Sermon Tone Analysis

Intro

PSALM 26

Protestation of Integrity and Prayer for Protection.

A Psalm of David.

1 aVindicate me, O LORD, for I have walked in my integrity,

And I have trusted in the LORD dwithout wavering.

2 Examine me, O LORD, and try me;

Test my mind and my heart.

3 For Your lovingkindness is before my eyes,

And I have walked in Your truth.

4 I do not sit with deceitful men,

Nor will I go with bpretenders.

5 I hate the assembly of evildoers,

And I will not sit with the wicked.

6 I shall wash my hands in innocence,

And I will go about Your altar, O LORD,

7 That I may proclaim with the voice of thanksgiving

And declare all Your wonders.

8 O LORD, I love the habitation of Your house

And the place where Your glory dwells.

9 Do not take my soul away along with sinners,

Nor my life with men of bloodshed,

10 In whose hands is a wicked scheme,

And whose right hand is full of bribes.

11 But as for me, I shall walk in my integrity;

Redeem me, and be gracious to me.

12 My foot stands on a level place;

In the congregations I shall bless the LORD.

THIS PSALM IS a prayer for redemption founded on an extended protestation of personal innocence, which the psalmist invites the penetrating gaze of divine scrutiny to confirm and honor.

Three Points of Discussion:

God, the Determiner of Integrity (v.

1-2)

David began by entrusting himself entirely to God’s perfect justice.

He implores God to vindicate him, to take account of David’s moral integrity and judge him on that basis.

David recognized his integrity was less than perfect by his use of the phrase my integrity, in which the possessive pronoun indicates his adherence to integrity as he understood it, yet which was still not unadulterated by sin; David is not claiming perfection but his best intentions to follow the Lord without wavering.

God would examine (as in a court of law) and try (as precious metals are tried for the quality of the ore) not only his actions, but his mind (seat of knowledge/understanding) and heart (seat of emotions/affections and the active inner person).

David begins by entrusting himself entirely to God’s perfect justice.

He asks God to vindicate (to free from allegation or blame) him, to take account of David’s moral integrity and judge him on that basis.

David is not affirming perfection here; this is obedience in the midst of the immediate context.

He cannot prove his innocence or rely on limited human justice.

So he goes directly to God to plead his case.

He has no hesitation about appealing to God because he knows that he has led a blameless life

He cannot prove his innocence or rely on limited human justice.

So he goes directly to God to plead his case.

He has no hesitation about appealing to God because he knows that he has led a blameless life.

Adeyemo, T. (2006).

Africa Bible commentary (p.

638).

Nairobi, Kenya; Grand Rapids, MI: WordAlive Publishers; Zondervan.

God would examine (as in a court of law) and try (as precious metals are tried for the quality of the ore) not only his actions, but his mind (seat of knowledge/understanding) and heart (seat of emotions/affections and the active inner person).

God would examine (as in a court of law) and try (as precious metals are tried for the quality of the ore) not only his actions, but his mind (seat of knowledge/understanding) and heart (seat of emotions/affections and the active inner person).

Rydelnik, M., Vanlaningham, M., Barbieri, L. A., Boyle, M., Coakley, J., Dyer, C. H., … Zuber, K. D. (2014).

Psalms.