May 9, 2023 — Psalm 26

“Vindicate me, O Lord, for I have walked in my integrity, and I have trusted in the Lord without wavering. Prove me, O Lord, and try me; test my heart and mind. For your steadfast love is before my eyes, and I walk in faithfulness to you. I do not sit with the worthless, nor do I consort with hypocrites; I hate the company of evildoers, and will not sit with the wicked. I wash my hands in innocence, and go around your altar, O Lord, singing aloud a song of thanksgiving, and telling all your wondrous deeds. O Lord, I love the house in which you dwell, and the place where your glory abides. Do not sweep me away with sinners, nor my life with the bloodthirsty, those in whose hands are evil devices, and whose right hands are full of bribes. But as for me, I walk in my integrity; redeem me, and be gracious to me. My foot stands on level ground; in the great congregation I will bless the Lord.” Psalm 26

“The 26th psalm is a psalm of prayer that laments the false saints who want to be godly through the works of the Law and who condemn the saints who are godly only through God’s goodness and grace. This psalm accuses the false saints of willingly accepting bribes. For such saints are certainly pure servants of greed, whose God is their stomach, as St. Paul says (Philippians 3:19). But with all their spiritual hypocrisy and their worldly glory, they are destructive saints. Therefore, it is good to pray that they may not deceive us.” (Martin Luther, Reading the Psalms with Luther)

“Vindicate me, O Lord….” This is the prayer of the betrayed, the falsely accused, the victim of evildoers.

This Psalmist confesses what we claim every Sunday — “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23)

We need to imagine a situation many of us have faced in one way or another. Someone has accused you of wrongdoing of which you believe yourself innocent. You have been treated unjustly or spitefully by your co-workers, boss, or friend, or even a member of your congregation. That’s the kind of situation the Psalmist was experiencing. The Psalmist’s claim of blamelessness is that he is innocent of the particular charge that has been alleged against him. He is claiming his integrity, not his complete and consistent perfection of behavior. But there is no way to know the entire situation. There is no evidence that justifies either his guilt or his innocence. But that is often the way of life.

But the Psalmist knows that he has a G-d who searches the heart. There is a G-d who can properly judge our guilt or innocence. G-d is the judge of all the earth. G-d knows what we have done or not done, down to the most hidden thoughts and motives. This is why we go to G-d with a contrite heart — for no matter what we say to anyone else, it is G-d who knows us more deeply than anyone else. And so we say along with the Psalmist: “redeem me, and be gracious to me.”

Prayer: Lord Jesus, abide with us in these latter evil days. Grant to Your Church true shepherds and faithful pastors who preach Your Word in its purity, and who lead us in the way of truth. Preserve our souls from being deluded by worldly wisdom and the teaching of men who walk after their own thoughts, and keep up steadfast in Your Word to our end. Amen.

Pastor Dave

May 8, 2023 — Psalm 25 

“To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul. O my God, in you I trust; do not let me be put to shame; do not let my enemies exult over me. Do not let those who wait for you be put to shame; let them be ashamed who are wantonly treacherous. Make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths. Lead me in your truth, and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all day long. Be mindful of your mercy, O Lord, and of your steadfast love, for they have been from of old. Do not remember the sins of my youth or my transgressions; according to your steadfast love remember me, for your goodness’ sake, O Lord! Good and upright is the Lord; therefore he instructs sinners in the way. He leads the humble in what is right, and teaches the humble his way. All the paths of the Lord are steadfast love and faithfulness, for those who keep his covenant and his decrees.” Psalm 25:1-10 

“The 25th psalm is a psalm of prayer in which the righteous pray that God will make them godly, forgive their sins, guard them from sin and shame, and finally deliver them from all enemies and all evil. Along with this the psalm mocks the false, self-centered spirits and teachers.” (Martin Luther, Reading the Psalms with Luther) 

When was the last time something you did, or said, got you into a lot of trouble? Your first thought was to ask G-d for help and guidance but perhaps you were too ashamed of your sin. Or maybe your problems were not due to deliberate sin, but rather because of immaturity or stupid decisions. Sometimes, even though we have prayed for guidance and wisdom, we still have to face the facts that what we have done is hurtful — and sometimes hurtful beyond measure. What should you do at such times? 

Psalm 25 teaches us to seek G-d and G-d’s forgiveness in such times: “Do not remember the sins of my youth or my transgressions; according to your steadfast love remember me, for your goodness’ sake, O Lord!” It appears that the book of James 1:5-6 might also give us some guidance: “But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind.” This is what the Psalmist tells us in Psalm 25: “All the paths of the Lord are steadfast love and faithfulness, for those who keep his covenant and his decrees.” 

We should not live in fear of the Lord’s presence thinking we will be punished for sin — but instead seek the Lord’s presence and guidance putting all faith in a G-d who is forgetful of our past sins and promises forgiveness for those who love and obey the Lord. And then we may have the strength to ask for forgiveness from those we have hurt.

Prayer: O Lord, our most merciful Father in heaven, be gracious to us and forgive us our sins. Rule in our hearts by Your Spirit, that we may hate and forsake all manner of evil. Restrain our enemies who would deprive us of our salvation, and be to us, and Your whole Church on earth, a very present help in time of need. Amen. 

Pastor Dave