John Calvin Commentary Psalms 26:1

"Judge me, O Jehovah, for I have walked in mine integrity: I have trusted also in Jehovah without wavering." — Psalms 26:1 (ASV)

Judge me, O Jehovah! I have just said that David turns to the judgment of God because he found neither fairness nor humanity among men. The Hebrew word that is rendered to judge, signifies to undertake the cognizance of a cause. The meaning here, therefore, is as if David called upon God to be the defender of his right.

When God leaves us for a time to the injuries and insolence of our enemies, he seems to neglect our cause; but when he restrains them from attacking us as they please, he clearly demonstrates that the defense of our cause is the object of his care. Let us, therefore, learn from David's example, when we are lacking human aid, to resort to the judgment-seat of God and to rely upon his protection.

The clause that follows is explained in various ways by interpreters. Some read it in connection with the first clause: Judge me, O Jehovah! because I have walked in my integrity; but others refer it to the last clause: Because I have walked in my integrity, therefore I shall not stumble. In my opinion, it may be properly connected with both.

As it is the proper work of God to maintain and defend righteous causes, the Psalmist, in making him his defender, calls upon him as the witness of his integrity and trust, and thus forms the hope of obtaining his aid. If, on the other hand, anyone thinks that the clauses should be separated, it seems most probable that this sentence, Judge me, O Lord! should be read by itself; and then that the second prayer should follow, that God would not allow him to stumble, because he had behaved inoffensively and uprightly, and so forth. But there is a force in the possessive pronoun my, which interpreters have overlooked.

For David does not simply assert that he had been upright, but that he had consistently followed an upright course, without being turned from his purpose, however powerful the schemes by which he had been attacked. When wicked men attack us seeking to overwhelm us, either by force or fraud, we know how difficult it is to always preserve the same fortitude.

We place our hope of victory in striving resolutely and vigorously to oppose force with force, and cunning with cunning. And this is a temptation that all the more affects honest and steady men, who are otherwise zealous to do well, when the cruelty of their enemies forces them to turn aside from the right path.

Let us, therefore, learn from David's example, even when an opportunity to injure our enemies is offered to us, and when by various methods they force and provoke us, to remain firm in our course, and not allow ourselves to be diverted in any way from persevering in the path of our integrity.