Lord, I have loved the habitation of thy house ; i.e. "the home that thy house affords me." It has been my delight to remain there, to pass long hours there, as it were to dwell there (comp. Psalms 23:6 ; Psalms 27:4 ; Psalms 63:2 ). And the place where thine honour dwelleth; literally, the place of the tabernacling of thy glory —the place where thy glory—the Shechinah —is enshrined and abides. read more
Gather not my soul with sinners . Unite me not in one doom with open sinners—those with whom I have always refused to consort ( Psalms 26:4 , Psalms 26:5 )—whose congregation I have "hated." "That the righteous should be as the wicked, that be far from thee: shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?" ( Genesis 18:25 ). Nor my life with bloody men . Bloody men—literally, men of bloods — are the worst of wicked men, cut-throats, assassins, murderers. At any rate, put me not on... read more
Lord, I have loved the habitation of thy house - I have loved to dwell in Thy house. See the notes at Psalms 23:6. The psalmist often refers to his delight in the house of God - the place of public worship; his love to be there united with the people of God in the solemn services of religion. Compare Psalms 84:1-2, Psalms 84:4,Psalms 84:10; Psalms 27:4.And the place where thine honour dwelleth - Margin, “the tabernacle of thine honor.” This might indeed refer to the tabernacle; and the idea... read more
Gather not my soul with sinners - Margin, “take not away.” The word rendered “gather,” means properly to “collect;” to “gather,” as fruits, Exodus 23:10; ears of grain, Ruth 2:7; money, 2 Kings 22:4. There is the idea of assembling together, or collecting; and the meaning here is, that he desired not to be united with wicked people, or to be regarded as one of their number. It does not refer particularly, as I apprehend, to death, as if he prayed that he might not be cut down with wicked... read more
Psalms 26:8. I have loved the habitation of thy house That is, thy sanctuary and worship, which is an evidence of my piety to thee, as I have given many proofs of my justice and integrity toward men. Nothing is more grievous to me than to be hindered from seeing and serving thee in thy house. Where thy honour dwelleth Hebrew, כבידךְ , chebodeka, thy glory, meaning either, 1st, The ark, so called 1 Samuel 4:22; Psalms 78:61; or, 2d, God’s glorious and gracious presence, or the... read more
Psalms 26:9-10. Gather not my soul That is, my life, as it is explained in the next clause; with sinners Profligate and obstinate sinners, as the following words describe them, such being often called sinners by way of eminence. Do not bind me up in the same bundle, nor put me in the same accursed and miserable condition with them. Seeing I have loved thy house and worship, and endeavoured to serve thee acceptably, not only with ceremonial cleanness, but with moral purity of heart and... read more
Psalms 26-28 Living uprightlyDavid appeals to God to support him against those who plot evil against him. God has done a work of grace in his life, and this causes him to hate the company of worthless people and make every effort to live the sort of life that pleases God (26:1-5). He desires righteousness, delights in worship, loves to spend hours in the house of God and enjoys telling others about God (6-8). He therefore asks that he will not suffer the same end as the wicked (9-10). Though... read more
habitation = dwelling: implying safety. house. Referring not to the Temple, but to David's Tabernacle on Zion. Compare Psalms 5:7 , and see below. the place, &c. = the place of Thy glorious Tabernacle. dwelleth. Hebrew. shakan. See note on "placed" (Genesis 3:24 ). read more
Gather not = Destroy not. Hebrew. 'asaph. A Homonym. See note on "receive" (Numbers 12:14 , Numbers 12:15 ). my soul = me (emphatic). Hebrew. nephesh. App-13 . read more
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The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 26:1-12
The oppressed righteous man. It is impossible to say on what occasion the psalm was composed, or from what kind of trouble it prays to be delivered. The theme is—Only he who can say with truth, " I have walked in integrity, and I have trusted in the Lord," may depend upon Divine aid in trouble; but we may do so with full confidence. In the first verse the whole psalm is summed up. I. A PRAYER FOR HELP IN TROUBLE . "Judge me," equivalent to " vindicate my rights and rescue... read more