Canon Rob's Reflections

Psalm 26 is the one chosen to be recited at Morning Prayer today and, reflecting upon the first verse in the translation to the right, you may think the author comes across as being arrogant. The Good News translation is: “Declare me innocent, O Lord, because I do what is right.” Yet who among us leads a blameless life or is truly innocent? The question is rhetorical and applies to us as individuals and as a community as we see, for example, in the Church of England with news about abuse and safeguarding. Those in positions of leadership in the Church will know the weight of the responsibility which their role brings. The same is true for political and other ‘secular’ leaders too but we are all human and all make mistakes and, because of this, in our services we often pray for compassion, humility and peace. One or two of my commentaries suggest the author is doing the right thing. He doesn’t want to associate himself with those he sees as evil, who do not obey the Law of the Lord. “I have not joined the company of the false, nor consorted with the deceitful. I hate the gathering of evildoers, and I will not sit down with the wicked.” [Verses 4 and 5.] We will all see the good sense in this, and St Paul would agree with this sentiment. [See Ephesians Chapter 4 from verse 25.]

Other commentators though lead me to wonder if the author is being pompous. In verse 2 he wants God to see how good he is. “Test me, O Lord, and try me; examine my heart and my mind.” Yet he is doing what is prescribed in the First Book of Kings. “When a person is accused of wronging another and is brought to your altar in this Temple to take an oath that he is innocent, O Lord, listen in heaven and judge your servants. Punish the guilty one as he deserves and acquit the one who is innocent.” [1 Kings 8.32.] Verse 6 of today’s psalm possibly suggests that the author is making a plea in the Temple, just as someone accused of an offence today will make a ‘not guilty’ plea in court. “I will wash my hands in innocence, O Lord, that I may go about your altar.” This probably refers to the “ritual washing” which can be found in the Book of Deuteronomy 21.6-7 and is a reminder of Pilate’s action when face to face with Jesus in Matthew 27.24. Today we might still come across the phrase, “I wash my hands of the whole thing,” an expression which means, “I don’t want anything to do with it!” So, the psalmist, in washing his hands, is saying he wants nothing to do with those he believes are sinful. Instead, he will praise God and tell others how wonderful the Lord is! [See verse 7.] Turning his back on those who are wicked, and having entered the Temple, you can almost hear him sigh with wonder in the words of verse 8: “Lord, I love the house of your habitation and the place where your glory abides.” Here is a truly holy place and you may have experienced that same sense of wonder as you stand in the nave of a cathedral and look towards the altar. Reading verse 8, there is no doubting what the Temple means to him: “Lord I love the house of your habitation and the place where your glory abides.” The hymn 718, in the book we use at St Dunstan’s, expresses the same sentiment: “We love the place, O God, wherein thine honour dwells; the joy of thine abode all earthly joy excels.”

Being in the Temple, and pleading his innocence, the psalmist prays that God will not take away his life along with those who are wicked. “Sweep me not away with sinners, nor my life with the bloodthirsty, whose hands are full of wicked schemes and their right hand full of bribes.” [Verses 9 and 10.] Instead, he reaffirms his commitment to the Lord and his faithfulness in keeping the commandments. [See verses 11 and 12.] As we have seen before, the authors of the psalms often saw things in black and white. The faithful are good, those without faith in the Lord are evil. That view is no longer fashionable in our society and, reflecting on all the verses, I struggle with the author’s seeming arrogance. However, today’s psalm can help us to see that we need to put God first and rejoice in His presence and Glory.