Big Idea: The love of God’s house is evidenced in the psalmist’s personal conduct—the two cannot be separated, for David’s life is an illustration of how worship shapes one’s life.

Understanding the Text

Craigie, following Vogt,[1] classifies Psalm 26 as an entrance liturgy, or pilgrim prayer, related in both form and content to Psalms 15 and 24. In form, however, the prayer that God will vindicate the psalmist and examine his heart has replaced the liturgical question of Psalms 15:1 and 24:3, and even the explicit answer of Psalms 15:2–5 and 24:4 is missing, blending into the suppliant’s defense of his innocence. Since the poet largely lays out the case for his innocence, a psalm of innocence, as Gunkel has labeled it, seems a much better choice.[2] The editor(s) of Book 1, or this part…