APART FROM THE WORLD

Psalm 26: 1-12

A PRESBYTERIAN PSALTER - by Pastor Max A Forsythe

Some years ago several organizations came together to discuss the problem of pornography in the Logan County area. Very many people wondered if there was even a problem in our rural heartland. That was long before the murder of a playmate's husband at high noon just seventy-five feet off of a local Main Street. In those early eighties there was some doubt that there was even could be a problem. So one of the Christian businessmen advertised a free pizza for any three such magazines brought in. Before the week was out he had a stack three feet wide, three feet tall and seven feet long! There were also some irate parents whose collections had been disturbed by their children! So, given the reported grosseness of the collection, it was quite evident that there was a problem. At the resultant meeting of concerned people there were the usual evangelical churches plus representatives of the assorted feminist organizations and social action groups. I don't think I have ever seen a stranger collection of bedfellows with a common goal! There were charismatics, liberals, catholics, fundamentalists and agnostics. Needless to say, not much was accomplished in the community except the removal of such materials from common sight. Given the strange collection of protesters, I guess even that was a miraculous accomplishment. I just did not feel comfortable in that company.

A couple of years later I was talking with the most conservative politician in our county and asked him what was the state of conservativism in the area. I was surprised when he observed that there wasn't anyone as far right conservative as my Reformed crowd. I objected because there is a semi-armed "Reaction Team" of radio nuts plus a small John Birch organization and even the hints of an underground klannish klutch. I was indeed relieved when he apologized and said that I was indeed a different type of oddball, just like the Covenantors and another Reformed Fellowship in our county who won't associate with just anyone who wants their political friendship. Part of the reason for our distinctive Reformed witness in that area is that we are not invited to participate because any observations and advice that we might give is not appreciated nor wanted. At the public meeting on pornography I had casually mentioned that since Ohio law at that time had a short paragraph which carefully defined exactly what pornography was, our only problem was electing a Sheriff or Prosecuting Attorney who was literate enough to read that description and be persuaded to enforce the law! There was really no need for the Christian Community to take the brunt of the liberal reactionism in the press which soon became evident. As it was, the liberals had a field day at the expense of the conservative churches.

But, I had already tried to talk to a former Prosecutor and waited two whole days in his office without even a minute's worth of time. My visit had been prompted by an event which had happened to one of my parishioners. North of the county seat, there used to be a Drive in Theater which showed raunchy movies. Two nights in one week, on the way to work one of my members had been pursued by some pervert wearing only a Volkswagen, who had lurked in the neighborhood of the Dirty Drive In Theater alongside the road. Since the authorities would do nothing, the problem was solved by the woman in question having to drive ten miles out of her way. Eventually the Drive Inn screen was damaged by a providential storm and it was never repaired.

Two last personal experiences, then we will consider the lesson in this psalm. Twice I have been asked to serve on a crisis intervention team at our area. This team is supposed to descend on any group of students who are close to some personal tragedy involving death or accident. Since I have could not be guaranteed complete freedom of action in how I would counsel and have been refused equal part in any pre-planning, I have remained standoffish. This has not been done without a price to be paid. The worldly do not understand when you tell them that the Lord's work and witness must be uncorrupted and untainted by any humanist agenda and social goodwill. Every year during the United Fund shakedown I have to explain why I will not give monies to any organizations not under the Lordship of Jesus Christ. You know, the world just doesn't appreciate that good works done apart from His name are useless endeavors. And for His Sovereign Grace and Glory too often we have to stand apart from the worldly organizations to maintain His integrity.

In this personal vein I would urge you to consider David's words in this particular psalm. Of course there is a danger that our total devotion to our God and His Kingdom will be seen as arrogance on our part. And this danger we must continually be on our guard against. Let us see how David the King handles the problem and thus maintains his integrity.

In the first three verses we see David's walk before the Lord our God. The word which comes to mind to summarize these verses is "wholehearted". Here we see that David ignores the worldly by appealing directly to heaven. As the Jerusalem Bible has it, David opens with the petition: "Yahweh, be my judge". Like a former prisoner on trial in Logan County for rape and murder, the jury of peers is cast away in favor of the judge's complete discretion. But, this is no human judge that David gives himself over to. This judge is the Father and God of us all. Here is the one whom we should fear above all else. As Jesus tells us in Luke 12:5, "I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after the killing of the body, has the power to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him."

This is whom David gives himself over to again and again. On one instance David sinned, as do we all. He took a census of the military might of Israel. God determined to punish David and Israel, and he gave David a choice of punishments. One of these included accountability to the divine wrath. David quickly threw himself and his nation into the hands of God to allow Him to punish justly and fairly. Are you willing, like David to call upon the Lord to judge you?

Can you say the words of verses one and two with any credibility? Fortunately Derek Kidner explains that the Hebrew concepts of integrity here involve "wholehearted-ness" or sincerity rather than faultlessness! Ah, that clarifies it doesn't it. Wholeheartedness rather than faultlessness. We know that David, like all of us fell very short on faultlessness in his life. And Wholeheartedness is the theme of this passage, and in that sense we begin to appreciate the meaning of this particular psalm and our theme this morning? Before we explore that further, let us look very carefully at how this wholeheartedness comes to us.

Here is where our pride is condemned and we are enabled to stand up for the cause of our God and King. "For your love is ever before me, and I walk continually in your truth." Spurgeon tells us that here we must understand the "sense of mercy received" from the gracious hand of our Father. That which we received should be a "motive actuating our conduct." "If we were not so forgetful of the way of mercy in which God walks towards us, we should be more careful to walk in the ways of obedience towards him." Because of what He has done for us, we are enabled to work and witness for Him. This fact of grace received sets us apart from the common crowd. And it is for this reason that David abstains from the worldly associations in verses four through five. Because David is wholehearted in his devotion to the Lord and His house, he can talk about the clean hands of imputed innocence offering his praise to God above. Have you sometimes wondered why the witness of the Church matters so little in our day and time? Maybe it is because we have become more interested in the praises of the world than the grace and mercy of God?

Can you give yourself wholeheartedly to verse eight: "I love the house where you live, O Lord, the place where your glory dwells." Someone once asked me if I ever missed church. Yes, about a dozen times in fifty-one years I have not made it to Church to worship. Once, it was even two weeks in a row. Yes, I missed being in His house in the midst of His people. The loneliness of those few days have reminded me what little we have in worldly human fellowship. "Do not take away my soul along with sinners". How very much we need the blessings of the Lord prayed for in the second part of verse eleven.

"Redeem me and be merciful to me". In this verse the wholeheartedness of David's integrity is made to hang on the complete merciful discretion of God the Father. If we are perceived by the world to be different, then let us be doubly certain that that difference is the fact of divine grace. If our appreciation of His grace is sufficient than, with David we may boldly proclaim the assertion in verse twelve: "My feet stand on level ground; in the great assembly I will praise the Lord." Where is your heart today? Are you willing to stand apart from the world and give yourself wholeheartedly to our Lord Jesus Christ? May the Spirit of God so enable you. Amen.

	Resources Used:
Kidner. Derek.	Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries: Psalms.
Spurgeon, C.H.	The Treasury of David.
IBS: The Holy Bible, New International Version (1984)
Psm 026a	18 October 92 & 20 September 97

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