In the first psalm, David talked about “the man.” Although I have applied the psalm to the life of Job, the truth is that “the man” is actually a hypothetical character with no specific identity. Yet as we read the rest of the book of psalms, we can see that – no matter whom it might have been that David had in mind as he penned the words of this psalm – he intended for the truths of the psalm to apply to himself. His objective was to turn the theory presented in the passage into practice in his own life.
Judge me, O Lord; for I have walked in mine integrity: I have trusted also in the Lord; therefore I shall not slide. Examine me, O Lord, and prove me; try my reins and my heart. For thy lovingkindness is before mine eyes: and I have walked in thy truth. I have not sat with vain persons, neither will I go in with dissemblers. I have hated the congregation of evil doers; and will not sit with the wicked…But as for me, I will walk in mine integrity: redeem me, and be merciful unto me. My foot standeth in an even place: in the congregations will I bless the Lord. (Psalm 26:1-5, 11-12)
For thou hast delivered my soul from death: wilt not thou deliver my feet from falling, that I may walk before God in the light of the living? (Psalm 56:13)
Teach me thy way, O Lord; I will walk in thy truth: unite my heart to fear thy name. (Psalm 86:11)
I will behave myself wisely in a perfect way. O when wilt thou come unto me? I will walk within my house with a perfect heart. (Psalm 101:2)
I will walk before the Lord in the land of the living. (Psalm 116:9)
And I will walk at liberty: for I seek thy precepts. (Psalm 119:45)
Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the morning; for in thee do I trust: cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto thee. (Psalm 143:8)
It is obvious from these verses that David had a determination to posture himself for blessings as did the man in psalm one through deliberately walking, standing, and sitting righteously. However, there is a further point that we need to observe from these verses. So if you don’t mind, please take the time to read several of them again. This time, I’d like to add just one extra verse even though David doesn’t necessarily apply it to himself and his own position. However, this additional verse does help convey an important truth that we see laced through the other verses we have just read.
Judge me, O Lord; for I have walked in mine integrity: I have trusted also in the Lord; therefore I shall not slide. Examine me, O Lord, and prove me; try my reins and my heart. For thy lovingkindness is before mine eyes: and I have walked in thy truth. I have not sat with vain persons, neither will I go in with dissemblers. I have hated the congregation of evil doers; and will not sit with the wicked…But as for me, I will walk in mine integrity: redeem me, and be merciful unto me. My foot standeth in an even place: in the congregations will I bless the Lord. (Psalm 26:1-5, 11-12)
Teach me thy way, O Lord; I will walk in thy truth: unite my heart to fear thy name. (Psalm 86:11)
I will behave myself wisely in a perfect way. O when wilt thou come unto me? I will walk within my house with a perfect heart. (Psalm 101:2)
Blessed is every one that feareth the Lord; that walketh in his ways. (Psalm 128:1)
Notice from the words that I have underlined that David sees his spiritual posture as tied directly to the same qualities attributed to Job: perfect, upright, and fearing God, and eschewing evil. (Job 1:1) Since most of these qualities are essentially self-evident, we don’t need to take the time and space to examine the ideas of being upright, fearing (or respecting) God, and hating evil; however, it seems worthwhile to focus a bit on the idea of perfection. It is commonly assumed that believers cannot obtain perfection and are, therefore, exempt from striving for it. Most contemporary teaching on the subject relegates our perfect totally to our spirit man and exempts our physical personality from even anticipating the possibility of perfection. In fact, that whole philosophy was once flaunted on bumper stickers that proclaimed, “Christians aren’t perfect, just forgiven.” Such a teaching ignored the testimonies of such biblical characters as Job (Job 1:1), Noah (Genesis 6:9), Abraham (Genesis 17:1), Hezekiah (Isaiah 38:3), and Epaphras (Colossians 4:12) as well as the words of Jesus Himself (Matthew 5:48, 19:21) and Paul’s double admonition in Ephesians 4:11-13. The scriptural context of perfection seems to indicate that perfect people are ones whose actions are perfect because their hearts are perfect. The scriptures teach that Amaziah, for instance, did what was right but not with a perfect heart. (II Chronicles 25:2) He apparently fell into the same category as the believers at Corinth who were doing good deeds – and even operating in spiritual gifts – yet their actions failed to be of benefit because they were not motivated by love. (I Corinthians 13:1-3) On the other hand, David was considered to be a man after God’s own heart (Acts 13:22) even though he committed adultery and plotted the murder of the woman’s husband. His prayer of repentance in the fifty-first psalm explained why. His plea before God was that the Lord would not take the Holy Spirit from him and that He would renew a right heart within him. Apparently David understood the necessity of what Paul would later describe as the seal of the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13, 4:30) – the quickening work of the Holy Spirit that constantly reminds the sensitive believer of the validity or lack thereof of his every thought, motive, and action.
Even though Job’s accusers challenged the idea that Job was a perfect man (Job 8:20), Job refused to waver on the declaration that he was indeed a perfect man (Job 9:20-22) and God Himself attested that Job was actually perfect (Job 1:1, 1:8, 2:3). Apparently, David took hold of this principle from the life of Job and made it the hallmark of his own life and destiny. If we look back into the life of David and find the one characteristic that seemed to stand out in his life that could have made the difference between him and any others who lacked this quality, it is likely that we need not go any further than the criteria set for his selection for the throne of Israel. After Samuel had surveyed the seven older sons of Jesse without finding a worthy candidate, the Lord revealed to him that he was looking at the wrong score card when evaluating his options. God made His point that the heart of the matter was actually the matter of the heart.
But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart. (I Samuel 16:7)
David obviously understood that this was his key to destiny and determined to keep his heart in a perfect relationship with his God. “I will behave myself wisely in a perfect way. O when wilt thou come unto me? I will walk within my house with a perfect heart.” (Psalm 101:2) After he sinned with Bathsheba and had her husband killed, the king’s prayer was that God would re-establish his heart before Him. (Psalm 51:10) Consequently, the New Testament characterized David as being a man after God’s own heart. (Acts 13:22) He desired to pass this spiritual key on to his son Solomon who was to succeed him on the throne. First Chronicles 28:9 recorded David’s instructions to Solomon that he should serve the Lord with a perfect heart. In verse nineteen of the following chapter, we find David in prayer for his son, interceding that the Lord will give him a perfect heart. Unfortunately, the biblical summation of Solomon’s life is that “his heart was not perfect with the Lord his God, as was the heart of David his father.” (I Kings 11:4) Even though the king’s life was ultimately destined for his own tragic failure, he seemed to understand the same principles of positioning oneself for blessing and power through deliberate observance to where we walk, stand, and sit.
My son, walk not thou in the way with them; refrain thy foot from their path. (Proverbs 1:15)
He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous: he is a buckler to them that walk uprightly. (Proverbs 2:7)
That thou mayest walk in the way of good men, and keep the paths of the righteous. (Proverbs 2:20)
A naughty person, a wicked man, walketh with a froward mouth. (Proverbs 6:12)
He that walketh uprightly walketh surely: but he that perverteth his ways shall be known. (Proverbs 10:9)
He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed. (Proverbs 13:20)
He that walketh in his uprightness feareth the Lord: but he that is perverse in his ways despiseth him. (Proverbs 14:2)
Folly is joy to him that is destitute of wisdom: but a man of understanding walketh uprightly. (Proverbs 15:21)
Better is the poor that walketh in his integrity, than he that is perverse in his lips, and is a fool. (Proverbs 19:1)
There are many devices in a man’s heart; nevertheless the counsel of the Lord, that shall stand. (Proverbs 19:21)
The just man walketh in his integrity: his children are blessed after him. (Proverbs 20:7)
A king that sitteth in the throne of judgment scattereth away all evil with his eyes. (Proverbs 20:8)
Better is the poor that walketh in his uprightness, than he that is perverse in his ways, though he be rich. (Proverbs 28:6)
Whoso walketh uprightly shall be saved: but he that is perverse in his ways shall fall at once. (Proverbs 28:18)
He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool: but whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered. (Proverbs 28:26)
Her (the virtuous woman’s) husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land. (Proverbs 31:23)
Be not hasty to go out of his sight: stand not in an evil thing; for he doeth whatsoever pleaseth him. (Ecclesiastes 8:3)
Yea also, when he that is a fool walketh by the way, his wisdom faileth him, and he saith to every one that he is a fool. (Ecclesiastes 10:3)
Additionally, Solomon seemed to capitalize on the principle that Job introduced, “Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.” (Job 28:28) If only Solomon had diligently adhered to his own counsel:
In the fear of the Lord is strong confidence: and his children shall have a place of refuge. (Proverbs 14:26)
The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death. (Proverbs 14:27)
Better is little with the fear of the Lord than great treasure and trouble therewith. (Proverbs 15:16)
By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the Lord men depart from evil. (Proverbs 16:6)
The fear of the Lord tendeth to life: and he that hath it shall abide satisfied; he shall not be visited with evil. (Proverbs 19:23)
By humility and the fear of the Lord are riches, and honour, and life. (Proverbs 22:4)
