Hope Found in Worship

Scripture:
Vindicate me, O Lord,
For I have walked in my integrity.
I have also trusted in the Lord;
I shall not slip.
Examine me, O Lord, and prove me;
Try my mind and my heart.
Psalm 26:1-2

Observation: Throughout this psalm, David declares his righteousness and calls upon God to examine him. He declares that God alone is before his eyes, that he has and will walk in God's ways and truth alone. He will never associated with any kind of sinful people, and he will forever declare God's greatness, worshiping the Lord at all times, while remaining blameless all his days.

In summary, David's three major declarations in this psalm are that he has and never will 1) associated with non-believers, 2) transgress from the commands of God, and 3) cease to worship the Lord.

This is the David who ... 1) actually joined the Philistines in their war against Saul, and 2) had a man killed because he slept with that man's wife. In other words, even David had no hope of avoiding the very acts he himself declares. David had no hope of ever avoiding sin. David had no hope of avoiding friendly association with unbelievers in the world.

So how is it that David is the man after God's own heart? Because he DID ... worship publicly, openly, joyously, and aggressively, whenever and wherever he could. He worshiped in front of every citizen in the streets of Jerusalem. He worshiped while hiding in caves. He worshiped while his son rebelled against him. He worshiped after the death of a child. David worshiped ... period.

Application: I will forever fail to live the life the Lord would ask me to live. I will disobey his commands, and I will ignore his voice, and I will fail to love others at least daily. However, I can worship. I can worship in my car during my commute. I can worship during a quick break at work. I can worship before bed at night.

Worship is our place our right relationship with the Lord. Yes, we pray for guidance, strength, provision, and forgiveness, but it seems clear that worship is the path by which our right standing with the Lord is confirmed. It is by worship that we demonstrate we are after God's heart.

Prayer: Lord, I praise you this day and every day. May songs of your greatness forever be upon my lips and flowing from my heart. I thank you for the chance to show my love for you in such a manner as worship. Amen.