Thy Strong Word — Psalm 26. Keep praying saints: Lord, be my judge!

Rev. Andrew Lehenbauer, pastor of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Concordia, MO joins Rev. Brady Finnern to study and pray Psalm 26.

It appears that David was being falsely accused from others that led him to ask the LORD to do something we would fear ever to do: “LORD, judge me!” He knows that he was indeed a sinner (Psalm 51) AND knew that the Lord’s promises of steadfast love and faithfulness are real. Our conversations with God may not always sound perfect, but indeed our LORD wants to hear from us. David understands the love of God, how he wanted to be in God’s presence, and that the LORD would keep him from evil. “Forever, O Lord, Your Word is firmly set in the heavens. Lord, I love the habitation of Your house and the place where Your glory. Judge me by Your mercy and steadfast love. Amen.

Thy Strong Word reveals the light of our salvation in Christ through study of God’s Word, breaking our darkness with His redeeming light. Each weekday, two pastors fix our eyes on Jesus by considering Holy Scripture, verse by verse, in order to be strengthened in the Word and be equipped to faithfully serve in our daily vocations.

Thy Strong Word is hosted by Rev. Brady Finnern, pastor of Messiah Lutheran Church in Sartell, MN, and graciously underwritten by the Lutheran Heritage Foundation.

Psalm 26

I Will Bless the Lord

Of David.

26 Vindicate me, O Lord,
    for I have walked in my integrity,
    and I have trusted in the Lord without wavering.
²Prove me, O Lord, and try me;
    test my heart and my mind.^[a]
³For your steadfast love is before my eyes,
    and I walk in your faithfulness.

⁴I do not sit with men of falsehood,
nor do I consort with hypocrites.
⁵I hate the assembly of evildoers,
and I will not sit with the wicked.

⁶I wash my hands in innocence
and go around your altar, O Lord,
⁷proclaiming thanksgiving aloud,
and telling all your wondrous deeds.

⁸O Lord, I love the habitation of your house
    and the place where your glory dwells.
⁹Do not sweep my soul away with sinners,
    nor my life with bloodthirsty men,
¹⁰in whose hands are evil devices,
    and whose right hands are full of bribes.

¹¹But as for me, I shall walk in my integrity;
redeem me, and be gracious to me.
¹²My foot stands on level ground;
in the great assembly I will bless the Lord.

Footnotes

Psalm 26:2 Hebrew test my kidneys and my heart

Rev. Brady Finnern

Rev. Brady Finnern, host of Thy Strong Word. is an expert in all things Minnesota, including hiking the great mountains of the 5th flattest state in the Union and making his own maple syrup. Although chow mein, fried ice cream, and Peanut Persian donuts with maple frosting are at the top of his foodie list, his prized possessions include his gas station refillable fountain soda cup (which, he says, the savings will pay for college for his 4 kids). Pastor Finnern's Divine Call is as President of the LCMS Minnesota North District, and in addition he also enjoys traveling, coaching track, and movie nights with his wife and kids that may or may not include Shawshank Redemption or any of the Thriller movies. When he's not singing his favorite hymns or listening to his favorite metal music, you might find him working out or taking naps. (Probably naps.)