Psa 26:8 | KingComments | STEP | David proves his integrity by pointing out, on the one hand, his separation from sinners ( ) and, on the other, his love for God and His house ( ). It seems that David was accused of close contact with wicked people and would have become unfaithful to his God as a result. He makes no claim to perfection, but does plead for acquittal of those imputations, while pointing to his love for God and His house. David wants nothing to do with deceitful men and pretenders ( ). He does not want to sit with them or go with them ( ; ). Those who walk in integrity do not want to. Deceitful men are people who are not integrous and not honest; they are unreliable reckless boasters. It is unthinkable that he could sit with them, as if he were comfortable with them. Pretenders are the hypocrites, people with hidden, depraved plans. They give the appearance of being friends, but they are out to harm you in the grossest way. Instead of love for “evildoers” there will be hatred for being part of their “assembly” ( ). Evildoers are a separate company in God’s people. They do not have the good of God’s people in mind, but set out to do evil to that people. Nor does he “sit with the wicked”. He does not want to be involved with them in any way or give the impression of feeling at home in their company. They are a complete contrast to him. This also applies to us, believers of the church. Those who live with God do not want fellowship with such people. It is not about people who think differently from us about certain things in God’s Word, but about apostates. Unfortunately, there are also people among God’s people who do so anyway. If a member of God’s people has fellowship with such people, God cannot have fellowship with such a person ( ). Whoever imitates David in this attitude toward the apostates, should not count on approval in professing Christianity and certainly not in the world. Those who love fellowship with God will joyfully bear the reproach that separation from the world and the Christian world brings. David made it clear that he has no fellowship with apostate sinners. After having said what he has not done he says what he has done ( ). He says with Whom he does have fellowship and with Whom he does feel at home. First he pleads his innocence again. He laid his hands on the sacrifice to confess his sins after which the sacrifice was slaughtered. As a result, the sins were taken away. In this way he has washed his hands – a picture of a cleansed and therefore pure conscience ( ). He has clean hands (cf. ; ). Originally this precept was only for the priests. Before they could do their service, they had to wash their hands and feet ( ). Later the laity did similar ritual washings, and even Pilate. It is obvious that it is about the spiritual meaning of it. Therefore, what Pilate did was a gross lie. He washed his hands ( ), while smearing them by personally handing over the Innocent to be crucified. As far as David knew, he confessed all his sins ( ). He is, contrary to the deceit in , honest and integrous. He has clean hands. Therefore, he can boldly go to God’s altar and go about it, that is worship there. On the altar, where the atoning sacrifice was brought, he can now offer sacrifices of thanksgiving. The altar speaks of the Lord Jesus, as does the sacrifice, for the Lord Jesus offered Himself as a sacrifice to God. The picture is that the believer who goes to the altar has fellowship with the Lord Jesus as well as with others who are also there (cf. ; ). This is a huge contrast to the fellowship with sinners that David spoke of earlier, which he had no part in. Not only that, but he also greatly disliked their practice and attitude toward life ( ). The worship service of the believer is to give thanks to God ( ). As in , it is still personal in this verse. Later, in , the heart expands and David does so in the midst of others in the congregations. We had something similar in Psalm 25, which was a personal struggle of David, but ends in an intercession for the people ( ). In the song of praise here, David sings of all the wonders God has done for him ( ). This is a great example for us to practice worship. We may “continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that give thanks to His name” ( ). There is always plenty of reason to honor God. Do we still see the wonders God has done and continues to do for us? Do we sing about them and tell Him about them? In , David speaks of his love for the place where God’s altar stands. The elaborate way in which he speaks of God’s house makes it clear how important that place is to him. David speaks of “house” and “place”, a double expression of the dwelling place of God. This is a preparation for Psalm 27 where the house of God occupies a predominant place. In this sense, Psalm 26 is a bridge between Psalm 25 and Psalm 27. For David, the house where God dwells is the tent where he brought the ark (cf. ). Later, this place is the temple. It is the dwelling place of God’s glory, the shechinah , the symbol of His presence. A house or a dwelling place is more than just a place to be, it is also to ‘feel at home’ there. For us now, the church is the dwelling place of God. That is where His glory, which is Christ, lives. We can experience this when we come together as a church. The Lord Jesus said of that place: “For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst” ( ). Do we love that place too?

‏ Psalms 26:8

Proofs of Integrity

David proves his integrity by pointing out, on the one hand, his separation from sinners (Psa 26:4-5) and, on the other, his love for God and His house (Psa 26:6-8). It seems that David was accused of close contact with wicked people and would have become unfaithful to his God as a result. He makes no claim to perfection, but does plead for acquittal of those imputations, while pointing to his love for God and His house.

David wants nothing to do with deceitful men and pretenders (Psa 26:4). He does not want to sit with them or go with them (Psa 1:1; Jer 15:17). Those who walk in integrity do not want to. Deceitful men are people who are not integrous and not honest; they are unreliable reckless boasters. It is unthinkable that he could sit with them, as if he were comfortable with them. Pretenders are the hypocrites, people with hidden, depraved plans. They give the appearance of being friends, but they are out to harm you in the grossest way.

Instead of love for “evildoers” there will be hatred for being part of their “assembly” (Psa 26:5). Evildoers are a separate company in God’s people. They do not have the good of God’s people in mind, but set out to do evil to that people. Nor does he “sit with the wicked”. He does not want to be involved with them in any way or give the impression of feeling at home in their company. They are a complete contrast to him.

This also applies to us, believers of the church. Those who live with God do not want fellowship with such people. It is not about people who think differently from us about certain things in God’s Word, but about apostates. Unfortunately, there are also people among God’s people who do so anyway. If a member of God’s people has fellowship with such people, God cannot have fellowship with such a person (2Cor 6:14-18).

Whoever imitates David in this attitude toward the apostates, should not count on approval in professing Christianity and certainly not in the world. Those who love fellowship with God will joyfully bear the reproach that separation from the world and the Christian world brings.

David made it clear that he has no fellowship with apostate sinners. After having said what he has not done he says what he has done (Psa 26:6). He says with Whom he does have fellowship and with Whom he does feel at home. First he pleads his innocence again. He laid his hands on the sacrifice to confess his sins after which the sacrifice was slaughtered. As a result, the sins were taken away.

In this way he has washed his hands – a picture of a cleansed and therefore pure conscience (Psa 73:13). He has clean hands (cf. Deu 21:6; 1Tim 2:8). Originally this precept was only for the priests. Before they could do their service, they had to wash their hands and feet (Exo 30:18-21). Later the laity did similar ritual washings, and even Pilate. It is obvious that it is about the spiritual meaning of it. Therefore, what Pilate did was a gross lie. He washed his hands (Mt 27:24), while smearing them by personally handing over the Innocent to be crucified.

As far as David knew, he confessed all his sins (Psa 25:18). He is, contrary to the deceit in Psa 26:4, honest and integrous. He has clean hands. Therefore, he can boldly go to God’s altar and go about it, that is worship there. On the altar, where the atoning sacrifice was brought, he can now offer sacrifices of thanksgiving.

The altar speaks of the Lord Jesus, as does the sacrifice, for the Lord Jesus offered Himself as a sacrifice to God. The picture is that the believer who goes to the altar has fellowship with the Lord Jesus as well as with others who are also there (cf. 1Cor 10:18; Lev 7:6 ; 15). This is a huge contrast to the fellowship with sinners that David spoke of earlier, which he had no part in. Not only that, but he also greatly disliked their practice and attitude toward life (Psa 26:5).

The worship service of the believer is to give thanks to God (Psa 26:7). As in Psa 26:6, it is still personal in this verse. Later, in Psa 26:12, the heart expands and David does so in the midst of others in the congregations. We had something similar in Psalm 25, which was a personal struggle of David, but ends in an intercession for the people (Psa 25:22).

In the song of praise here, David sings of all the wonders God has done for him (Psa 66:16 ; Psa 145:5-6). This is a great example for us to practice worship. We may “continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that give thanks to His name” (Heb 13:15). There is always plenty of reason to honor God. Do we still see the wonders God has done and continues to do for us? Do we sing about them and tell Him about them?

In Psa 26:8, David speaks of his love for the place where God’s altar stands. The elaborate way in which he speaks of God’s house makes it clear how important that place is to him. David speaks of “house” and “place”, a double expression of the dwelling place of God. This is a preparation for Psalm 27 where the house of God occupies a predominant place. In this sense, Psalm 26 is a bridge between Psalm 25 and Psalm 27.

For David, the house where God dwells is the tent where he brought the ark (cf. 2Sam 15:25). Later, this place is the temple. It is the dwelling place of God’s glory, the shechinah, the symbol of His presence. A house or a dwelling place is more than just a place to be, it is also to ‘feel at home’ there.

For us now, the church is the dwelling place of God. That is where His glory, which is Christ, lives. We can experience this when we come together as a church. The Lord Jesus said of that place: “For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst” (Mt 18:20). Do we love that place too?