but he says so just because he trusts in “God who has redemption and mercy on him” as shown in verse 11. “Redemption and mercy of God” became apparent to everyone’s eyes by Crucifixion and Resurrection of Jesus. Let us continue to aim for the Kingdom of God with our Savior Jesus..
For Discussion
1) Why could the psalmist assert his innocence in his past life?
2) Where are we heading with our Lord?