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26. Psalm 26

1 Vindicate me, LORD,
   for I have led a blameless life;
I have trusted in the LORD
   and have not faltered.

2 Test me, LORD, and try me,
   examine my heart and my mind;

3 for I have always been mindful of your unfailing love
   and have lived in reliance on your faithfulness.

    4 I do not sit with the deceitful,
   nor do I associate with hypocrites.

5 I abhor the assembly of evildoers
   and refuse to sit with the wicked.

6 I wash my hands in innocence,
   and go about your altar, LORD,

7 proclaiming aloud your praise
   and telling of all your wonderful deeds.

    8 LORD, I love the house where you live,
   the place where your glory dwells.

9 Do not take away my soul along with sinners,
   my life with those who are bloodthirsty,

10 in whose hands are wicked schemes,
   whose right hands are full of bribes.

11 I lead a blameless life;
   deliver me and be merciful to me.

    12 My feet stand on level ground;
   in the great congregation I will praise the LORD.


7. That I may make men to hear, etc In these words, he shows that he referred the sacrifices to their proper use and design, which hypocrites were far from doing. They neither know, nor do they consider, for what purpose God appointed the services of worship, but think it sufficient to thrust themselves into the divine presence with the pomp and form of their dissimulation. David, therefore, wishing to distinguish spiritual worship from that which is fictitious and counterfeit, affirms that he came into the sanctuary to set forth the praise of God’s name. There is, however, a synecdoche in his words, as only one kind of worship is mentioned, although, in offering the sacrifices, the exercise of repentance and faith was required, as well as the giving of thanks. But as the ultimate design of the sacrifices, or at least their principal object was to celebrate the goodness of God in thus acknowledging his blessings, there was no impropriety in comprehending the other parts of worship under this. Thus, in Psalm 50:14, the sacrifice of praise is preferred to all external ceremonies, as if the whole of devotion consisted in it alone. Likewise in Psalm 116:12, it is said, “What shall I render unto the Lord for all his benefits? I will take the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the Lord.” Moreover, that he may the better commend the acknowledged power of God, and more impressively extol his benefits, David employs the phrase wondrous; as if he had said, that it was in no ordinary way that God had helped him.


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