“Remarkable, simply remarkable”
By Rev. Michael Stonhouse
Meditation – Tuesday, January 16, 2024
Psalm 26 (Forward, p. 79) CEV p. 569
Now, at the onset, let me ask one simple, searching question of all of us, namely, how many of us could affirm, in all honesty, what David says in this psalm?
-he says that he has trusted God without doubting (verse 1).
-that he never forgets God’s kindness and is always faithful to God
(verse 3).
-that he is innocent before God (verse 6).
-that he stands upon solid ground (verse 12).
-and furthermore, that he stays true to himself (verses 1, 11).
It is this final assertion that I find the most challenging. Let me ask this then: just how many of us remain true to ourselves no matter what, and don’t in some subtle or unnoticeable ways betray who we are for reasons of expediency or at times of pressure or stress?
Now that David could claim all this seems, from my experience at least, to stem from either naiveté or self-deception. None of us are anything like what he claims to be. It is only in Christ Jesus, that we have this imputed innocence, this righteousness, that is, only through His life, death, and resurrection. It is imputed to us simply by His merits, and not in the least because of anything that we have done.
However, in reading further, I discover that the ‘integrity’ that David is asserting is not, as I have assumed, an innocence or a faultlessness, but rather a sense of being whole-hearted and sincere in his trust, loyalty, and faithfulness to God. And yes, this does make sense in terms of the rest of the psalm, in the choice of his associates, for instance (see verses 4-5) or his decision to make worship one of his life priorities (see verses 6-8, 12) or his resolve to lead a life that glorifies God (see verses 9-10).
And yes, indeed, is this not something that we can all give ourselves over to, something that we can make as our pledge or intention in this new year? To keep as friends and associates those who lift us up, give us hope, and orient our thoughts and actions in constructive and healthy directions. To maintain a habit of worship. And, yes, to shun any kind of
meanness and brutality, or falsity and deceit, or selfishness and false ambition, in our dealings, whether with ourselves or with others. Surely, even when we are imperfect beings and even when we sometimes fail, and fail miserably, these are still things that we can attain onto, with God’s most abundant help. Thanks be to God.
Forward notes: “Give judgment for me, O Lord, for I have lived with integrity; I have trusted in the Lord and have not faltered. Test me, O Lord, and try me; examine my heart and my mind” (verses 1-2).
“When I think of the word integrity, I think of the word alignment. Are my mind and my heart aligned? Am I doing what I say I am doing? On the Christian journey, this is a powerful and crucial question. What happens when we are not attuned with the values we espouse?
“The psalmist is confident about the integrity of their journey. The entire psalm is an ode to life with integrity and a solid stance on level ground. I certainly aspire to this level of confidence. While I strive to live life with integrity, I sometimes falter and stumble in my heart and in my mind. Do you? My saving grace is that I can reset and try again in the shadow of God’s mercy. And I bless the Lord for these opportunities to bring integrity always to my heart and mind.”
Moving Forward: “What would an examination of your heart and mind reveal?”