Psalm 26 and Being Blameless
It’s been a challenging week here at our house. Monday night Tyler came down with the flu again–we had a long night. I was on the phone with the doctor’s office all day Tuesday as poor Tyler battled a fever. It was so hard to see the thermometer reading 103F. By night it had come down to 99F and we never had to take him in. Bobby had to stay home again from work Tuesday, because he can’t seem to shake what he has. By today its settled into a bad cough, but the humidifier is really helping. I don’t know how, but I have not gotten sick during this whole escapade, so hopefully I’ll stay that way and they will be 100% well soon. The picture on the left is of Tyler at my brother-in-law’s wedding, I just saw it at his blog today and I couldn’t resist posting it here!
I’ve had some time this week, mainly while Bobby and Tyler were napping, to get some things done. I finished reading Lies Women Believe and the Truth That Sets Them Free by Nancy Leigh De Moss, so I’ll be working on that review to post soon. I also rearranged the living room trying to make it a bit more open.
It’s a small space and we have just one long couch, so it is tricky. Then I was so excited to move the furniture that I forgot that I’d have to move all the pictures around too, so that took some time to get them all up, but I think I like how it turned out in the end.
Psalm-of-the-Day continues to be a happening page on the Godsongmusic site. Our youth group is reading through Psalms, so at the website the chapter for that day is up and anyone can post a comment or question about it. It really is so encouraging, and like reading through all the comments to think about the unique things that stood out to each person.
Today’s chapter is Psalm 26–
1 Vindicate me, O LORD,
for I have led a blameless life;
I have trusted in the LORD
without wavering.2 Test me, O LORD, and try me,
examine my heart and my mind;3 for your love is ever before me,
and I walk continually in your truth.4 I do not sit with deceitful men,
nor do I consort 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, O LORD,7 proclaiming aloud your praise
and telling of all your wonderful deeds.8 I love the house where you live, O LORD,
the place where your glory dwells.9 Do not take away my soul along with sinners,
my life with bloodthirsty men,10 in whose hands are wicked schemes,
whose right hands are full of bribes.11 But I lead a blameless life;
redeem me and be merciful to me.12 My feet stand on level ground;
in the great assembly I will praise the LORD.
I am so amazed by the boldness of David’s statements, “…I have led a blameless life” (v.1) and “…I lead a blameless life” (v. 11). Bobby preached from Psalm 19 last week and he talked about how God has clearly revealed Himself to us in creation and Scripture. We need to have a right response to Him by confessing sin and committing to blamelessness.(Psalm 15:1-2)
One of the small group discussion questions was–What does it mean to be blameless? This can be a tough question because it is so intrusive. We hide our sin and the idea of blameless is that there is nothing that anyone could have to accuse or blame us of. So if I’m watching a questionable TV show or pouring over worldly magazines week in and week out, being blameless probably isn’t at the top of my list. Being blameless brings to mind the attitude that says “How holy can I be?” Not “How much can I get away with?”
In Psalm 26 David really illuminates this idea of being blameless because in stating that he is blameless he describes what that looks like in his own life.
- v.1-trusting in God without wavering
- v.3-continually walking in God’s love and truth
- v.4-not being friends with people who are deceitful or hypocrites
- v.5-having an innocent heart before the Lord, maybe this means his heart was clean before God because he regularly confessed his sin to Him.
- v.7-testifying of God’s works in his life
- v.8-loving God’s house
We need to take our sin pretty seriously if we want to be able to say to God, “I am blameless before You.” And this is what we need to do, not just try to appear like we have it all together. If the list above is true of our lives, we will have a boldness because we will know that there isn’t anything keeping us from praising God with a whole heart. This Psalm was a great reality check for me to be regularly evaluating and examining my heart to see if there is anything offensive inside.
January 26th, 2007
Love that picture of Tyler! If it was up to me to be blameless I’d be in big trouble, but I praise the Lord that “there is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” (Romans 8:1) My responsibility is to be regularly confessing my sin before the Lord and turning from it. Praise God that He cleanses us and works in our lives to change us. Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory BLAMELESS with great joy, to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen. (Jude 24-25)
January 26th, 2007
Christa! Thanks for the encouraging post! Also, great post of that cool pic of the “rad lad” -Tyler! Hope you guys feel better soon! C and I will be praying for you guys!
January 26th, 2007
Christa, I am right there with you! Hannah also came down with the stomach flu on Monday night…we have had some long nights, 103 fevers, and a few calls to her pediatrician too! I hope everyone is doing better soon, and you are in my prayers!!