"But as for me, I will walk in mine integrity: redeem me, and be merciful unto me. My foot standeth in an even place: in the congregations will I bless the LORD." — Psalm 26:11-12
This remarkable Psalm is an interesting study in spiritual commitment, and its spirit should characterize every true believer. Observe first of all the writer's aspiration or, if you will, his determination: "I will walk in mine integrity." In the opening verse he declared , "I have walked in mine integrity." And in the second verse he defines what integrity is, when he says, "I have walked in thy Truth." In this verse he purposes to continue to pursue the path of righteousness.
The whole gives rise to a consideration of the will in relation to the walk of the Christian. The will of the unconverted man is held in bondage by the adversary. Writing to Timothy the apostle Paul declares, "And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will [II Tim. 2:24-26]." No passage more clearly emphasizes the bondage of the will of the unconverted.
The believer, in happy contrast, is released from that bondage, if he will, to pursue the will of God. The savior said, "If any man will do his (i.e. God's) will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself [Jn. 7:17]." In other words, as I see it, if the heart inclines to do the will of God, the Spirit of God will open and confirm the word of God so that we may know the good and the right way; the way of integrity.
There is with the Psalmist, however, as there must be with us, acknowledgment of dependence upon His work for us and in us. "Redeem me, and be merciful unto me," indicates his sense of dependence upon God's grace in order to walk uprightly. The sinner needs the Savior before he can "walk worthy of the Lord,"and the redeemed man needs Him in order to walk in the will of God. Paul writes of the conflict we face when he defines the struggle, "For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would [Gal. 5:17]," and illustrates it when he declares, "I delight in the law of God after the inward man: But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord… [Rom. 7:22-25a]." As one discerning preacher said, "It takes God to be godly."
Having called upon God for redemption and mercy, however, the believer expresses his assurance: "My foot standeth in an even place." Firmly established on the plateau of God's grace, we stand in a secure position, pursuing "integrity," but relying on His righteousness, not ours, for our eternal destiny. The security of the believer is ever found in what God has done for us, not in what we have done for Him. Only thus can we identify with the confidence of the Psalmist, "I have trusted also in the LORD; therefore I shall not slide [Ps. 26:1]."
This in turn eventuates in the ascription of praise; "In the congregations will I bless the Lord." Those who walk in integrity, as defined by the word of God, will ever render praise to Him for every step in the right direction. Christianity is not a "do it yourself" experience. Our cry must ever be, in every victory, "Not unto us, O LORD, not unto us, but unto thy name give glory, for thy mercy, and for thy truth' sake [Ps. 115:1]."
Spurgeon's comment may serve as a suitable conclusion: "Our integrity is not absolute nor inherent, it is a work of grace in us, and is marred by human infirmity; we must, therefore, resort to the redeeming blood and to the throne of mercy, confessing that though we are saints among men, we must still bow as sinners before God."
For God's glory,
"Pastor" Frasier
This remarkable Psalm is an interesting study in spiritual commitment, and its spirit should characterize every true believer. Observe first of all the writer's aspiration or, if you will, his determination: "I will walk in mine integrity." In the opening verse he declared , "I have walked in mine integrity." And in the second verse he defines what integrity is, when he says, "I have walked in thy Truth." In this verse he purposes to continue to pursue the path of righteousness.
The whole gives rise to a consideration of the will in relation to the walk of the Christian. The will of the unconverted man is held in bondage by the adversary. Writing to Timothy the apostle Paul declares, "And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will [II Tim. 2:24-26]." No passage more clearly emphasizes the bondage of the will of the unconverted.
The believer, in happy contrast, is released from that bondage, if he will, to pursue the will of God. The savior said, "If any man will do his (i.e. God's) will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself [Jn. 7:17]." In other words, as I see it, if the heart inclines to do the will of God, the Spirit of God will open and confirm the word of God so that we may know the good and the right way; the way of integrity.
There is with the Psalmist, however, as there must be with us, acknowledgment of dependence upon His work for us and in us. "Redeem me, and be merciful unto me," indicates his sense of dependence upon God's grace in order to walk uprightly. The sinner needs the Savior before he can "walk worthy of the Lord,"and the redeemed man needs Him in order to walk in the will of God. Paul writes of the conflict we face when he defines the struggle, "For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would [Gal. 5:17]," and illustrates it when he declares, "I delight in the law of God after the inward man: But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord… [Rom. 7:22-25a]." As one discerning preacher said, "It takes God to be godly."
Having called upon God for redemption and mercy, however, the believer expresses his assurance: "My foot standeth in an even place." Firmly established on the plateau of God's grace, we stand in a secure position, pursuing "integrity," but relying on His righteousness, not ours, for our eternal destiny. The security of the believer is ever found in what God has done for us, not in what we have done for Him. Only thus can we identify with the confidence of the Psalmist, "I have trusted also in the LORD; therefore I shall not slide [Ps. 26:1]."
This in turn eventuates in the ascription of praise; "In the congregations will I bless the Lord." Those who walk in integrity, as defined by the word of God, will ever render praise to Him for every step in the right direction. Christianity is not a "do it yourself" experience. Our cry must ever be, in every victory, "Not unto us, O LORD, not unto us, but unto thy name give glory, for thy mercy, and for thy truth' sake [Ps. 115:1]."
Spurgeon's comment may serve as a suitable conclusion: "Our integrity is not absolute nor inherent, it is a work of grace in us, and is marred by human infirmity; we must, therefore, resort to the redeeming blood and to the throne of mercy, confessing that though we are saints among men, we must still bow as sinners before God."
For God's glory,
"Pastor" Frasier
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