PSALM 26:1–7 Claiming Integrity
READ: PSALM 26:1–7
v. 1 “Vindicate me, O LORD, for I have walked in my integrity.”
As Christians we know that salvation is by grace alone. Nobody wants to boast about his own good works. We know that we are but “poor sinners,” and we do not want to be like the Pharisees who trusted in their own righteousness and treated others with contempt (Luke 18:9).
What, then, are we to make of the words of David in Psalm 26? He asks the LORD to vindicate him. Look at the reason he gives: “I have walked in my integrity” (v. 1). “I will not sit with the wicked” (v. 5). “I wash my hands in innocence” (v. 6). Is David boasting about his own achievements? What is going on here?
Notice that David does two things. To begin with, he admits he’s a sinner when he prays for redemption and grace (v. 11). Also, in Psalm 25 he had explicitly asked for forgiveness of his sins (Ps. 25:7, 18). And yet, at the same time, David makes the bold claim that he is a man of moral integrity (vv. 4–5) and that he loves to worship at the house of the LORD (vv. 6–8).
Is there a contradiction here? Not at all. David was both sinner and saint. Like every human being, David had sin in his heart but like every true believer David also had the Spirit of Christ working in him! In fact, all true Christians can join David in singing Psalm 26. If you believe in Jesus Christ, you know you are a sinner who has been forgiven everything. But even more, you will see the work of his Spirit in your life and thank the Lord for it!
Remember Simon Peter? He knew that he was a sinner. At one point he even told the Lord Jesus, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord” (Luke 5:8). And yet, he also affirmed that he really loved the Lord, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you” (John 21:17).
Do you walk in integrity? It is possible. Bring your sins to him for forgiveness. Ask him to set your feet back on the pathway of obedience. And know that he will walk with you every step of the way.
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