Let us again
look to Psalm 26. This Psalm was probably written when David made
amends with the Gibeonites for the unholy dealings of Saul. David
opens himself up to the Lord for intense examination.
We look this
week at the 2nd and 3rd stanzas. In verses
4-5 we find ‘A Hearty Overcoming’. In verses 6-8 we find ‘A
Heartfelt Overflow’. Our text says,
“I have not sat with vain
persons, neither will I go in with dissemblers. I have hated the
congregation of evil doers; and will not sit with the wicked. I will
wash mine hands in innocency: so will I compass thine altar, O LORD:
That I may publish with the voice of thanksgiving, and tell of all
thy wondrous works. LORD, I have loved the habitation of thy house,
and the place where thine honour dwelleth.”
In verses 4 and
5 David expresses ‘A Hearty Overcoming’. He has not ‘sat
with vain people’. These are people of the world who pursue
after empty adventures. A man is known by the company he keeps. We
are open for honest slander when we keep company with the world. We
must see, speak, and trade with the world, but we must not take our
rest with them. David also says in verse 4 that he has ‘no
company with dissemblers’. This is our word for hypocrites or
pretenders. Thomas Adams said, “They are like a dung hill
covered with snow or a lying hen that cackles when she hath not laid
an egg.” Let us remember that those we keep company with in
this world may be our company in the world to come. “Those who
would be transfigured with Jesus must not be disfigured by
conformity to the world.” (Spurgeon)
In verse 5
David continues his ‘Hearty Overcoming’. He ‘hates the
congregation of evil doers’ and won’t ‘sit with the wicked’.
Let what God hates be the focus of what we hate. A rotten apple in
a barrel will not keep the barrel ripe. A rusty piece of armor
cannot keep a shining piece free of rust. If you lay down with the
dogs you are more than likely to get fleas.
In verses 6-8
we find David’s ‘Heartfelt Overflow’. In coming into God’s
presence David says he has ‘washed his hands in innocency’.
The word ‘innocency’ means cleanness or blameless. The
washing of hands speaks of purity in the life both the seen and the
hidden life. Paul said, ‘Lift up holy hands when we worship’.
The indication is that the hands are clean. David is ‘compassing
the altar’ in preparation of worship.
In verse 7 we
notice his worship is the ‘voice of thanksgiving’. What
greater thing can we do than give thanks? The gross sins of Romans
1 were uncleanness, vile affections, and a reprobate mind. This is
where we find Bible teaching on the homosexual and lesbian life
style. These sins had their roots in an unthankful spirit. (Romans
1:21)
David tells
with an overflowing heart all of God’s wondrous works. These are
works that are distinguished above others and too high to hide. Oh,
let us not keep quiet about what our Lord has done for us.
In verse 8
David’s ‘Heart Overflows’ about his love for the house of
God. Oh, how we speak of the places we have been and the things we
have seen. There is no place like our local assembly. David says
it is the place where His ‘honour dwelleth’.
It was conveyed
to an elderly deaf lady one day the question, ‘Why do you come so
faithfully to the house of God when you can’t hear anything that is
said?’ She replied, ‘I came because it is how I feel the Lord’s
presence.’
Oh, let His
children have clean hands before Him, go to His house and let our
hearts overflow in worship. He is worthy of all our glory and
honor.
