Read Psalm 26 at Bible Gateway.
Psa 26 Hebrew paragraph divisions:
Psa 26:1a Vindicate me, O LORD, For I have walked in my integrity. {n}
Psa 26:1b I have also trusted in the LORD; I shall not slip.
Psa 26:2 Examine me, O LORD, and prove me; Try my mind and my heart.
Psa 26:3 For Your lovingkindness is before my eyes, And I have walked in Your truth.
Psa 26:4 I have not sat with idolatrous mortals, Nor will I go in with hypocrites.
Psa 26:5 I have hated the assembly of evildoers, And will not sit with the wicked.
Psa 26:6 I will wash my hands in innocence; So I will go about Your altar, O LORD,
Psa 26:7 That I may proclaim with the voice of thanksgiving, And tell of all Your wondrous works.
Psa 26:8 LORD, I have loved the habitation of Your house, and the place where Your glory dwells.
Psa 26:9 Do not gather my soul with sinners, Nor my life with bloodthirsty men,
Psa 26:10 In whose hands is a sinister scheme, And whose right hand is full of bribes.
Psa 26:11 But as for me, I will walk in my integrity; Redeem me and be merciful to me.
Psa 26:12 My foot stands in an even place; In the congregations I will bless the LORD.
Psa 26 chiastic structure:
1a) Psa 26:1a, Vindicate me, O LORD;
1b) Psa 26:1b-c, Integrity/ I have trusted in the LORD/ my foot shall not slip;
1) Psa 26:1b {n} For I have walked in my integrity;
2) Psa 26:1c, I have also trusted in the LORD; I shall not slip;
1c) Psa 26:2-6a, The innocence of David’s heart + hands/ his hatred for the assembly of evildoers;
1a) Psa 26:2-3, Examine + prove + try me/ I walk in Your lovingkindness + truth;
1b) Psa 26:4, I have not sat with idolatrous mortals, Nor will I go in with hypocrites;
central axis) Psa 26:5a, I have hated the assembly of evildoers;
2b) Psa 26:5b, And will not sit with the wicked;
2a) Psa 26:6a, I will wash my hands in innocence;
central axis) Psa 26:6b-7, “So I will go about Your altar, O LORD, That I may proclaim with the voice of thanksgiving, and tell of all Your wondrous works;”
2c) Psa 26:8-10, His love for the habitation of the Lord/ Do not count him among sinners + bloodthirsty men;
2b) Psa 26:11-12a, Integrity/ Redeem + be merciful to me/ my foot stands in an even place;
1) Psa 26:11a, But as for me, I will walk in my integrity;
2) Psa 26:11b-12a, Redeem me + be merciful to me/ My foot stands in an even place;
2a) Psa 26:12b {p} In the congregations I will bless the LORD.
A pair: You vindicate me/ I bless You. David and the LORD had a reciprocal relationship!
B pair: Basis for David’s vindication: he did actually walk in the integrity of his heart. In other words, he did his best to live a righteous life and not sin (although he was not perfect). Therefore he also trusted in the LORD to redeem him and be merciful to him. It was that trust that established his feet in an even place, so that his feet did not slip.
C pair: David’s plea to be examined so that the innocence of his hands can be proven, and his hatred of the assembly of evildoers, contrasted with his love for the habitation of the LORD’s house, where the assembly of the believers meet, and his plea to not be counted among the sinners, whose hands are full of wickedness.
The central axis might be said to be the reason the righteous continue to coexist with the wicked, once their salvation has been secured: the proclamation of their mouths, which is of praise to God, and their testimony of His wondrous works. ♥
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