Psalm 26

In this psalm, which is similar to Psalm 25 but does not contain confession, David asked for God's vindication because of his personal integrity.

 1. Assertion of integrity 26:1-3

When David asked God to vindicate him he was praying that the Lord would show to others that he had not been guilty of things with which others had charged him. To prove him guiltless the psalmist asked God to be fair with him, and he invited Him to examine his claim. He was confident that when the Lord would do this He would find David not guilty.

 2. Proof of integrity 26:4-8

26:4-5 David cited his separation from sinners and their assemblies as evidence that he was not wicked and deceitful (cf. 1:1). He was not speaking of his social preference but of his spiritual commitment. These were enemies of the Lord.

26:6-8 He preferred the sanctuary of the Lord to the meeting places of the wicked (cf. v. 5). Washing the hands in innocence is a figurative way of saying that his actions were righteous. He offered sacrifices to God in worship and praised God rather than ignoring Him as the wicked did.

 3. Prayer for reward 26:9-12

26:9-10 David asked God to spare him from a premature death in the company of the wicked. Evidently he expected God to judge the wicked this way and wanted God to separate him from them in His judgment as David had separated himself from them in his behavior. It appears that some people were lumping David together with others who were wicked in their thinking, but he did not want God to do that.

26:11-12 Having called on God to do right the psalmist promised to do the same. He would continue to do right as he waited for God to redeem him from his trouble. "Redeem"(Heb. padah) means to ransom or purchase out of trouble. This word often refers to the Israelites' deliverance from Egypt in the Old Testament (e.g., Deut. 7:8; 2 Sam. 7:23; Mic. 6:4). David felt he was on solid footing in his request and looked forward to praising God publicly for saving him from his accusers.

The people of God can appeal confidently for vindication from the false accusations of spiritual enemies because we have a righteous standing before Him. This is not a claim to being sinless but to being righteous because of God's work for us. The upright behavior of the righteous is evidence that we are, by God's grace, different from the wicked.⁷³