Psalm 26 (9/6/26)

<p>Pastor Mike closed the summer Psalms series with Psalm 26, David’s prayer of self-examination and integrity rather than a psalm tied to one crisis. David asks the Lord to vindicate and test his heart and mind because he has trusted without wavering; integrity, Spurgeon and J. C. Ryle remind us, is character carved on hearts, not a name only. That integrity is possible only in Christ (John Bunyan, 1 Kings 9’s testimony about David, John 14’s promise of the Spirit). David then guards his company—no sitting with falsehood or evildoers—because bad company ruins good morals; the preacher used the unguarded Mount Evans road and the children’s song “Be careful little eyes…” as pictures of needed guardrails while we remain in the world but not of it (John 17). Watchfulness turns to thanksgiving: proclaim God’s deeds aloud, give thanks in all circumstances (1 Thessalonians 5), love the place where His glory dwells—now the gathered church, since believers are the temple. The psalm ends on level ground at the foot of the cross; Jude’s doxology and Joshua 24 (“as for me and my house we will serve the Lord”) call the congregation to choose faithfulness, plug into the body, and walk as people of integrity wherever God has placed them. The sermon closed with an invitation to trust Christ, be baptized, join the partnership class, and use every gift inside the local church.</p>