Standing on Level Ground

Today, on the Bible Study Hour with Dr. James Boyce, we'll continue with our study of the Psalms,

as David reminds God that he's been following God's instructions and walking a righteous path.

David isn't justified by his own merits, but only through God's faithfulness.

He asks God to remain faithful and to keep him set apart from the wicked.

Welcome to the Bible Study Hour, a radio and internet broadcast with Dr. James Boyce,

preparing you to think and act biblically. What are some practical steps we might take in order

to walk in the ways of the Lord? Let's listen together to learn which choices David made

and how David's life can be an example of following a blameless path that is pleasing to God.

If you have your Bible, turn to Psalm 26. I'm sure you've noticed in your own study of the Psalms

that in some ways they're very much alike. They have what we would probably call a relatively

limited vocabulary. They repeat the same phrases often, sometimes again and again in the same

Psalm, and the ideas are often quite similar and yet each of the Psalms has its own distinct

emphasis and message and the task of interpreting the Psalm really is the task of uncovering what

that message is. Now I try to do that as I look at them and as I have been studying Psalm 26,

I find two phrases in the English translation of this Psalm that I would like to put together

because I think that two phrases give us the gist of the Psalm. The only problem is

the two English phrases come from two different English translations of the Hebrew text.

Now the one is in the new international version and it's the phrase that I've taken as the title

of this particular study standing on level ground. It comes at the very end in verse 12. My feet

stand on level ground. The other phrase comes from verse 1 but it's in the King James translation.

Any of you are using the older King James authorized translation, you'll see it.

There David says in what is the last phrase of verse 1 in our translation,

therefore I shall not slide. You can see it once why I'd like to put them together because

they bracket the Psalm when at the beginning and when at the end and what they say when we combine

them as that if we do what David is recommending to us in the Psalm and what he's trying to do then

we will find ourselves standing on level ground secure and our confidence in God.

But if we don't do that then we will find ourselves on what we sometimes refer to as the

slippery slope of immorality and disobedience which is what characterizes sinful people.

Now that's what the Psalm is about. In my way of thinking that phrase standing on level ground

is the most memorable phrase which means it's simply different from what we find elsewhere and

therefore it sticks in our mind but that doesn't mean that those other phrases and the other

11 verses are important or that they don't suggest rich mind of thought as we begin to think

them through for one thing they immediately remind us of other Psalms. There are references in

this Psalm, Psalm 26 of the Psalm immediately before this. They have a number of things in common,

both claim a quiet confidence in God, both claim personal integrity. On behalf of the Psalmist

both pray for deliverance or there's some similarities it's not hard to understand that they

are both written by the same person. Or then again this Psalm reminds us of Psalm 1 verse 1

in the first verse of that Psalm, the very first Psalm and verse in the Psalter. David contrasts

the way of the happy man who is blessed by God with a way of sinners, those who sit in the way of

sinners and stand in their company and are well acquainted with their ways. All of that is echoed

in this Psalm. I suppose it would be an argument for saying that David probably wrote the first

Psalm though it's not particularly identified as his. David says here is I do not sit with deceitful

men. I abhor the assembly of evil doers and refuse to sit with the wicked. So there is an echo of

the other material there. And then again you find similarities between this Psalm and certain phrases

you'll find in Psalm 15 and Psalm 24 those two Psalms asked who shall ascend into the hill of the

Lord or who is able to stand before God. In this Psalm David answers he is because of the things

that he has done. So you have that kind of a connection. Some scholars see a connection between

Psalms 26, 27 and 28. All of them mention the house of God in some way. If you look at that you'll

see that David mentions the house or temple of the Lord in verse 8 of this Psalm. It's found in

verse 4 the Psalm following in verse 2 of Psalm 28. So perhaps that's a certain kind of development.

And then there are other people who see the remaining portion of this first book of the Psalter

from this Psalm Psalm 26 to Psalm 39 is having a certain pattern. Harry Ironside is one of those.

Or 15 in that block and he finds the first five as dealing with the ground of the soul's confidence

before God. The next five the hearts appropriation of salvation and finally the last preoccupied with

the question of personal holiness. Now if those ways of looking at the Psalm are helpful if they

fit it into a pattern and you like patterns you can run with that yourself. I would like to look

at it for what this Psalm uniquely says. Now to do that I want to suggest that there is a good

connection between this Psalm and Psalm 25 which we've just studied. Although it's not in the language

particularly. I said a moment ago that there are some similarities in themes but I find

the greatest connection to be in the fact that this second Psalm is an answer to what we have

found in Psalm 25. When we were studying Psalm 25 we were finding that David's concern there

is that at the end of his days or later on in life he not be put to shame that is discredited or

found to have based his life upon an inadequate foundation. And in order for that not to happen

for him not to be disapproved in the last day he asked for God to teach him his ways.

Of the burden of the Psalm is a crest for teaching. Teach me your paths verse four and verse five

guide me and your truth and teach me where you're my God and Savior. Later on in the Psalm he says

that's what God is going to do. God does instruct sinners in his ways. He teaches them his way. He

instructs him in the way chosen for him and so on. So here he's asking for teaching. He

sure's himself that God does it when sinners come and ask for teaching. And now in the 26

Psalm we find that that's exactly what God has done. He's asked God to teach him. God has taught

him what he asked God to teach him was his ways that he might walk in them and now David says in

the Psalm that's what he has done. So God has taught him and because God has taught him he's begun

to leave a blameless life. Now I'm sure you understand that in these Psalms when the Psalmus

talks about leading a blameless life he's not claiming to be sinless. We've already looked at

that. If we use the language that way that's probably what we would mean and it would be wrong.

But that's not what David is saying. Let's say verse 11 in which he claims to lead a blameless life

also says redeem me and be merciful to me. So blameless sinless people don't need to be redeemed

or do they need God's mercy. And if David is calling for redemption and asking for mercy he knows

that he's a sinner. That's not what he's talking about. What he's talking about is blameless life

in the same sense that he's been talking about it in Psalm 25. He wants to go in God's way. He says

open up your word to me as I study it in order that I might go in your way and now in this Psalm he

says that's what I've done. God has taught me and so I've begun to walk in his way. Now I want to

suggest that we need a great deal more of that in Christianity today. The reason why we don't

have that of course is that we all tend naturally to think that we're better than we are and so

preachers and teachers of the Bible instinctively keep reminding us that we're sinners.

Most of us need that. Sometimes you see there's a kind of weakness particularly in evangelical

Christianity which says well we're all sinners and that's just the way it is and we're always

going to be sinners and forgets that we're called to lead a blameless life. Actually we need both

and we need both together. We have to recognize our sin and our weakness. We are constantly

in need of God's strength and we do need to be redeemed not one of us can stand for a single

moment apart from God's mercy but having received that mercy we do need to stand and not only do we

need to stand we need to walk in the way which God has so very clearly set before us which

are what these Psalms deal with. In other words what they're dealing with is a practical

righteousness and what I'm trying to say is that we need that very much in our time. Now I'm convinced

that's the way we get into the Psalm. David begins with the idea of vindication. Vindicate me oh

Lord for I have let a blameless life and then verse two test me and try me examine my heart and my

mind. What's he saying there? What kind of vindication is he looking for? The first glance you see

when we use the word vindication because we're always thinking of ourselves what we think that word

means is this. I'm blameless and everybody else is accusing me now God I want you to show them

that there is nothing wrong that I've done show them that I am right. That's what we usually mean

when we use that word vindication. Now that's not what David is talking about in my judgment.

You see what David is thinking about here is a way of life which if a person walks in it

shows that the way of God is best. He just prayed that God might show him his past and teach him

his truth. This is what he's now going to walk in and claims he has done. He wants vindication of that

way not in order to demonstrate to other people that he is righteous and they are not as if somehow

he was turning around patting himself on the back and saying look how well I've done but in order to

vindicate God in the ways of God you say when he wants them to see is that when you walk in the

world's way and follow sin it always brings misery. But when you walk in God's way the way he

sets before his people in the scripture that is the way of blessing and that is the vindication

that he wants. In other words he has his mind on the glory of God and not upon his own self righteousness.

I wonder if you've ever thought of the Christian life that way. A vindication of the truth of God

by what happens in your life in accordance with the way you live. I don't think I've ever heard

anybody teach me that but yet it seems to me that that's what David is saying quite clearly.

Many of us demonstrate the truthfulness of God's ways by our misery. We think we can get away

with disobedience and so we go off going our own way and we bring misery on ourselves and other

people. We demonstrate the truth of God that way of course because everything is going to demonstrate

the truth of God one way or another in the end. But you say that's not what we're called to

demonstrate. What we're called to do is demonstrate the validity of God's ways by walking in them.

So people who look on being sensitive to these things because of the problems they themselves

are enduring because of their life choices. See Christians and say well that must be a better way.

I wonder what is causing it and why it works out that way in practice and so find themselves

directed to Jesus Christ as Savior and to God the Father as a result. Now you see that's quite a

different thing. Once you understand that that's what David is saying then you can pray the

prayer yourself. You can pray vindicate me O Lord or I have led a blameless life and if as you

pray you're conscious of the fact that you have not been leading a blameless life walking in the

ways of God then you have to back up to Psalm 25 and say show me your ways O Lord teach me your

paths and guide me and your truth and teach me in order to what God wants to do and you might be

accomplished. So I need to ask that. You see David doesn't say that explicitly here but he does say

it in Psalm 139 another Psalm that he's written many of us know those verses those are verses

of which David praised along these lines but gives the objective. Now here's the way it goes

verses 23 and 24 of that Psalm. Search me O God and know my heart, test me and know my anxious

thoughts. You see the same sort of thing he's praying here. See if there is any offensive way in me

and lead me in the way everlasting. You see how it operates. Test me. See what I'm doing in order

that I might go in that way and when I go in that way vindicate that way in order that you might

be glorified and sinners might see the error of their ways and come to Jesus Christ.

Now it's the way of the righteous that this Psalm really begins to unfold. Verse 2 is something of

a transition at least the second half of it is. Verse 3 I should say. Verse 3 says for your love

is ever before me and I walk continually in your truth. Now that is in a sense a repetition of what

he said in the earlier phrase I have led a blameless life. What he's doing here is spelling out

what that blameless life is. It's a life in which the love of God has ever before him and therefore

he responds to God in love and in which he walks continually in God's truth what he's prayed for in

the previous Psalm. But that's also a bridge to what follows because he's going to talk about what

it means in very practical terms to walk in that way and unless what's true in this verse is true

you're not going to be able to do the things that follow. In other words in order to do what follows

you have to be instructed. You have to be instructed in the truth of God and then having been

instructed you have to actually desire it you have to have that love to do it in your heart which

is a result of the new birth. Now you see if you're going to walk in God's way you need the two things

you need the instruction and you need the regeneration and you recall that when we've talked about

this many times before I've said it always goes together because the Holy Spirit works through the

Word not only to instruct but regenerate it's the way it happens and then as we're made alive the

Word suddenly becomes alive to us and we desire to go in that path. So I ask that question

do you desire that? Do you experience it? Is the Holy Spirit doing that in your heart and mind

as you study the Scripture? Now I'd like to deal with this in terms of specifics because this is

where as we say the rubber meets the road what does it really means specifically the walk in God's

way in order that the way of God might be vindicated. Rather four things that he mentions here

and the first is what we find in verse four I do not sit with deceitful man or do I can sort

with hypocrites I abhor the assembly of evil doers and refuse to sit with the wicked what he's

talking about here is separation from wicked people now it's what you find in Psalm one very

call the happy man as the man who does not sit with deceitful men or associate with sinners now let

me say as we explore this a little bit that this is far more difficult far more delicate and I would

even add dangerous than we may perhaps at first assume it's difficult for this reason we live

in a sinful world and it's almost impossible for us in any radical sense to dissociate ourselves

from sinful people not just talking here of course about your general run of the mill sinners we

are all that but rather with people who are particularly evil or glory in their evil I think it's

hard to do that because we're surrounded by people like that all the time the kind of people for

example who think nothing of cheating other people in business as long as they can get away with

to actually enjoy doing that and take pride in coming out on top or people who don't mind at all

passing around lies about someone who is arrival to them either in business or in some other way

perhaps in politics if by circulating the lie the other person can be discredited are people who

are immoral in various sexual matters or in other matters as well and who think nothing of breaking

the laws of God or man people like that you see we're surrounded by people like that and it's

difficult at the least to dissociate ourselves from it and at the same time it's delicate why is

a delicate well for this reason as soon as we begin to take this seriously and we do need to take

it seriously it is a good Christian doctrine of separation we find ourselves because we ourselves

are sinners very easily sliding over into the area of self-righteousness and saying wow the reason

we're dissociating ourselves from sinful people is that we're not sinful we're better than they are

and we find that pride is tugging at our hearts and if that happens it always drags us down

so that's why I say that this matter that David introduces in verse four is difficult to say the

least delicate and dangerous and yet although it's difficult delicate and dangerous it's

nevertheless something that he recommends it's not something that's impossible

because David says he did it he said I don't associate with those who are deceitful

I stay away from those who are hypocrites I am horror the assembly of those who practice evil and

I don't sit down with the wicked well how are we going to do that if it's dangerous how are we going

to carry out this first specific of what it means to walk in God's way well let me suggest that

the secret to it as we seek that kind of biblical separation as to realize that we do it not because

we're better than other people but because we're not good enough and as we're not good enough

to endure that kind of company without being dragged down by it Jesus Christ didn't have any

trouble dealing with the company of sinners because he wasn't touched by their sin in any respect

but we are and it is dangerous for us we have to recognize that we are very sinful people

and therefore unless God is doing something absolutely extraordinary in our lives putting

us in a situation in which we are surrounded in a very special way and are put there for a very

special purpose we need to keep clear of this kind of contamination see as Lewis has a great chapter

on this Lewis is often most helpful in this kind of a problem and in his reflection on the Psalms

he has a chapter on what he calls connivance he said you notice when you study the Psalms that they

condemn not only doing evil but even associating with evil persons and then he begins to analyze

that a little bit and he says this is what the problem is I want to quote him because he writes so

well many people have a very strong desire to meet celebrated or important people including those

whom they disapprove he explains what he means by that a little bit he just talks about celebrities

who may be absolute scoundrels and yet we feel impressed if we're in their company we would all love

to be able to say I met so and so even though we all know the kind of bad things the person does

often the movie stars are the rock stars are people in that category he said you see we all are

impressed by that that's our problem maybe weren't impressed by it Jesus Christ wasn't impressed by

that sort of thing we wouldn't have a problem but we are and that's our problem so he goes on I'm

inclined to think that a Christian would be wise to avoid where he decently can any meeting with

people who are bullies or lascivious or cruel dishonest, spiteful and so forth not because we are too

good for them but because we are not good enough we're not good enough to cope with all the temptations

nor clever enough to cope with all the problems which in evening spent in such society produces

I think Americans and our day need to hear that because our culture is

increasingly secular and wicked and vice is glorified and glamorized and we because we live in the

culture find ourselves easily thinking that way what we need to do is listen to some of the warnings

of the Psalms David was a great man courageous and moral and yet he said I'm not able to associate

with evil doers and still maintain my integrity and if he's not able to do it the chances of you

being able to do it are very slim and deep particularly in our time so we have to begin thinking

that way we're going to see that there's more to it than that but that at least is a place to begin

now there's a second thing he mentions and that's what comes out in verse six he does it in symbolic

language saying I wash my hands in innocence you see what he's saying here is that we must never

get into the habit of thinking that other people are all the problem only the world wasn't filled

with evil doers and hypocrites we'd be all right not that at all that's a big problem to us and we

better stay clear of that but we also have a problem in ourselves we are still sinners

even when we're trying to walk in the Lord's way and therefore we have to take great care

and our own heart and life is kept right before God you see when David says I wash my hands in

innocence what he's using as a well-known symbolic gesture for being free of personal guilt and some

matter now let's remember what Psalm 24 said there was a question at the very beginning of that

Psalm and the question goes like this who may ascend the hill of the Lord who may stand in his holy

place and then here's the answer he who has clean hands and a pure heart who does not lift up his

soul to an idol now that's what David is dealing with here you see that's said in various ways in

the scripture it says in Isaiah if I cherish iniquity and my heart the Lord will not hear me

well that's right of course if we come to God with known sin and unconfessed well then the

door of effectual prayer is closed because there's a barrier set up between ourselves and God

who is always a God of holiness we're going to walk in his way it has to be a way of personal

integrity and therefore we have to come with clean hands and so we ask ourselves those questions here

are specifics but it really means to live a godly life am I associating with sinners is that

rubbing off on me am I attracted by their company do I find the vice that they glorify somehow

attractive and do I find as I come to church and I spend time praying that I come with dirty hands

contaminated by that and by my own sinful choices also if that's the case you have to stop and confess

it and get it right before God before you can begin to go on John when he was writing his first

letter said if we say we have no sin we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us we are sinners

but he also said if we confess our sin he's faithful and just to forgive us our sin and to cleanse

us from all unrighteousness now that's what David is saying not that he's sinless but rather the

when he comes to God and confesses his sin God cleanses him of it and forgives him of the sin

so that's the second thing and then thirdly he talks about proclaiming God's praise verse 7

I'm going to go about your altar oh Lord verse 6 proclaiming aloud your praise and telling

of all your wonderful deeds now what's that mean what's he talking about here well when he's

talking about here is vocalized confession of the goodness of God and why is that necessary well

the praise of God is good in itself of course good for us God himself delights in the

praises of his people this Scripture tells us that but I think that's not what David has in

mind here what David is talking about here is this that if he verbalizes his identification

with God by praising God then that very verbalization is going to help him stay on the right side

because if you keep quiet about your Christian confession it's going to be much easier for you

to slide into sin but if you're outspoken about your faith in Jesus Christ and you're desired to go

in his way even the world will help you in it because they'll say well you're not going to enjoy

doing what we're going to do now you're a Christian and you may have been wanting to do it but when

it's put that way you kind of slink off and say well I guess that's right I am a Christian I better

not do it one of the reasons why so many have had so much trouble in the Christian life is that

they've not been outspoken about it you see it says in Scripture that we're to believe in our

heart and confess with our mouth on the confession which involves praise of God goes along with the

belief you say well but can I be a secret disciple well I don't know the answer to that I think not

ultimately maybe you can be a secret disciple for a while but I find as time goes on that either

the secrecy kills the discipleship with the discipleship kills the secrecy and you would be wise

to learn early on to vocalize your testimony I want to give you an illustration during the second

world war there was a young man from a wealthy and very sophisticated Philadelphia family who became

a Christian he had gone into the service not a Christian but he found the Lord during his years

of service and when it was time for him to leave after the war and return to his former way of life

he expressed to his pastor but he foresaw difficulty he said I'm afraid that when I go back with my

old acquaintances I'm going to be dragged back into the immoral way of life I lived before I entered

the service and his pastor had some good advice for him as pastor said well look I'll tell you what to

do when you get back home the first ten people you meet of your old friends you make sure you tell

them about your conversion and your faith in Jesus Christ and he said I think if you do that you'll

find that you won't have to leave the friends your friends will leave you and so the young man did

that when he got off the train out on the main line and was greeted right off by a girlfriend

he had known years ago she said oh it's so great to see you back again we're going to have some

great parties now and he said I've got to tell you something the most wonderful thing has happened

to me she said you're married oh he said I have found Jesus Christ as my savior her expression

froze she said oh that's nice and she drifted away a little while later he met a male friend that he

had enjoyed times with in the past and he repeated the same thing and he did it for two or three

people he didn't even have to get through the ten because the word began to circulate around that

he was a bit strange since he'd been away in the service you know sometimes the military will do

that to you and and now he'd come back religious and he wasn't fun anymore and he testified

himself that it was one of the great joys and a great strengthening factor in his life to be

thus identified with Jesus Christ I think that's what David is saying and it's what he's recommending

to you if you're serious about walking in his way one more thing verse eight

Mary's talking about the house of God I love the house where you live oh lord the place where

you're glory dwells well our equivalent of that would be church if you enjoy coming to church

meeting with God being instructed from his word that's part of what's involved I would think it

involves also the fellowship with God's people because that's where you're going to find them

you can find them in other places as well but when you come to God's house you find God's people

and David is saying it's where the people of God that I want to spend my time you see we have

an expression it goes like this it says bad company corrupts good manners or good morals and

that is true but at the same time the opposite is true good company encourages that or develops it

and while we come to faith individually the faith to which we come is not an individualistic thing

and we need one another that's why God has given us the church and why there is this reality

of fellowship we need the help that other Christians provide and here is David with all his

strength and with all his great and lottable characteristics saying nevertheless I need to come

to the house of God and the fellowship of God's people if you want to grow in righteousness among

other things you need to spend time with God and with those who are also striving to model

biblical reality now we come to the end and we find something quite interesting

David is praying for redemption and mercy in order that according to verse 9 he might not be

taken away with sinners in the final judgment that's an interesting way of speaking isn't it because

earlier in the Psalm what he said is that in this life he had made it his goal to separate himself

from sinners he didn't want to consort with hypocrites or the assembly of evil doers so now he says

you see as he has tried to separate himself from sinners here so may God separate him from sinners

the final judgment will God do it of course he will because that's what God is in the process of

doing in David's life all along that is bringing him to himself creating the character of Jesus

Christ within leading him in the way of righteousness and preserving him that day in which he stands

before God the Father fully made into the character of Christ is that's a great encouragement

and it's the only kind of encouragement we should really have I've said many times that there's a

kind of false security that it's often talked about in the evangelical churches we say once saved

always saved and that's true that doesn't mean that you can claim to be saved and live as you please

and still say well I'm going to be saved in the end you see perseverance means not only God's

perseverance with his people but also the perseverance of his people in righteousness and in order to do

that we have to be taught and then actually walk in his ways and that's what David is saying but if

you do that that's what God is doing in you and that is what you were doing in obedience to God

then you can have absolute security I know that in the final judgment you will certainly be separated

from sinners and be joined to the righteous instead I like the way Spurgeon writes he's often very

moving and here are some words of Spurgeon with which I close if you have prayed this prayer

writes Spurgeon if your character can rightly be described in the Psalm before us don't be afraid

that you'll ever be gathered with sinners have you the two things that David had the outward

walking and integrity and the inward trusting in the Lord do you endeavor to make your outward

conduct and conversation conformed to the example of Jesus Christ would you scorn to be dishonest

toward men or to be undevout toward God at the same time are you resting upon Jesus Christ sacrifice

and can you compass the altar of God with a humble hope if so then rest assured that with the wicked

you will never be gathered but your feet shall stand in the congregation of the righteous

and the day when the wicked are cast away wherever and in addition to that you'll have the great

joy of knowing that in your life the righteous ways of God taught in Scripture have been

vindicated and that God undoubtedly will have used that also to draw other people to faith in Jesus

Christ may it be so reach one of us the praise of the glory of his grace let's pray or Father we thank

you for the teaching of this Psalm we thank you for the practical teaching but it means to walk in

your way that it might not be as it so often is with us mere words but actually something that

expresses itself and the companions we choose and the words we speak and the time we spend in your

house and in the company of your people granted having ordered our lives that way by your grace

and having found mercy to do so we might in the final judgment find ourselves with the company

of the righteous where we will sing your praises forever more amen thank you for listening to

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