A Walk of Integrity

 Temple Baptist Church - 1-26-2025

Psalm 26

 

Introduction.

 

Psalms 26:1-12  A Psalm of David. Judge me, O LORD; for I have walked in mine integrity: I have trusted also in the LORD; therefore I shall not slide.  (2)  Examine me, O LORD, and prove me; try my reins and my heart.  (3)  For thy lovingkindness is before mine eyes: and I have walked in thy truth.  (4)  I have not sat with vain persons, neither will I go in with dissemblers.  (5)  I have hated the congregation of evil doers; and will not sit with the wicked.  (6)  I will wash mine hands in innocency: so will I compass thine altar, O LORD:  (7)  That I may publish with the voice of thanksgiving, and tell of all thy wondrous works.  (8)  LORD, I have loved the habitation of thy house, and the place where thine honour dwelleth.  (9)  Gather not my soul with sinners, nor my life with bloody men:  (10)  In whose hands is mischief, and their right hand is full of bribes.  (11)  But as for me, I will walk in mine integrity: redeem me, and be merciful unto me.  (12)  My foot standeth in an even place: in the congregations will I bless the LORD.

 

A.  The Psalm is Davidic.  Written by King David, the only man in the Bible described as a man after God’s own heart.  A perfect man, no way!  Often a failure, absolutely!  But a man who valued God’s take on his walk of integrity.

 

B.  What a confidence that David had in his LORD!  Most of us “Christians” would never ask God to judge, examine, and prove us.  We would much rather be “left alone” because we are often afraid of what God would say and require of us.

 

C.  Though David failed God terribly at times, he would recognize his sinfulness, as God to restore him to his former and godlier state and accept His righteous judgment.

 

D.  In the first two verses, David both asked God to do three things along with giving Him the three-fold criteria that needed to be judged.

 

1.  David’s asking:

 

a)  Judge me!  Judge me.  To either vindicate or to punish.  We use this principle in our court system.  There are two sides represented:  the defendant and the prosecutor.  The defendant has the presumption or cloak of innocence, and the burden of proof lies on the prosecutor.  David said, “Judge me for I have walked in mine integrity.”  GOD IS ALL KNOWING!

 

b)  Examine me.  Examine – to thoroughly investigate his actions and motives.  This would bring about  the examination that either vindicates or punishes.  LORD, look at what is evidenced in my walk with You and for You!  GOD IS ALL SEEING!

 

c)  Prove me.    Wow!  I have never asked God to “put me through the wringer” to show me what I really am.  Test me to see if my integrity is as well in bad times as it is in good times.  There is an old saying, “The proof is in the pudding.”  The pudding may look good, and it may smell good, but its goodness is found when you taste it.  GOD IS ALL POWERFUL.

 

2.  David’s Integrity.

 

a)  David’s walk: “for I have walked in mine integrity:”  Integrity: honesty, truthfulness, honor.  I do not doubt David’s integrity, something that is imissing in our day.

 

b)  David’s trust: “I have trusted also in the LORD”  David knew that the LORD loved him and wanted only the best for him. In the New Testament, Paul spoke of having learned contentment in both good and bad times.  Proverbs 3:5-6.

 

Philippians 4:11-13  Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.  (12)  I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.  (13)  I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

 

c)  David’s confidence:   “therefore I shall not slide.”  David knew that as long as he walked with the LORD, he would not be greatly moved.

 

E.  The rest of the Psalm describes the walk of integrity that David asked the LORD to judge, examine, and prove.

 

1.  Verse 3.  A walk of integrity is the foundation of stability of the believer.  This walk must be found in God’s truth.  Walking in God’s truth is to walk in the light, not darkness or, as some say: walking in gray or shaded areas which are a mixture of lightness and darkness.

 

1 John 1:6-7  If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:  (7)  But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

 

3 John 3-4  For I rejoiced greatly, when the brethren came and testified of the truth that is in thee, even as thou walkest in the truth.  (4)  I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.

 

2.  Verses 4-6.  A walk of integrity is found in separation from the ungodly.  Holiness in our associations.  We are blessed or not blessed because of who we walk and sit with.  Be careful with who you run with.  “Birds of a feather flock together.”  I feed birds and though there is a mixture of kinds feeding together, there are many species that come at the same time and feed with their own kind.

 

Psalms 1:1  Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.

 

Integrity is washing your hands and hanging close to the altar of God.

 

3.  Verse 7.  A walk of integrity is found in our sharing.  Sharing the love of God and the Gospel with others in an attitude of thanksgiving.  Not in a judgmental way but in a compassionate way while sharing our personal thankfulness for the salvation that we have.

 

Matthew 5:14-16  Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.  (15)  Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.  (16)  Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

 

4.  Verse 8-10.  A walk of integrity is found in our faithfulness to God’s house, the local church.  I do not believe that we can walk with God without being faithful to church.  Not to be faithful in assembly is a direct disobedience to God’s command which brings about the judgement of God.  I often quote Hebrews 10:25 but listen to the “rest of the story.”

 

Hebrews 10:25-27  Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.  (26)  For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,  (27)  But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.

 

5.  Verse 11-12.  A past walk in integrity does not promise a continued walk in integrity.  David pleads with the LORD for His help.  “Redeem me … be merciful to me” so that “My foot standeth in an even place: in the congregations will I bless the LORD.”

 

Though our walk with God is very personal, we cannot maintain such a walk without His holding us up and keeping our feet in an even place.