1 Vindicate me, O Lord, for I have walked in my integrity, and I have trusted in the Lord without wavering.
2 Prove me, O Lord, and try me; test my heart and my mind.
3 For your steadfast love is before my eyes,
and I walk in your faithfulness.
4 I do not sit with men of falsehood, nor do I consort with hypocrites.
5 I hate the assembly of evildoers, and I will not sit with the wicked.
6 I wash my hands in innocence and go around your altar, O Lord,
7 proclaiming thanksgiving aloud, and telling all your wondrous deeds.
When I read this Psalm from David, I think “wow.” I don’t know if that’s the first thought that comes to your mind, but it is for me. Because when I read this Psalm, I see many things from David that I hope and pray I see in my own life. But honestly, as I observe this Psalm, I can’t say with 100% honesty that I could pray this exact thing to God and be honest with Him. I don’t always walk in integrity like I need to. I don’t always trust in the Lord without wavering. I’m hesitant to ask God to test me and try me because I’m not where I want to be yet, but I’m getting there day by day by His grace. I know God’s love is steadfast, but I don’t always walk in His faithfulness like I want to. I sometimes sit with men of falsehood, and I sometimes associate with hypocrites. I do hate the assembly of evildoers, but sometimes I’m apart of them. I wash my hands, but it’s not because I’m clean, it’s because I’m dirty and in need of cleansing. I tell the wondrous deeds of God to some people sometimes, but not to the level that I wish I did.
I’m being as real and transparent with you all as I can because we need to be real and transparent with each other as Christians. It does me no good to lie and say I’m doing well and I’m exactly where I need to be with God, especially if I’m really not. If I’m transparent and real with you, I’m opening myself up to accountability from you. I recognize that I’m not perfect. I recognize that you’re not perfect. But that’s the perfect thing about the church: imperfect people seeking the perfect Savior’s love and grace.
David was a good man. David loved the Lord with all His heart. David is the example man when it comes to praying to the Lord. David was a true friend of God. David was a man after God’s own heart, and I want to be like David and share his humility before the Lord. So here are a few traits I see from David in Psalm 96 that I want to obtain for myself:
- He is blameless before God.
- He is always ready to be tested, because He is so confident that he will pass.
- He recognizes the continual love of God and let’s that be his motivation for doing good.
- He doesn’t sit with sinners, he invited them to sit with him in righteousness.
- He is comfortable to come before the throne of God.
- He tells everyone about every wondrous deed from God.
I want to ask you, friend, do you love the Lord? Are you a true friend of God? Do you want to grow closer to Him during these moments of uncertainty and fear? Can you, especially in a moment like this, comfortably share the heart of David and proclaim thanksgiving to God and tell all of His wondrous deeds? I hope so, and I pray so for myself, and for you. I love you.