1 A Psalme of Dauid. Iudge me, O Lord, for I haue walked in mine integritie: I haue trusted also in the Lord: therfore I shall not slide.
2 Examine me, O Lord, and proue me; try my reines and my heart.
3 For thy louing kindnesse is before mine eyes: and I haue walked in thy trueth.
4 I haue not sate with vaine persons, neither will I goe in with dissemblers.
5 I haue hated the congregation of euill doers: and will not sit with the wicked.
6 I will wash mine hands in innocencie: so will I compasse thine Altar, O Lord:
7 That I may publish with the voyce of thankesgiuing, and tell of all thy wonderous workes.
8 Lord, I haue loued the habitation of thy house, and the place where thine honour dwelleth.
9 Gather not my soule with sinners, nor my life with bloody men.
10 In whose hands is mischiefe: and their right hand is full of bribes.
11 But as for mee, I will walke in mine integritie: redeeme me, and bee mercifull vnto me.
12 My foot standeth in an euen place: in the congregations will I blesse the Lord.
David, in this psalm, appeals to God touching his integrity.
- David here, by the Spirit of prophecy, speaks of himself as a type of Christ, of whom what he here says of his spotless innocence was fully and eminently true, and of Christ only, and to Him we may apply it. We are complete in him. The man that walks in his integrity, yet trusting wholly in the grace of God, is in a state of acceptance, according to the covenant of which Jesus was the Mediator, in virtue of his spotless obedience even unto death. This man desires to have his inmost soul searched and proved by the Lord. He is aware of the deceitfulness of his own heart; he desires to detect and mortify every sin; and he longs to be satisfied of his being a true believer, and to practise the holy commands of God. Great care to avoid bad company, is both a good evidence of our integrity, and a good means to keep us in it. Hypocrites and dissemblers may be found attending on God's ordinances; but it is a good sign of sincerity, if we attend upon them, as the psalmist here tells us he did, in the exercise of repentance and conscientious obedience. He feels his ground firm under him; and, as he delights in blessing the Lord with his congregations on earth, he trusts that shortly he shall join the great assembly in heaven, in singing praises to God and to the Lamb for evermore.
Commentary by Matthew Henry, 1710.