Psalm 26:8 "LORD, I have loved the habitation of thy house, and the place where thine honour dwelleth."
David began this Psalm with words that made me stop and scratch my head.
"Judge me, O LORD; for I have walked in mine integrity."
I read that sentence and wondered why anyone would lay those words down
almost as a challenge: "Judge me, O LORD." Especially after
reading some of David's confessions concerning his iniquity, why would he ask
the Lord to judge him? Then I realized he was asking this concerning a
particular situation. King Saul accused David of trying to overthrow his
authority. David knew, and we know, he was not trying to overthrow Saul, even
though he had already been anointed as the next king of Israel. In reality,
David was trying to avoid all appearances of evil concerning Saul. He had
two opportunities to kill Saul but refused to touch him because the Lord had
anointed Saul to be king.
David was content to leave the situation in the Lord's hands and wait for his
time to be king. So in regards to that situation, David was asking the Lord to
judge his actions and even his motives in his dealings with King Saul.
Where did David learn to walk in his own integrity? Where did David learn to
simply place his trust and confidence in the Lord? The answer seems to lie in
our text verse for today. Though we are not told concerning the worship
activity of David's family, we can be certain they walked in the statutes of
the Lord. There is no doubt that Jesse, David's father, brought his family up
in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.
I am convinced David's faith was first of all the gift of God to him. Then that
faith was fed in the house of the Lord as David would express his love and
devotion unto the Lord. And then the "habitation of thy house, and the
place where thine honour dwells" was in his heart as he went about his
everyday activities. That devotion was expressed as he watched over his
father's flocks. That devotion and confidence was expressed as he went after
anything that would try to destroy his flocks. When you read the account of
David going against Goliath, you definitely can see that confidence and trust
expressed even as David spoke his faith in the face of opposition.
"LORD, I have loved the habitation of thy house, and the place where thine
honour dwelleth." It is in that habitation, or dwelling place, that my
confidence arises because I know you are with me and you will deliver me.
He used that wonderful gift called faith against the enemies of his sheep,
against the enemy of Israel, and now to protect his own integrity as he waited
for his time to be king.
Why do I need to be present in the house of the Lord? It is there that my
faith is bolstered. It is there that my confidence in the Lord is reinforced.
It is there that I find people of like faith who encourage me and I can be an
encouragement to them. What is it about the house of the Lord that draws
you?