Psalm 26— Psalm 26 is simply titled A
Psalm of David. Attempts to place it at a specific time in David’s life are
unsure. It shares themes with many psalms, but notice that despite the danger
of evil associates, David remained confident that he would not slip, and that
he would securely stand in an even place.
The psalmist,
David, asks the LORD to vindicate him—clear his name—of false accusations. For
what reason? Because David has ‘trusted
in the LORD without wavering’—he belongs to the LORD by faith.
Though Christ
has died to forgive every one of our sins, the devil will try to throw our
transgressions in our face, and make us despair of salvation. In such
situations, we must call upon the LORD to vindicate us—not because we are
without sin, but because Christ has redeemed us from sin and its eternal
consequence and, by faith, we belong to Him. Says St. Paul, ‘There is now no condemnation for those who
are in Christ Jesus.’ - Romans 8:1
C.S. Lewis has
been mention to say, “Many people have a
very strong desire to meet celebrated or ‘important’ people, including those
whom they disapprove…. But I am inclined to think a Christian would be wise to
avoid, where he decently can, any meeting with people who are bullies, or
lascivious, cruel, dishonest, spiteful and so forth. Not because we are ‘too
good’ for them. In a sense we are not good enough. We are not good enough to
cope with all the temptations, nor clever enough to cope with all the problems,
which an evening spent in such society produces.”[1]
Prayer in times of affliction and distress:
Almighty and most merciful God, in
this earthly life we endure sufferings and death before we enter into eternal
glory. Grant us grace at all times to subject ourselves to Your holy will and
to continue steadfast in the true faith to the end of our lives that we may
know the peace and joy of the blessed hope of the resurrection of the dead and
of the glory of the world to come;[2]
Collect for Psalm 26 – Lord Jesus, Lamb without stain, image of the Father’s glory; Give us the strength to avoid sin and be faithful to you always. Lead us to the place where God dwells in his glory, that we may praise him with joy among his saints now and forever.[3]
{2]
Lutheran Service Book © 2006 Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis
[3]
For All the Saints, A Prayer Book for and by the Church, © 1995 Vol. II
American Lutheran Publicity Bureau, Delhi, NY
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