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Life on Level Ground—Psalm 26

• Introduction

• Opening prayer: Vindicate me, O Lord (1).

• Concluding prayer: My foot stands on level ground; in the great assembly I will bless the Lord (12).

• Of David. 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. 8 O Lord, I love the habitation of your house and the place where your glory dwells. 9 Do not sweep my soul away with sinners, nor my life with bloodthirsty men, 10 in whose hands are evil devices, and whose right hands are 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 level ground; in the great assembly I will bless the Lord. (Psalm 26, ESV)  

• Dual Practices

• 1. Commit to Integrity

• 1 ...I have walked in my integrity, and I have trusted in the Lord without wavering. (Psalm 26:1, ESV)  

• 11 But as for me, I shall walk in my integrity... (Psalm 26:11, ESV)

• 2. Seek Grace

• 11 ...redeem me, and be gracious to me... (Psalm 26:11, ESV)  

• Commit to Integrity

• Walk

• I have walked in my integrity (v.1)

• I have trusted in the Lord without wavering (v.1)

• I will walk in your faithfulness (v.3)

• Wisdom

• I do not sit with men of falsehood, nor do I consort with hypocrites. I hate the assembly of evildoers, and I will not sit with the wicked. (v. 4-5)

• Worship

• Go around your altar (v.6)

• Proclaiming thanksgiving aloud (v.7)

• Telling all your wondrous deeds (v.7)

• I love the habitation of your house and the place where your glory dwells (v.8)

• I will bless the Lord (v.12)

• Seek Grace

• Test Me

• Vindicate me (v.1)

• Prove me (v.2)

• Try me (v.2)

• Test my heart and my mind (v.2)

  • 2 Peter 1:5–9 (HCSB) — 5 For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with goodness, goodness with knowledge, 6 knowledge with self-control, self-control with endurance, endurance with godliness, 7 godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. 8 For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they will keep you from being useless or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 The person who lacks these things is blind and shortsighted and has forgotten the cleansing from his past sins.

• Cleanse Me

  • For your steadfast love is before my eyes, and I walk in your faithfulness (v.3)

  • I wash my hands in innocence and go around your altar (v.6)

  • I love the habitation of your house (v.8)

  • Do not sweep my soul away with sinners (v.9)

  • Cleansing agents in Scripture:

    • The blood of Christ (1 John 1:7)

    • Water Baptism (Acts 22:16, 1 Pet. 3:21)

    • The Holy Spirit (Titus 3:5, 1 Cor. 6:11)

    • The Word of God (Ps. 119:9, Eph. 5:25-26)

    • Confession (1 John 1:9)

• Redeem Me

  • Redeem me and be gracious to me (v.11)