A Brief Explication of the First Fifty Psalms, Psalm 26
PSAL. XXVI.
David being oppressed by the Judges of the Land, his powerful adversaries, and being exiled from the house of God; he appealeth to God, the supreme Judg in the testimony of a good conscience, bearing him witnesse, first of his endeavour to walk uprightly as became a believer, ver. 1, 2, 3. And secondly, of his keeping himself from the contagion of the evil counsel, sinful courses, and example of the wicked, ver. 4, 5. Thirdly, Of his purpose stil to behave himself holily and righteously, out of love to be partaker of the publick priviledges of the Lords people in the congregation, v. 6, 7, 8. Wherupon he prayeth to be free of the judgment coming on the wicked, ver. 9, 10. According as he was purposed to eschew their sins, ver. 11. And he closeth his prayer with comfort and assurance to be heard, ver. 12.
Ver. 1. JVdg me, O Lord, for I have walked in mine integrity: I have trusted also in the Lord: therefore I shall not slide.
2. Examine me, O Lord, and prove me; try my reines and my heart.
3. For thy loving kindnesse is before mine eyes: and I have walked in thy truth.
FRom Davids appellation from the unjust sentence of men against him in their courts and elsewhere, calumniating him and burying him under slanders, from which God and his own conscience knew he was free: Learne, 1. Gods children may be for a time unjustly in their cause and name, so born down with calumnies by Judges and others, that they must content themselves with the approbation of God, and of their own conscience, as David doth here. 2. When no remedy is seen on earth for Gods oppressed children, remedy may be had from God, the supreme Judge, who can redresse all matters abundantly. This did David, when he said, Iudg me, O Lord: that is, do the part of a just Judg to me, in this controversie between my adversaries and me. 3. He who appealeth to God, had need of a good cause, and a good conscience, for his carriage in it, that he may say with David, I have walked in mine integrity. 4. A good carriage in any controversie is then only comfortable and commendable, when it is the fruit of faith in God: therefore David addeth, I have trusted also in the Lord. 5. He that in obedience to God doth carry himself righteously, may be assured he shal stand and prevaile; for this conclusion doth the Prophet draw from these grounds, saying, I shal not slide. 6. Not only must a mans hand be free from injuring his party, but his affections also: In which case, the upright man is content the Lord should try him, and tel him what is wrong, that it may be amended hereafter; for here sincerity saith, Examine and try my reins. 7. Sincerity of behaviour may abide the trial of the conscience, and expect the approbation of God, when the word of God is the mans rule, and fear of interrupting of the sense of sweet communion with God, is the awband to keep him to his rule▪ for so doth David prove his sincerity here: for thy loving kindnesse is before mine eyes, and I have walked in thy truth, to wit, looking to thy precepts, threatnings, and promises.
Ver. 4. I have not sate with vain persons▪ neither wil I go in with dissemblers.
5. I have hated the congregation of evil doers and wil not sit with the wicked.
The second part of the testimony of his conscience, that he hath rejected the course of wicked men, and their ill counsel, and that he would neither follow the way against his enemies, which they followed against him, nor hearken to the evil advice, which wicked men, under whatsoever pretence of good wil to him, did offer to him, for a sinful transaction, or private revenge. Whence learn, 1 Though innocency may seem to make the godly a prey to their enemy, yet it wil promote their cause more before God, and give greater contentment to the conscience, then witty wicked plotting against witty and wicked enemies; for this doth Davids example teach us. 2. A godly man may take the service of many in a case of Law-businesses, and civil matters, whose counsel he must refuse in a moral dutie; as when Davids followers counselled him to slay the King, when he had him in his power in the Cave; In such a consultation or debate, he wil not sit nor go in with the wicked. 3. He that giveth ill counsel, whatsoever pretence of friendship, or advantage be made to commend the counsel which he offereth; yet in that point, he is a vain man and a dissembler. So doth the Prophet stile him here. 4. It is necessary to hate and abhor every wicked course, lest if we do not hate it, but can hearken unto it, we be drawn over to imbrace it: I hate (saith he) the congregation of the evil doers.
Ver. 6. I will wash my hands in innocency: so wil I compasse thine Altar, O Lord.
7. That I may publish with the voice of thanksgiving, and tell of all thy wondrous works.
8. Lord, I have loved the habitation of thy house, and the place where thine honour dwelleth.
The third part of the testimony of his conscience, is concering his resolution, to behave himself righteously and godlily out of love to honour God, and to be the fitter for worshipping of God, and serving him, as he should be employed. Whence learn, 1. The man whose hands are not clean from injuries done to men, his conscience should tel him, that he is not meet to offer worship to God: and where guiltinesse is, it should be taken away, lest the worship be refused: So resolveth David, I will wash my hands in innocency, and so compasse thine Altar. 2. Whatsoever was the ceremony of the godly with their friends, in compassing the Altar with songs of praise, when they offered their peace-offerings, it yieldeth a fit direction for every worshipper, and offerer of prayer, or praise to God, to do it with an eye to Jesus Christ, the true Altar that sanctifieth our offerings, and maketh our persons and services acceptable? for the compassing of the Altar, with an eye on it, signified this duty. 3. The Lords mercies to his own are marvellous in effect, when all circumstances are wel considered; Therefore are they here called wondrous works. 4. To love the fellowship of the Saints in the publick worship of God, is a token of our interest in God; and the conscience of this love is refreshful, as here. Lord, I have loved the habitation of thy house. 5. The meetings of the Church should be to proclaime the Lords glory in the exercise of all his ordinances; and where this is endeavoured, there wil God dwel, for such holy assemblies, are the place where his honour dwelleth, albeit many of the members of the Church be such before God, as they were in Sauls time, wherunto this Psalme relateth.
Ver. 9 Gather not my soul with sinners, nor my life with bloody men:
10 In whose hands is mischief: and their right hand is ful of bribes.
11 But as for me, I will walk in mine integrity: redeem me, and be merciful unto me.
Now he prayeth to be exeemed from the company of the wiced in their punishment, seeing he hath gotten grace to resolve, not to walk in their sin. Whence learn, 1. The Lord hath a harvest and a gleaning time also, set for cutting down, and binding together in the fellowship of judgments, Gods enemies, who have followed the same course of sinning: for here we are given to understand, that God wil gather their soule, and so wil le… none escape. 2. Such as separate themselves (not from the lawful society, but) from the sinful wayes of the world; shal also be separate from the society of their punishment; The soul of the one and the other shal not be gathered together. Gather not my soul with sinners. 3. Ungodly men will never stand to consent to the taking of the life of the godly, if by a fit tentation they be put to it, a bribe, or fear, which is all one, will do the turn; for sinners here are declared bloody men, in whose hands a mischief is, and their right hand is full of bribes. 4. It is the mark of a wise and godly soule, not to be diverted from his God or godliness, by the tentation of loss or gaine, which overturneth the worldly man; for David resolveth, go others where they wil, as for me, I wil walke in my integrity 5. A man so resolved, that is, who hath chosen God for his Redeemer, and Gods wayes for his rule, may be sure to be borne thorow all difficulties, all troubles and temptations, and to meet with mercy in the course and close of his life; for David after resolution of faith in God, and resolution honestly to endeavour obedience to God in his course, he prayeth (which is as good as a promise to us) Redeem me, and be merciful to me.
Ver. 12. My foot standeth in an even place: in the Congregations wil I blesse the Lord.
He closes the Psalme comfortably; Whence learn, 1. The believer, resolving obedience to God, and wrestling in prayer with God, shal not want a comfortable answer; his conscience shal speak good to him, and God shal ratifie the testimony of it, with his testimony: and thus shal the man be established in that sweet course of faith and obedience, and have cause to say, My foote stands in an even place. 2. Such a man may be assured to bless God effectually, for the performance of promises, and that in good company, either in this life, or in the next, or in both; and in this life with assurance, he may say with David, In the Congregation wil I blesse the Lord.