Tehillim / Psalms 26, Part 1, Walking in Integrity

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This week’s study is from Tehillim / Psalms 26:1-12, David opens saying א  לְדָוִד | שָׁפְטֵנִי יְהֹוָה כִּי-אֲנִי בְּתֻמִּי הָלַכְתִּי וּבַיהֹוָה בָּטַחְתִּי לֹא אֶמְעָד: Of David 26:1 Vindicate me, O Lord, for I have walked in my integrity, And I have trusted in the Lord without wavering. (NASB)  What is interesting is that the Hebrew Word שפט has the meaning “to judge” and here David is asking the Lord “to acquit” him of the charges that have been brought against him.  He continues saying ב  בְּחָנֵנִי יְהֹוָה וְנַסֵּנִי צָרְופָה [צָרְפָה] כִלְיוֹתַי וְלִבִּי: 26:2 Examine me, O Lord, and try me; Test my mind and my heart. (NASB)  Most people would not want someone to know their thoughts, the reason being is the wickedness that is contained within the heart; however, David asked the Lord to test both his mind and heart.  David knows that God is characterized by His lovingkindness and mercy (ג  כִּי-חַסְדְּךָ לְנֶגֶד עֵינָי וְהִתְהַלַּכְתִּי בַּאֲמִתֶּךָ:) and He has walked in God’s truth.  What does it mean to walk in God’s truth?  David says it means that ד  לֹא-יָשַׁבְתִּי עִם-מְתֵי-שָׁוְא וְעִם-נַעֲלָמִים לֹא אָבוֹא: ה  שָֹנֵאתִי קְהַל מְרֵעִים וְעִם-רְשָׁעִים לֹא אֵשֵׁב:  26:4 I do not sit with deceitful men, Nor will I go with pretenders.  26:5 I hate the assembly of evildoers, And I will not sit with the wicked. (NASB)  Because he has not kept the counsel of the wicked and has not sat in the assembly of evildoers, he is innocent before God.  Read More Here: Tehillim 26-Part1