On solid ground
Declare me innocent, O Lord, for I have acted with integrity; I have trusted in the Lord without wavering. Put me on trial, Lord, and cross-examine me. Test my motives and my heart. For I am always aware of your unfailing love, and I have lived according to your truth. Psalm 26:1-3
From the text, David was reflecting upon his personal godliness. He wanted God to probe him of the genuineness of his commitment to Him. He was conscious of integrity or uprightness of intention, but he still felt that there was a possibility that he might deceive himself. He prays that God would search his heart and his motives. What mattered to him was God’s assessment of his life. He prayed that he would not become deluded thinking highly of his spirituality and yet continually missing walking in God’s will. Self-examination is to many disciples a kind of first point in practical Christianity. “Examine yourselves to see if your faith is genuine. Test yourselves. Surely you know that Jesus Christ is among you; if not, you have failed the test of genuine faith” (2 Corinthians 13:5). Though the self-examination would cause some to feel more secured, yet this same act could cause others to feel less secured. The ones who felt more secured could live more like Christ. If you feel less secured, could it be that you knew that you are not living more like Christ? Are there things in your life that are preventing you to fully surrender to Him? We are complete only in Christ. Apart from God, we won’t be able to fully know ourselves. Jesus said, “For apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5). Once life is examined and changes have to be made, some changes can pull us away from Scripture, and these must definitely be avoided. We must be certain that we are standing on solid rock of God’s word, not on traditional sand. David declared “Now I stand on solid ground, and I will publicly praise the Lord” (Psalm 26:12). God wants to bring us into a realization of the flaws and sins that continue to lurk in us and have them revealed so we could repent and forsake them. “Redeem me and show me mercy” (Psalm 26:11).
Blessings
