Today's Video Devotion

Saturday 9/30/23

Facing Adversity

📺️ Psalm 26 🔊

 ¹Judge me, O LORD; for I have walked in mine integrity: I have trusted also in the LORD; therefore I shall not slide.

 ²Examine me, O LORD, and prove me; try my reins and my heart.

 ³For thy lovingkindness is before mine eyes: and I have walked in thy truth.

 ⁴I have not sat with vain persons, neither will I go in with dissemblers.

 ⁵I have hated the congregation of evil doers; and will not sit with the wicked.

 ⁶I will wash mine hands in innocency: so will I compass thine altar, O LORD:

 ⁷That I may publish with the voice of thanksgiving, and tell of all thy wondrous works.

 ⁸LORD, I have loved the habitation of thy house, and the place where thine honour dwelleth.

 ⁹Gather not my soul with sinners, nor my life with bloody men:

 ¹⁰In whose hands is mischief, and their right hand is full of bribes.

 ¹¹But as for me, I will walk in mine integrity: redeem me, and be merciful unto me.

 ¹²My foot standeth in an even place: in the congregations will I bless the LORD.

Written By: God through Inspiration

Penned By: David, Asaph, Solomon, Heman, Ethan, Moses, and the Sons of Korah

Date Penned: (1440-586 BC)

Overview: Poetry for the Expression of Praise and Worship to God (c 1-150)

Theme: The First Book of Psalms (c 1-41)

Message: Declaring Loyalty to God (v 1-12)

Psalms 26 Commentary

(26:1-3) God's Mercy - In asking God to examine and vindicate him, David was not claiming to be sinless--that is impossible for any human being to achieve. Instead, he was pleading with God to clear his name of the false charges made against him by his enemies. You also can ask God to examine you, trusting him to forgive your sins and clear your record according to his mercy.

(26:4-5) Reaching Unbelievers - Should we stay away from unbelievers? No. Although Christians should avoid some places, Jesus demonstrated that we must go out among unbelievers to help them. There is a difference, however, between spending time with unbelievers and being one of them. Acting like unbelievers harms our witness for God. Ask yourself about the people you enjoy: If you are with them often, will you become less obedient to God in outlook or action? If the answer is yes, carefully monitor how you spend your time with these people and their effect on you (see Psalm).

(26:8) Worshipping the Lord - The mention of God's house in this verse refers to either the tabernacle in Gibeon (the one constructed in the days of Moses; see Exodus 40:35) or the temporary dwelling David built to house the ark of the covenant (2 Samuel 6:7). David exclaimed how he loved to worship God in this place. He was setting an example for all believers to release their hearts, minds, and bodies in praise and worship to God.

(26:12) Give Praise to the Lord - Often we complain about our problems to anyone who will listen and praise God only in private. Instead, we ought to complain privately and praise God publicly.

Each day we walk through the Bible chapter by chapter, making application of our text to help us grow in the Lord. Many applications can be made from each day's text. Today we continue in the Book of Psalm with Chapter 26. In our text today, we see a theme of declaring our loyalty to God by committing our lives to Him. Our loyalty can be measured by how we stand to examination and opposition. In making an application, we see it is easy to follow the Lord when everything goes our way. Still, a true test of our faith is when we face adversity. In these adverse times, we find out who we are in Christ. Do we run to God or run away from God? How about you? How do we respond to adverse times? Let us learn from our Psalm and text today to see that our true character and faith are revealed when we face adversity.