Psalm 26

¹¹          But as for me, I shall continue in integrity;

redeem me, and be gracious to me.

¹²          My foot is brought to level ground;

in the great assembly I will bless the Lord.

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Redeem Even Me!

For the Lord’s Day:  the 17^th of April 2005

Introduction:  Here at the near end of this courtly themed psalm, we have the final statement of the psalmist stating again the integrity he affirmed at the beginning.  And in the final verse, David affirms his own private thought that there can be but one outcome, one verdict, and one blessing to be affirmed in the midst of God’s people.  And that is the righteousness of his cause given in service to the Lord God of heaven and earth.

 

I believe I understand David’s heart here.  Some years ago, in the public service the ongoing stress got to me and my doctor put me out to pasture for six weeks rest and relaxation.  In the midst of those many trials and tribulations – there appeared in the background of my mind a song that kept recurring over and over.  You have had that happen no doubt from time to time?  You hum a tune, it plays again and again in your mind, and you wonder, why can’t I put this aside and concentrate on my problems and how to solve them?  The song that sprang to mind in my time of turmoil was Up from the grave He arose!

 

Of course, like many – the song had to play on and on before I finally realized the message attuned to my spiritual need.  No matter what toils and troubles we may go through, the Lord Jesus Christ has been there before us and he has triumphed over the grave.  This should give us hope day in and day out.  Now, this does not change the conditions that we find ourselves in, but it does give us a certain hope that God will prevail and that all our personal problems are meant to grow us in grace and truth.

 

I am reminded of a great golfer who lived and played before World War Two.  He was as honest as the day is long.  Once he hit a ball into the rough and having no witnesses, he could have fudged a point and won the championship, but instead he chose to play the ball where it lay.  As a result – because of his absolute honesty, another won the game.

 

Development:  If it please the court, in this summary – David is saying the same.  He will play the truth straight from the heart of God and depend upon the divine grace to avail him a righteous judgment.  “But as for me, I shall continue in integrity.”

 

Nothing for David has changed from the beginning of this case to the end, he will continue to live as he has always lived: before the face of God.  You should note one slight change to the phrasing here in comparison to verse one.  In the previous verse, the integrity was situated in the past, in this case the same is presumed not only in the present but also into the future.  Calvin notes:  “In this repetition there is to be remarked a circumstance which more clearly illustrates David’s righteousness; namely, that, in the midst of so many temptations, he steadily held on his way.”  In other words: David had stayed the course.  He would continue to be who he always was – a man of God seeking only to serve and glorify Him in every political and spiritual affair of life.

 

In my ongoing role of Stated Clerk for the Presbytery – I am very careful not to use a heavy hand in the acquisition of my own agenda.  That agenda is always spelled out on a regular basis before the brethren.  And yet, like David – I must await the awesome possibilities that our Creator God has in mind.  If my ideas return through the agency of others, I am pleased to see them accomplished.  Not all of my druthers in the presbytery regard are accomplished, but seemingly the more important are achieved not by power and corporate man handling, but by a common assent of the brethren who may come to agreement in a timely manner.

 

David’s political, military and spiritual situation was of course a lot closer to untimely and ultimate disaster than any events I have ever been involved it.  Thus, his spiritual pain is more intense that what transpires here in American church politics.  Just as it may take a dozen years for any congregational problem to be solved, so “was Rome not built in a day:” if I may quote the worldly wisdom.

 

While God’s will is being worked out in every age and place, all of those called into the church must keep their minds and hearts focused where David’s ultimately was in the second line of verse eleven: “redeem me, and be gracious to me.”

 

Spurgeon puts this phrase in the proper perspective:  “Our integrity is not absolute nor inherent, it is a work of grace in us, and is marred by human infirmity; we must, therefore, resort to the redeeming blood and the throne of mercy, confessing that though we are saints among men, we must still bow as sinners before God.”

 

Therefore “redemption” from the Lord s always a necessary condition for those tried by fire in His divine service, and those He has called, He has kept always in mind and blessed the members of His church down through both covenantal eras.  A year or so ago, I was working through the two books of Chronicles in the Old Testament and in a few weeks we will be looking at the great eleventh chapter in Hebrews in some detail.  In that regard, I have always understood that when 1^st & 2^nd Chronicles were written – the composition was meant as a covenant survey of the work of God over the whole Old Covenant economy down to the return of that church from exile.  In a similar way – we may understand the book of Hebrews to be something of the same covenant survey with a different perspective in mind.  And that new perspective is written from the mind and intent of our Lord Jesus Christ.  After all, it is in His name that both Testaments in our scriptures are subscribed to insure the greatness of His Name and the divine effectiveness of His gospel and grace.

 

Application:  This thought brings us to the twelfth verse in our psalm.  A verse that is usually set apart from the rest as a summary statement of fact.  Even though I have styled the verse as David’s private thoughts in the course of the final summary of his case in court, still – there is the premise that these thoughts will be brought up before the church for the praise, honor and glory of the God of Gods and King of Kings, the ruler over Church and state:  even God Himself.

 

And so David writes:  “My foot is brought to level ground; in the great assembly I will bless the Lord.”  Calvin ascribes the thinking here to a celebration of God’s grace towards him.  Therefore, David vows his gratitude.  The level ground is a biblical concept that encourages us to see and know that the precepts, regulations and commandments of God give us a better place to stand throughout eternity than the shifting sands of human expedience.  The fads and fancies of the last fifty years should help us to greatly appreciate the more desirable ground of God’s being and purpose.

 

Even as you noticed when you drove in this morning, there is a sudden influx of more dirt out on the hillside.  What many of you don’t appreciate – unless you drove by here seven or eight years ago: is the fact that the level ground up here by the road has more than doubled in useable acreage.  So it is also in the spiritual realm understood by David and every saint who has been given to appreciate the solid nature of the doctrines of God. 

 

Therefore, David promises to give witness to the graces of God towards him, before the people.  As the last line of this psalm is worded, it is not that David will walk into an empty sanctuary and give his thanks and praises to God, but that he will come when the whole people are assembled that they might hear what God has done.  Years ago, I was given a book to read in Seminary.  It’s title was something like: The Acts of God.  The title is the only thing I remember, seemingly in my mind that was the only thing the author really and truly got right in his whole commentary.

 

David, of course does a lot better – and in our own evangelical, conservative and biblical understanding of the inspired text we come close to David’s understanding.  The Lord God of heaven and earth, has taken the measure of each man and nation.  Some He uses directly to serve Him in prayer and praise.  Others he uses indirectly through the human comedy of serving their own will and purpose.  This competition between the two cities of men, the worldly and the churchly moves history along towards His providential end, in spite of many and manifold objections to it and cursing of it.

 

David here in this trial of will and purpose gives all credit to the divine side of things.  Since God has called him personally to serve as an earthly regent, thereby God will win out even through the inadequate agency of His chosen people.  And in the midst of sometimes hard service, many trials and troubles, if His people will humble themselves, understand the nature of His redemption and call upon His Name – all will be well both in their day and forever after.  May we understand His story in the same way as David.  Amen.

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PREACHING RESOURCES

Calvin, John:  Commentary on Book of Psalms.

Delitzsch, F:  Commentary on the Old Testament – Psalms.

Spurgeon, C.H:  Treasury of David.

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