Scripture Reading : Psalm 26
Theme : The Innocent Pleads for Redemption
- Affirming Self-Innocence (1–5). This psalm, along with psalms 27 and 28 all center on God’s temple/sanctuary. In this psalm, the believer prays for God to search him and affirm his innocence. One way that he is innocent is because he does not associate himself with evil men who are hypocrites, liars and evildoers.
- Affirming Love for God (6–8). The believer affirms his love and worship of God. He is not a hypocrite, but is thankful for God and tells others of God’s great deeds. He worships God at the altar of His temple. He is innocent of evil.
- Affirming Trust in God to Answer (9–12). Because of his worship of God and uprightness, he pleads with God to save his life and not destroy him along the wicked. This plead for deliverance is not out of self-righteous attitude, but based on God’s loyalty that God has committed to the believer. This loyalty is gracious given. Once loyalty is established, God is faithful to maintain this loyalty. Because of God’s faithfulness, the believer is assured of physical security on earth, and his privilege to join other believers in blessing/praising God forever in God’s future kingdom.
Praying the Scripture
Believers are graciously accepted by God based upon God’s grace, not based upon their perfect righteousness, but once believers are graciously accepted by God, they need to turn away from evil and humbly trust God and depend on God to deliver them from harm on earth. If believers commit evil, they will be disciplined by God and may even die for their sins if they are serious (Rom. 8:13; 1 Cor. 11:30). As believers, let us turn away from evil deeds. Fear God’s discipline. If you are innocent, God will answer your prayers and deliver you and give you justice.
经文：诗篇26
主题：无辜人祈求救赎
- 断言无辜（1-5）。这首诗篇，连同诗篇28与29，都环绕着神的殿/圣所。这里，信徒求神察看他，确认他是无辜的。他之所以纯正是因为他不与恶人来往，也就是瞒哄、虚谎和行恶的人。
- 申明对神的爱（6-8）。信徒申明了他对神的爱与崇拜。他不虚伪，而是为着神感恩，并向人述说神奇妙的作为。他在神殿中的祭坛敬拜神。他没有作恶，是无辜的。
- 肯定神必应允（9-12）。由于信徒敬拜神，又行事纯正，他求神救他的性命，不要把他和恶人一同消灭。信徒求神搭救的祷告不是出于自义，乃是凭着神委身于信徒的诚信。这份诚信是神所赐的恩典。一旦诚信建立了，神将以信实守着它。因于此，信徒对自己在地上的安全有把握，也晓得自己有特权与其他信徒在神未来的国度里永远赞美祝福神。
用经文祷告
信徒是凭着神的恩典，受神恩待而被接受的，不是凭自己完美的义。可是，信徒一旦领受了这份恩典，就必须远离恶，谦卑地信靠神，依靠神搭救他免受地上的危害。倘若他犯罪了，他将受到神的管教，严重时甚至以会赔上自己的性命（罗8:13；林前11:30）。身为信徒，让我们远离罪恶。要畏惧神的管教。倘若你是无辜的，神会应允你的祷告，搭救你，并还你公道。
