Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States - Lutheran Seminary's God Pause "Moved by the Promise" for Tuesday, 26 August 2014 - Psalm 26:1-10

Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States - Lutheran Seminary's God Pause "Moved by the Promise" for Tuesday, 26 August 2014 - Psalm 26: A David Psalm
1 Clear my name, God;
    I’ve kept an honest shop.
I’ve thrown in my lot with you, God, and
    I’m not budging.
2     Examine me, God, from head to foot,
    order your battery of tests.
Make sure I’m fit
    inside and out
3     So I never lose
    sight of your love,
But keep in step with you,
    never missing a beat.
4-5     I don’t hang out with tricksters,
    I don’t pal around with thugs;
I hate that pack of gangsters,
    I don’t deal with double-dealers.
6-7     I scrub my hands with purest soap,
    then join hands with the others in the great circle,
    dancing around your altar, God,
Singing God-songs at the top of my lungs,
    telling God-stories.
8-10     God, I love living with you;
    your house glows with your glory.
When it’s time for spring cleaning,
    don’t sweep me out with the quacks and crooks,
Men with bags of dirty tricks,
    women with purses stuffed with bribe-money.(The Message)
This psalm serves as a reminder that even the greatest of our religious heroes and models are flawed people. In this psalm attributed to David we hear many reasons why the author is to be vindicated. Yet David seems to forget that he, too, is a flawed human being. Just as my son, interrupted from whatever video game he's engrossed in, peevishly grabs his pile of clean laundry to put away, so our human tendency is to ignore our own faults and grumble rather at those of others.
Yet despite his memory lapse, David is praising the Lord. We are called to do the same whenever we enter into worship, though not at the expense of others. Our sin places us on equal ground with all members of humanity, but God's steadfast love is still present for us. Through Christ, we are no longer subject to the power of sin. Praise God for this gift.
Heavenly Father, forgive us when we attempt to elevate ourselves before you at the expense of others. Remind us through the power of the Holy Spirit that we are subject to sin. Point out our transgressions while in the same breath reminding us of forgiveness through your Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.
Scott Dalen
Pastor, Underwood Lutheran Church, Underwood, Iowa 
Master of Divinity , 2013
Psalm 26:1 Vindicate me, O Lord, for I have walked in my integrity, and I have trusted in the Lord without wavering.
2 Prove me, O Lord, and try me; test my heart and mind.
3 For your steadfast love is before my eyes, and I walk in faithfulness to you.
4 I do not sit with the worthless, nor do I consort with hypocrites;
5 I hate the company of evildoers, and will not sit with the wicked.
6 I wash my hands in innocence, and go around your altar, O Lord,
7 singing aloud a song of thanksgiving, and telling all your wondrous deeds.
8 O Lord, I love the house in which you dwell, and the place where your glory abides.(New Revised Standard Version)
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