“Vindicate me, O LORD, for I have walked in my integrity, and I have trusted in the LORD without wavering…For your steadfast love is before my eyes, and I walk in your faithfulness…But as for me, I shall walk in my integrity; redeem me, and be gracious to me.” (Psalm 26:1, 3, 11)
Father God, this psalm depicts a person who has committed their entire life to you: past, present, and future. Even now, Lord, we renew our resolve to follow you all our life long. We will not turn aside to the right or to the left, because we will walk the path you have set before us. Though the way be fraught with troubles, you will preserve us. You are walking with us, and you will see us through every danger, toil, and snare, and we will dwell with you forever.
Father God, this psalm also reminds us that to stay the course, we must be careful of the company we keep (v.4-5). This doesn't mean we have to walk alone, but that we need to seek out good influences in our life, people who will help us to stay the course and follow you even when the going gets tough. Being careful of the company we keep doesn't always mean that we unfriend and abandon those who are bad influences, but more often it means that we don't have to stick around and participate in them with their ventures off the path.
Lord, when we see we are sitting with "men of falsehood," let us not be ashamed to speak the truth or to get up and physically leave such conversation. Especially help us to be brave to redirect or leave conversations indulging in gossip. Let us stand for the truth and love, and not tolerate "truth and malice" or falsehood in any way. When we find ourselves "consorting with hypocrites," let us not give in to the temptation to pass judgment on others while excusing ourselves. Rather, may we always see ourselves humbly, as sinners saved by grace (not by our goodness); and may we always see others hopefully, knowing in Christ there is hope for every last sinner to be saved.
May we also be faithful to walk in your ways, by walking away from every temptation, even when those temptations come not directly, but digitally, through the shows we watch, the news we pursue, and the social media we follow. O Lord, may we "take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ" (2 Corinthians 10:5). We pray, Lord, that in our walk, in our life, you will be glorified. Amen.
