Oxygen from Psalm 26 (Integrity in Worship)

Psalm 25 and Psalm 26 are very similar and may represent a liturgical unity.  Both are concerned with integrity (25:21, 26:11), both contain prayers for redemption (25:22, 26:11), and both indicate the significance of feet (25:15, 26:12). Psalm 25 was about God knowing the way (v.4,8,9,10,12); Psalm 26 about walking on that path (1,3,11).  Psalm 25 was probably a song to sing approaching the tabernacle on Mount Moriah and Psalm 26 the song the worshiper sang standing beside the altar of sacrifice witnessing God's judgement on the worshiper's sin through the shedding of blood.

(He approaches the altar.)

Judge me, O Yahweh, that I walk in integrity

and trust you, Lord, without wavering.

(He hands his sacrifice to the priest who examines it.)

Examine, me, Yahweh.  Try me.

Are my entrails, my heart and mind, refined?

(The priest throws the sacrifice on the fire.)

I see your covenant love before my eyes.

I walk in your Truth.

(From the elevated altar on Mt. Moriah David sees the unrighteous in Israel.)

I do not sit with death-doomed do-nothings.

I enter not with pretenders.

I hate the assembly of evil-doers.

(The worshiper washes his hands.)

I wash my hands in innocence.

(The worshiper walks around the altar.)

I circle your altar, Yahweh.

announcing with a thankful voice

all your marvelous deeds.

(Coming down from the altar, he looks toward the Holy Place.)

Yahweh, I love your house,

the place your glory tabernacles.

(Prayer of commitment.)

Do not lump me in with sinners,

nor my life with men of bloodshed,

in whose hands is crime,

their right hand full of bribes.

(Leaving the temple precinct.)

But I will walk in my integrity.

Redeem me.  Be gracious.

My foot stands on level ground.

In the assemblies I will bless Yahweh.

(Psalm 26  DKB Interplation)

God of Judging Fire:

Each time I come to worship You

I practice for The Judgement Day.

If I go to worship just to be seen,

then in Your Judgement all will know

      my every sin displayed

      as on a giant screen.

If I go to worship just to be with friends,

then in Your Judgement are we all condemned

      together and consigned

      to deepest darkness for all time.

If I go to worship to feel religious

then in Your Judgement I shall be liable

      for every prayer omitted,

      every rule ignored and broken.

But if I come to worship to be judged,

to lay my life a living sacrifice

upon the altar stained with blood,

judged by Word and found wanting Christ,

      then in Your Judgement I shall be found

      possessing integrity not my own,

      but Christ's alone.

So,

as I sit and pray and sing,

as I to Your altar come,

      run me through with grace's sword

      and let my confessions overflow

'til offenses turn to praise,

'til longing turns to overflowing,

'til self is lost in love and mercy,

      redeemed from religion's uphill grind

      to stand again on Moriah's level ground.

Amen.