Search me, O Lord, and test me

"Search me, O Lord, and test me" - Psalm 26:1-7 David appeals to God's righteous sentence: "Judge me, O Jehovah" before his own conscience and testifies in court to his integrity. It is likely that David composed this psalm when he was being persecuted by Saul (or by Absalom), whom he presents as wicked, who accused him of many crimes he had not committed.

I. He appeals to God's righteous sentence: "Judge me, O Jehovah."

A. Be Thou the one to judge between me and my accusers.

1. He cannot justify himself against the charge of sin; he recognizes that his iniquity is great and that he was lost, unless God in His infinite mercy should forgive him.

2. (Whitefield) "Although some consider me a mountebank or an enthusiast, Christ knows everything"; He looks at it and told Him to plead my cause, because He is a merciful Master.

3. "I've seen that He is,' and I'm sure He will continue to be”.

4. The vengeance is His, "He will pay" (Whitefield).

5. "I have also trusted in Jehovah without hesitation."

6. Why should I steal when God has promised to meet my need?

7. Why should I avenge myself, when I know that the Lord has taken up my cause?

8. Trust in God is the most effective security against sin.

9. Therefore, I will not slip.

10. The road is slippery, so that I walk as if on ice; Despite this, "faith keeps my feet from falling and will continue to do so."

11. Doubtful paths will sooner or later make the walker fall in them, but the paths of honesty and sincerity, however rough, are always safe.

12. We cannot trust God if we walk in crooked ways, that is, using shady means; but straight ways and "simple faith” lead the pilgrim to the happy end of his journey. (C.H.S.).

13. (2) The Psalmist uses three words: "Examine" (investigate = know details), "search" (examination, analysis), "test" (examination, experiment).

14. These words are intended to include all the ways in which the reality of something can be tested, and they imply, together, that he desired the most thorough investigation to be made; he did not try to dodge the test.

15. Examine, scrutinize, test.

16. "As gold is purified from the 'dross' (impurity, waste) by fire, so the sincerity of heart and simplicity of the true Christian are best seen and made more evident in tribulations and affliction."

17. In property every man seems pious, but afflictions "bring out of the heart what is in him, whether good or bad."

18. And I walk in Your truth. (3)

19. Some speak of the truth; it is better to walk in it.

20. Some promise to do good in the future, but their resolutions fall apart; only the regenerate man (reform, renew) can say, "I walk in Thy truth." C.H.S.

21. (Psalm 26:3-4) God is not going to shake hands with the wicked (unjust, vile) nor should the godly man.

22. David demonstrates the sincerity of his course by the care with which he "avoids" those companies, you avoid that kind of company, which destroy godliness (love of God).

23. (4) I have not sat down with hypocritical men (liar, false, deceitful).

24. Far from being an open offender, against God's laws, the Psalmist had not even associated with lovers of evil.

25. A man is known by his companions; and if we have kept our distance from the bad guys, "it will always be evidence in our favor," if our character is impugned (contradict, rejected).

26. The one who has never embarked (boarding a ship or plane) cannot be the one who has sunk the ship.

27. True Christians have no dealings with traitors.

28. David had not sat down with hypocritical men (liars, phonies, deceitful).

29. What do virgins have to do with harlots?

30. What do Christ's doves have to do among birds of prey?

31. The company of the bad ones pollutes; it is like walking among those who have plagues.

32. "They mingled with the pagans and learned their works."

33. Nor did I enter with those who walk simulated.

34. The congregation of the hypocrites is such that it does not deserve to be fellowshipped with it.

35. Let us soon stop associating with them, for later we may not feel the desire to do so. C.H.S.

36. The hypocrite is very much an angel on the outside, but more of a devil on the inside.

37. He is ardent in words, frozen with work, he speaks to rods (to be too insistent, annoying) he does well by inches.

38. It is a stinking dung heap (garbage dump) covered with snow, a mill that keeps turning, but does not grind anything; a hen that cackles, but does not lay. Thomas Adams

39. (4-5) "It is difficult, even in the event of a miracle, to keep God's commandments and keep bad company at the same time." (Lewis Stuckley).

40. I hated the gathering of the wicked. (5).

41. A man who does not thoroughly abhor evil does not love good of heart.

42. We will always love man; but evildoers, as such, are traitors to the great King.

43. Certainly, O Lord, no flesh is just in Your sight; For this reason, we must be fighters, not carnal.

44. (7) And counting all Thy wonders.

45. As His people you should not have your tongue locked.

46. The wonders of divine grace are enough to make anyone speak, even if he is not the most talkative.

47. And if as living humans we find great pleasure in speaking of remarkable and amazing things, in the same way the saints rejoice in telling of the great things that the Lord has done for them. C.H.S. Amen