Psalm 26 – our Redemption song in response to Jesus Christ’s Burial song
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Jesus Christ is the Good News. It is who He is; the Word made flesh, who lived and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth.1 He lived redemption.
Before He ever went to the cross,
was laid in the grave to taste death,
descended into hell’s domain,
and ascended to heaven’s highest Throne, leading a procession of captivity captive2 (prisoners of war and the vanquished foes of the underworld, among them Death, hell, and the grave), He shared the Gospel:
Jesus spoke to the people once more and said,
“I am the light of the world.
If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness,
because you will have the light that leads to life.”
John 8:12 (NLT)
Jesus spoke conditionally, “If you follow me…” Then he walked on for the love, will, and fulfillment of His Father’s purpose – the atonement and way-making for all who would be drawn to Him.
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In Psalm 26, we read David’s whole-heart response of trust and determination to follow this Lord of Psalm 23 – Jesus Christ’s Burial song, to whom he pledged the reality of his life’s keeping. Like each of us, he was surrounded with serious ‘real life’ social constructs and relational issues.
For David to be able to express the ‘one thing’ of Psalm 27:4 that he asked and sought of the Lord, Holy Spirit impressed upon his spirit that a sacred duet of worship was essential, just as it is for us:
Psalm 25 – our Salvation Song joined with Psalm 26 – our Redemption Song.
True, godly worship, by its very nature, requires those who choose to follow in ‘the ways of the Lord’ of Psalm 25, to knit together humility and courage, twin character traits both Jesus and David possessed. Jesus the fullness. David the Lord’s child, who grew in the low places of humility and developed meeting life with courage.
I believe David, by inspiration of Holy Spirit’s flame that burned within his heart, knew he held a priceless key that would unlock the life to be found in the Kingdom: his heart for the King of glory. David understood that only by grace was his salvation secure, and only by mercy was he daily kept.
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Psalm 26 is the Redemption song of one who has drunk the dregs, without regard or religiously, of life, and has seen in Christ’s light the reality of their condition before the glory of His majesty.
Grace and mercy become conduits of humility and courage by which we too can confess that our feet stand on level ground. Christ, the Leveler, who raises the low places and brings down the high places3, so we can walk in increased confidence as we follow in His steps and the way He has chosen for each of us (Psalm 25:12).
It’s said that David may have penned this psalm during his son Absalom’s rebellion (II Samuel 13-18). David did not live from a divided heart; he took to himself covenantal life with the Lord as he lived in his humanity. No more and no less than what we who live today have had made possible through Christ.
David knew sin and failure firsthand. He also knew, believed, and trusted in the Lord his God. In his integrity, he did not claim absolute sinlessness. In his innocence in cases of unjust accusation leveled at him, such as went down in Absalom’s rebellion, David could rightly stand and ask the Lord’s vindication.
But David didn’t stay in this place of emotional protest. He invited the Lord’s trial, test, and examination. He was a warrior, and his ‘invitation’ may well have sounded like “bring it on.” He didn’t back away from reciting to his Lord both verses of Redemption’s song – grace and truth, as the Lord first sang to him. Not all are fighters, but our acceptable worship also flows from an intimate, repentant heart after God’s own heart, just as David’s did.
This was relationship. David knew his life – blameless, redeemed, full of mercy – depended on it.
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We too may have this relationship with our Savior, Redeemer, King of glory. Salvation’s gift is the purchase of our life from the enemy; the price, the lifeblood of Christ Jesus. Salvation’s song is wondrous. But life sings on and Psalm 26 – our redemption song runs the course of our entire life.
I invite you to soak in Psalm 23 – Jesus Christ’s burial song and see what your heart sings back to Him in Psalm 26 – your redemption song. In Him, there is now no condemnation but the ongoing cultivation of life in Christ Jesus. We never leave Psalm 25 behind; we build always upon it to the day we see His face.
Psalm 26:1 (NIV84*)
Of David.
Vindicate me, O LORD, for I have led a blameless life;
I have trusted in the LORD without wavering.
Psalm 26:2-3*
Test me, O LORD, and try me, examine my heart and my mind;
for your love is ever before me, and I walk continually in your truth.
Psalm 26:4-5*
I do not sit with deceitful men, nor do I consort with hypocrites;
I abhor the assembly of evildoers and refuse to sit with the wicked.
Psalm 26:6-8 (The Voice)
I wash my hands in the fountain of innocence
so that I might join the gathering that surrounds Your altar, O Eternal One.
From my soul, I will join the songs of thanksgiving;
I will sing and proclaim Your wonder and mystery.
Your house, home to Your glory, O Eternal One, radiates its light.
I am fixed on this place and long to be nowhere else.
Psalm 26:9-10*
Do not take away my soul along with sinners, my life with bloodthirsty men,
in whose hands are wicked schemes, whose right hands are full of bribes.
Psalm 26:11-12*
But I lead a blameless life; redeem me and be merciful to me.
My feet stand on level ground; in the great assembly I will praise the LORD.
~ Gracefully Free
1 John 1:14
2 Ephesians 4:8
3 Isaiah 40:4 (with vs 1-5)
Next: Psalm 27 – Our Deliverance Song
©2022 Nancy C. Bentz – Author’s permission granted to forward this devotional piece in its entirety, including this copyright line.
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