Psalms 26:1-3 (ESV Strong's)
1 Vindicate me, O Lord,
for I have walked in my integrity,
and I have trusted in the Lord without wavering.
2 Prove me, O Lord, and try me;
test my heart and my mind.
3 For your steadfast love is before my eyes,
and I walk in your faithfulness.
Ask God to Judge You!!
We seldom like it when others make a judgement about us. We tend to, unconsciously, make judgment after judgement of other people, however. There is something in the hears and minds of the human spirit that resists judgment, but portrays judgment, at the same time. In the above text, King David is asking God to make a judgment about him. The entire Psalm (26) is about how God is going to make judgment on the wicked and the righteous, and David is compelling God to do so now. The first verse says, “vindicate” me. It is probably better translated “judge me.” David knows of God’s judgement and is not at all fearful to see it coming. Those who have faith in Christ know that we do not fear the judgment of God. Note what Paul will later say about judgment on those who believe in Christ:
Romans 8:1 (ESV Strong's)
1 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
Paul looked back on Christ’s work and saw that his judgement was taken on the cross by Christ. Kind David looked forward and saw that his sins would be taken care of by the Messiah. Both men had faith in Christ’s work.
As believers we ought to look for Christ’s work in our lives. Note how David says it in another Psalms:
Psalms 139:23-24 (ESV Strong's)
23 Search me, O God, and know my heart!
Try me and know my thoughts!
24 And see if there be any grievous way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting!
Our prayer each day, as believers, should be that God takes His word and shines it into our hearts to reveal where we still need the work of the Spirit. The writer of Hebrews said it this way:
Hebrews 4:12-13 (ESV Strong's)
12 For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. 13 And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.
God uses His word to examine us. We should ask Him to do that. That is when we find and see His “steadfast love” before our eyes. For even in God’s judgement and seeing exactly who we are, He loves us unconditionally. That is the power of asking for God to Judge us in light of Christ’s work. We see His amazing love and we can walk in HIS faithfulness.
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