We probably all feel that natural and ironic cringe when we encounter virtue signalling and moral grandstanding. When you meet that person and within three minutes you know they are a Minimalist and all the ethical reasoning behind their choice. How righteous! And now the right hand knows what the left hand is doing, which is just as well. Dear reader, you have been signalled, nod your head in approval. “I thank you Lord that I am not like these other people, who don’t take their re-usable bags to the supermarket, and who don’t buy ethically sorced food or clothing. I’m better, and they all know it because I let them know it. Also, I’m vegan!”
We cringe at this virtue signalling and moral grandstanding with good reason, because it’s for show most of the time. And we know its for show most of the time because most of the time we do it, we do it for show! We all have twisted motivations that pollute everything we do. Not to say we shouldn’t do good things, I’m just saying even the best things can be done with a bad heart. We want to, as far as possible, not signal our greatness, because we are not great. We want to, as far as possible, be humble.
So what do we do when we read Psalm 26? And even more the point, if we are reading Psalm 26 and even praying it, then these are your words too aren’t they?
This is what David says,
“Prove me, O LORD, and try me; test my heart and my mind. For your steadfast love is before my eyes, and I walk in your faithfulness.” (Psalm 26:2–3)
That’s a bold prayer isn’t it? Asking God to try me and test my heart and my mind seems like a surefire way to get yourself in trouble. And yet David says he walks in faithfulness. What does that look like? He goes on,
“I do not sit with men of falsehood, nor do I consort with hypocrites. I hate the assembly of evildoers, and I will not sit with the wicked.” (Psa. 26:4–5)
Alright, now we’re getting a wiff of that virtue signalling. Here David is explaining all the things he does not do. He doesn’t mix with the wrong crowd because he’s a good dude. But how good of a dude is he? Well he goes on,
“I wash my hands in innocence and go around your altar, O LORD, proclaiming thanksgiving aloud, and telling all your wondrous deeds.” (Psa. 26:6–7)
So has David put himself on a pedestal? And if you’re praying these words are you doing the same? I don’t think so. This isn’t a self-centred “save me because I’m a good guy” prayer. Instead it’s a prayer that relies on God’s justice and God’s faithfulness. David is telling of the wondrous deeds of the Lord.
God is just. For those that do evil, speak falsehoods, love wickedness, and hate God, their end will be rightful condemnation before God the just judge. David is calling God just. In fact, he celebrates that and relies on that.
David is saying that he has done none of those things. David is saying that he is faithful to God’s ways. David is not saying that he is perfectly sinless. In fact many times David says he is faithful and yet prays that he would be forgiven of his guilt at the same time. You don’t have to be sinless to be in a relationship with God. You are simply trusting (or having faith) in God who is faithful himself.
David in this psalm is effectively reflecting on the confidence he has in his relationship with God which has shown itself through his actions. David is asking God to test him, heart and mind, not to find sin, but to find that David relies on God’s faithfulness to him.
As you read this psalm, I hope you can approach God in the same way David does. Faithfully trusting in the Lord Jesus and having a confident relationship with God. I hope you can approach God knowing that you are walking according to your calling (and that includes repenting from sin). May you say with David,
“But as for me, I shall walk in my integrity; redeem me, and be gracious to me. My foot stands on level ground; in the great assembly I will bless the LORD.” (Psa. 26:11–12)
Bigvai and Shiphrah 