"Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law." Psalms 119:18 (KJV)
“I Have …”
Bill Brinkworth
King David certainly was not a perfect man. He sinned; he made mistakes, but he loved God with all his heart and purposed to live for and please Him. In Psalm 26, we read of six “I have’s” that the King of Israel purposed to do with his life because of his loyalty to the Lord and His principles. They are:
- “Judge me, O LORD; for I have walked in mine integrity: …” Psalm 26:1a
The leader knew that his faith was not just a one-day a week exhibition, but that an attempt at doing right must be “genuine, pure, and consistent.” So much so did David know that his consistent character would be pleasing to the Lord, that he asked the Lord to “Examine me, O LORD, and prove me; try my reins and my heart” (Psalm 26:2). - “… I have trusted also in the LORD; therefore I shall not slide.” Psalm 26:1b
King David believed and obeyed what the Lord showed him to do. He knew his obedience would keep him from backsliding away from the Lord. - “For thy lovingkindness is before mine eyes: and I have walked in thy truth.” Psalm 26:3
David also obeyed the truths from the Scriptures. - “I have not sat with vain persons, neither will I go in with dissemblers.” Psalm 26:4
To keep his testimony clean and pure, the king was very careful with whom he kept company. He knew that associations with certain people reflected what others thought of him.
To keep his character from being tainted, he kept away from people that were “worthless, fruitless, proud, showy, deceitful” (vain persons) and those that were hypocritical (dissemblers). He knew what people thought of him reflected on his testimony for the Lord. - “I have hated the congregation of evil doers; and will not sit with the wicked.” Psalm 26:5
David had a tremendous disdain for sin, and kept as far away from it as he could. His attitude certainly did not show any toleration of sin. - “LORD, I have loved the habitation of thy house, and the place where thine honour dwelleth.” Psalm 26:8
The king may have hated the things God hates, but he loved the things God loved, especially the House of the Lord. He liked being around the people of God and places that honored Him.
David was a man after God’s own heart (Acts 13:22). Oh, if we would purpose with all our heart and actions to have such a testimony and desires as did the great king.
“I would not give much for your religion, unless it can be seen. Lamps do not talk, but they shine.”
This article was featured in The Bible View #566.