ACCORDING TO MINE INTEGRITY

The inscription to this psalm is a help to us in understanding it. It refers to Cush the Benjamite. He was possibly a supporter of the house of Saul, for he came from the same tribe, and would therefore be an enemy of David. He had made charges against David. It appears that he charged him with having iniquity in his hands, v. 3, but that David had returned good for the evil shown him, v. 4.

There was no truth in the charges, and David appeals to God to do him justice: “judge me” (to vindicate him), v. 8, asking for a judgment favourable to himself, the petitioner. Verses 6-10 constitute a cry for the coming of the divine Judge, and four times he dwells on the thought of God as Judge, vv. 6, 8, 9, 11.

David has a clear conscience, and he pleads for justice to be secured him by God, a plea which he bases on his own innocence and integrity, v. 8. When he desires to be judged according to his righteousness and his integrity, when he professes his innocence, it is not that he is betraying a spirit of self-satisfaction and self-righteousness. It is not that he would claim to be perfect and sinless. It does not indicate that he feels that he is superior to the rest of the world, as did the Pharisee who claimed to be “not as other men”, and certainly not as “this publican”, Luke 18. 9-12. It indicates that David is conscious of freedom from guilt with reference to the particular charge laid against him. It indicates that he takes his place alongside Paul in his consciousness of rectitude, Acts 20. 26ff, 23. 1. It indicates the spirit of simple faith and childlike trust which throws itself unreservedly on God.

David asks for a true judgment on the wicked and those who seek his life, on the ground that all evil-doing must be revealed as bringing about its own destruction. The wicked person has fallen into the ditch that he himself has made, and the mischief rebounds on his own head, vv. 15-16. God, in His justice, has ordained it so.

It is blessed to be able to stand before God with a conscience void of offence towards God and towards men, bringing praise to God and giving men no cause to blaspheme.