“Integrity means people are the same on the inside as they claim to be on the outside.” — Billy Graham
As we read Psalm 26, we find ourselves in familiar territory. It’s actually an expansion of the first few verses of Psalm 1. Here verses 1-5 and 9-10 reflect Psalm 1:1, “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful.” Verses 5-8 and 11-12 mirror Psalm 1:2, “But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night.” David is very concerned about what God thinks of him—and not at all concerned what others might think. After all, what others think is probably skewed for or against me, but what God thinks about me is exactly right. Self-vindication is of little use, and flattery from others is downright dangerous. So he begins, “Vindicate me, O Lord, for I have walked in my integrity. I have also trusted in the Lord” (Ps 26:1). Again we see the metaphors of sitting and walking from the first Psalm. “I have walked in Your truth. I have not sat with idolatrous mortals, nor will I go in with hypocrites. I have hated the assembly of evildoers, and will not sit with the wicked” (vv 3-5). He certainly believed that “evil company corrupts good habits” (1 Cor 15:33)! What steps can we take to avoid this corrupting influence in our lives? 1. I will take seriously the defilement of sin, and 2. I will frequent the place of sacrifice (v 6). 3. I will be vocal in my thankfulness, and 4. I will testify to the marvelous doings of the Lord in my life (v 7). 5. I will seek nearness so as to be at home in God’s presence, and 6. I will live life for the glory of God (v 8). Rejecting the world’s ways (vv 9-10), Lord, I will need Your redeeming power and daily mercy (v 11). But it is my chief objective to live in the conscious presence and blessing of the Lord (v 12). Amen to that!