There are times that David makes me gasp in astonishment. In Psalm 26 he wrote, “Vindicate me, O LORD, for I have led a blameless life, and I have trusted in the LORD without wavering. 2 Test me, O LORD, and try me; examine my heart and my mind. . . . 6 I wash my hands in innocence, . . . 11 But as for me, I lead a blameless life, redeem me, and be gracious to me. 12 My feet stand on level ground; in the great assembly I will bless the LORD.” This comes from a man who ravaged Philistine villages and killed everyone, even children, lest they identify him to his Philistine host. This is a man who had one of his mighty men killed because he, David, wanted the man’s wife. On his deathbed he tells his sons to kill someone. Perhaps I could understand this better if he would have ascribed his innocence to God’s forgiveness but he brags of “my integrity.”
Granted he was brave. He was a magnificent poet. He was a good musician. But he was far from innocent. I find myself wondering what magnificent things David would have written if he had known Jesus and had read the writings of Paul who called himself “Chief of Sinners”. If David understood Christ our righteousness and the cost involved in truly making us innocent he would have waxed ever so more eloquent about our God. We shall stand tall in the integrity of Jesus. Our sins will not only be forgiven but blotted out. We shall, like David, sing of integrity, but it will not be ours. But wait. Yes, it will be ours. It is a gift and after a gift is given to us it is ours.
Written by Roger Bothwell on Sept. 12, 2014
Spring of Life, PO Bo 124, St. Helena, CA 94574
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