“Test me, Lord, and try me, examine my heart and my mind; for I have always been mindful of your unfailing love and have lived in reliance on your faithfulness. I do not sit with the deceitful, nor do I associate with hypocrites. I abhor the assembly of evildoers and refuse to sit with the wicked. I wash my hands in innocence, and go about your altar, Lord, proclaiming aloud your praise and telling of all your wonderful deeds. I lead a blameless life; deliver me and be merciful to me.” (v2-7,11)
I’m impressed. I have only one idea as to how David is able to pull this off – the grace and mercy of God. I don’t know about you, but I certainly feel I can describe myself as “blameless” or “innocent”. I often fail to “live in reliance of God’s faithfulness” and sometimes find myself in the presence of wickedness.
There are many verses that talk about being cleansed by God’s by grace: 1 Jn 1:9, Lev 16:30, Jer 33:8, Ez 37:23, Ti 2:14. Heb 9:14, 1 Cor 6:11. There are also many verses about being blameless: Jam 3:2, Php 2:14-16a, Rom 12:2, Jam 1:27, Mat 19:21.
How is it possible for us to be blameless since from birth “The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure.” (Jer 17:9a)? “May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Ths 5:23) Scripture is clear that in order to have a blameless life like David did, we need to be thoroughly sanctified by God – there is no other way.
I’ll close with a prayer from Paul: “And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ – to the glory and praise of God.” (Php 1:9-11)
~ Conqueror in Training