Tuesday, September 22, 2020

2020.09.22 Hopewell @Home ▫ Psalm 26:6–12

Read Psalm 26:6–12

Questions from the Scripture text: In what does the psalmist wash his hands (Psalm 26:6a)? But what does this enable him to approach (verse 6b)? With what voice does he proclaim something there (Psalm 26:7a)? Of what does he tell in this proclaiming (verse 7b)? What has the psalmist loved in Psalm 26:8a? What else does he call it (verse 8b)? By contrast, where doesn’t he want to be gathered (Psalm 26:9a)? What else does he call them, and what do they endanger (verse 9b)? What does he expect to find in their hands (Psalm 26:10a)? And what in their right hand (verse 10b)? But what does the psalmist need to walk in instead (Psalm 26:11a)? How would this happen (verse 11b)? On what footing would this put him (Psalm 26:12a)? And what would the ultimate response to this be (verse 12b)?

Next week’s Prayer for Help comes from Psalm 26:6–12 in order that we will see that we are singing God’s thoughts after Him with I Love Thy Kingdom, Lord.

The hand-washing station stood halfway between the tabernacle tent and the altar for sacrifice. Psalm 26:6-8 rejoice over public worship and the preparation for it. God’s mercy is presented to him at the altar of sacrifice. God’s glory is presented to him in “the tabernacle of Your glory” as Psalm 26:8 literally calls it. And washing hands according to God’s Word is the first step toward each.

The Old Testament believer, then, came to worship in the same way we do: not by the merit of how well he had done but by looking to Jesus. In baptism, Jesus has held out to us His cleansing of us in innocence as at the laver. In the supper, Jesus has held out to us His sacrifice as at the altar. And Jesus Himself is our Immanuel—God who has tabernacled among us, and we beheld His glory (cf. John 1:14).

The danger of being gathered to the world, and endangering our life by them or being like them, is set forth in Psalm 26:9-10, before the Psalm returns us in Psalm 26:11-12 to the joyous gathering with God’s people unto their redeeming, merciful God.

Though it is coming to God through Christ that saves, the separation from the world and rejection of its sin always accompanies it. The way that we say this theologically is that “only faith saves, but faith is always accompanied by repentance.” Or you may have heard it put, “justified by faith alone, but justifying faith is never alone.”

In this Psalm, it’s put in terms of thanksgiving and love and desire. The holy Lord and the sinful worldlings are at such complete odds that love for and delight in the Lord cannot coexist with keeping the company of worldlings.

But aren’t we worldlings? This is why we need redemption and grace (Psalm 26:11). It is Jesus who has saved us from being worldlings by washing us, atoning for us, and uniting us to Himself through faith!

Who are your companions? What does this say about your trust in and desire for Jesus?

Suggested songs: ARP26 “Lord, Vindicate Me” or TPH405 “I Love Thy Kingdom Lord”


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