1 Vindicate me, Lord,
for I have led a blameless life;
I have trusted in the Lord
and have not faltered.
2 Test me, Lord, and try me,
examine my heart and my mind;
3 for I have always been mindful of your unfailing love
and have lived in reliance on your faithfulness.
4 I do not sit with the deceitful,
nor do I associate with hypocrites.
5 I abhor the assembly of evildoers
and refuse to sit with the wicked.
6 I wash my hands in innocence,
and go about your altar, Lord,
7 proclaiming aloud your praise
and telling of all your wonderful deeds.
8 Lord, I love the house where you live,
the place where your glory dwells.
9 Do not take away my soul along with sinners,
my life with those who are bloodthirsty,
10 in whose hands are wicked schemes,
whose right hands are full of bribes.
11 I lead a blameless life;
deliver me and be merciful to me.
12 My feet stand on level ground;
in the great congregation I will praise the Lord.
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Have you ever been falsely accused? Have you ever been gossiped about behind your back? Or a more extreme example: have you have had false legal charges filed against you, or been sued for something you did not do?
This is what is happening in this Psalm. David is not protesting his absolute moral perfection before God, but that that he is innocent of the specific false accusations made against him. David is quite aware that he has significant spiritual and moral failings. (Read Psalm 32 and 51 to see this.) But just because we are sinners does not mean we are guilty of all accusations that might be made against us.
In his distress over the false charges, David throws himself on the Lord’s mercy. He calls on the Lord to be his judge, to test him and try him, to examine not only the external evidence, but also to investigate what a normal court is unable to investigate: his heart and his mind.
The point I take away from this is that the Lord is the guardian of my identity. Only the Lord knows the truth of my heart and my life and my deeds. And so I rightly rely on Him for my vindication as well as mercy. Even if people around me believe lies about me, I know that the Lord is the true judge.
But actually, considering that the Lord truly knows my heart and my mind is a rather frightening prospect. The Lord knows my sin and unworthiness on the whole is probably deeper and more profound than what people see. But still I appeal to the Lord for mercy because my identity does not rest on my righteousness but rather on my Savior
Jesus is the one who was truly perfectly righteous, yet falsely accused of blasphemy and worse. From a theological perspective, Jesus stood guilty of all sins because all sin was placed on Him. And now my standing before God is not about my righteousness, which is faulty and fallen, but rather His righteousness, which He has given to me. I am declared innocent, righteous and vindicated by my savior.
So my prayer is that I will enter each day on this foundation: that my vindication, my identity, and my hope are built on Christ alone and His mercy on me.
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