Daily Devotion in Psalm 26

Daily Nugget:
David never forgot his sinful past. However, he did not go around with guilt and not forgiving himself, as some do. He encouraged himself by remembering, because of God’s help, that he did some things that were “righteous” in God’s eyes.

King David recalled he had:

• A godly testimony and character (“integrity”) — Psalm 26:1.
• To the best of his ability, obeyed God’s commandments — Psalm 26:3
• Not associated himself with people of false self-worth — Psalm 26:4.
• Done his best to not be in the company of those that portrayed themselves as they were not. Today, we would relate those to people that appear like Christians on Sunday but live the same as the ungodly the rest of the week — Psalm 26:4.
• Not associated with those doing evil — Psalm 26:5.
• Been grateful and had given God the glory for the great things He had done — Psalm 26:7.
• Loved to be in the Temple and to be around the things of God — Psalm 26:8.

The closer to God we try to be, the clearer we see the defects and sins in our lives. Sometimes, the hardest critic we have to deal with is ourselves. If we have asked God to forgive us, He has. Unfortunately, sometimes our guilt remains, and many are not free from their past.

Rather than dealing with guilt, David moved forward. He knew he had done all he could by asking God’s forgiveness of his sins. 

Not out of pride but as an encouragement, the king reminded himself of the great changes God did in his life. He recalled what he had become, not what he was.

We also need to have the same attitude about our past. If we have been saved by the blood of Jesus Christ, then His blood suffices to cover all our sins. God has forgiven and forgotten them. 

We, as did David, must not dwell on our old life. We must remember and brag on God for all the changes He has done in us. We are new creatures (II Corinthians 5:17) in Christ.
“As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.” Psalm 103:12

Today’s Thought: 
“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” II Cor. 5:17

Words to Understand:
Compass: to be around
Dissemblers: people that do not practice what they preach, people that hide what they really believe and deceive others by practicing the way they are expected
Integrity: moral standards based on Bible commandments
Slide: backslide, fall away from obedience to God’s commandments
Vain: unproductive, people that think they are better than they are

Today’s Reading:
Psalm 26
1 A Psalm of David. Judge 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 reins and my heart.
3 For thy lovingkindness is before mine eyes: and I have walked in thy truth.
4 I have not sat with vain persons, neither will I go in with dissemblers.
5 I have hated the congregation of evil doers; and will not sit with the wicked.
6 ¶ I will wash mine hands in innocency: so will I compass 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.
9 Gather not my soul with sinners, nor my life with bloody men:
10 In whose hands is mischief, and their right hand is full of bribes.
11 But as for me, I will walk in mine integrity: redeem me, and be merciful unto me.
12 My foot standeth in an even place: in the congregations will I bless the LORD.