Most of us are aware that there is an inspection by the health department of restaurants on a regular basis. Failure to pass that inspection can ultimately lead to its closure. We may not be as aware of another inspection that involves our spiritual well-being. It is far more important.
David said it this way in the twenty-sixth psalm: “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.” The prayer closes with the psalmist calling on God for mercy. The focus of the prayer is the self-examination David made of himself and the kind of life a man who walks with integrity lives. His personal examination is not boasting of his righteousness, but the results of a righteous man honestly looking at his daily life.
The test of walking in truth. David knew of God’s lovingkindness and experienced it in that tragic part of life with the wife of Uriah. We do not know if this psalm was written before or after that event, but the elevation of a shepherd boy to the throne is evidence of God’s goodness. As David thought of God’s mercy and kindness, he looked inward and affirmed, “I have walked in Your truth” (v. 3). The true measure of a man is not whether he has ever done wrong, but what he does after he realizes his sin. David repented and turned from sin for he was honest with himself and walked with integrity.
The test of companionship. “I have not sat with idolatrous mortals, nor will I go in with hypocrites” (v. 4). He hated the assembly of evildoers and refused to sit with the wicked (v. 5). It is folly to think we can spend all our time with those who have little or no regard for God and righteous living. David was a man after God’s own heart because his best friend, Jonathan, was so righteous. David rejected Jonathan’s father, King Saul, and refused to stand with, sit with or walk with ungodly men (Psa. 1:1).
The test of worship. “I will go about your altar…I love…the place where your glory dwells” (vs. 6, 8). He knew that God was in that assembly and loved being there. The world was filled with evil men (vs. 9-10), but David wanted to worship with godly men. The psalm closes with David blessing the Lord in His assembly.
David looked inward, examined himself and asked God to also examine him and vindicate that he had seen himself as God did. We would be wise to see how our “test scores” compare with David’s “score.” Even more sobering is how it compares with God’s evaluation of our lives. God tells all of us to “…examine yourself as to whether you are in the faith” (2 Cor. 13:5). Walk with integrity and let God score your life!