A man who lost a court case may appeal to a higher court, thinking that the members of the jury have, or the judge has, been influenced by emotion rather than facts; and he may desire to have a higher judge listen to his evidence and vindicate him.
But a man who is guilty and declared innocent will not appeal his case or want a retrial. It may seem strange then that in Psalm 26 David appeals to the highest Judge that there is, namely, God, and that he prays: "Judge me, O Lord; for I have walked in my integrity: I have trusted also in the Lord; therefore I shall not slide" Psalm 26:1.
Now bear in mind that this is David, a man of the fallen human race, and of whom there are many sins recorded in Scripture. Dare he sing:
Be Thou my judge, O righteous Lord,
Try Thou my inmost heart;
I walk with steadfast trust in Thee,
Nor from Thy ways depart.
The explanation lies in the fact that the words "judge me" are better translated as "vindicate me." Vindicating is judging but in the sense of telling false accusers that they are wrong.
Quite plainly there were those who accused David of walking in sins which he did not commit. He did trust in God and was not an unbeliever.
How urgent and necessary it is for us today that we make this our prayer. There is much that calls itself church and many who claim to be Christians, who accuse others of teaching false doctrines and of defending lawlessness. What counts is not what earthly judges decide, but what God finds in man's heart and mind.
Not only does God's decision count, but it ought to give us confidence and assurance.
Never mind what men say. They so often are wrong. But God is never wrong in His judgments. And in the judgment day it will all become plain. Commit your way now then unto God. Keep trusting in Him to set all things right in the day of Christ.
Read: Psalm 26
Psalter versification: 69:1
Meditations on the Heidelberg Catechism
Song for Meditation: Psalter number 121
Why not sing along??
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Through the Bible in One Year
Read today:
Haggai 1 ; Haggai 2
Revelation 11:1-19
Psalm 139:1-24
Proverbs 30:15-16
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Quote for Reflection:
"Nor is it only the Aaronic priesthood which must be superseded. That priesthood was instituted under the Mosaic law, and was so integral to it that a change in the priesthood carries with it inevitably a change in the law. If the Aaronic priesthood was instituted for a temporary purpose, to be brought to an end when the age of fulfilment dawned, the same must be true of the law under which that priesthood was introduced" F. F. Bruce on Hebrews 7:12 (Commentary on the Epistle to the Hebrews, p. 145).
Additional Info
- Date: 20-December
