In this Psalm, David asks God to test him. But Yeshua said, “Do not lead us into testing.” How do we reconcile these two statements? Should we ever pray to be tested? This psalm also describes four kinds of people to be avoided, then discusses “bloodthirsty men”. Who are they?
Of David.
1-3 Judge me, Adonai, for I have walked in my integrity, and I have trusted in Adonai without wavering. 2 Examine me, Adonai, and test me; prove my heart and my mind. 3 For Your steadfast love is before my eyes, and I walk in Your truth.
נסה שפט
(shaphat) (nasah)
“judge” “test”
4-5 I do not sit with (a) men of falsehood, nor do I consort with (b) hypocrites. 5 I hate the assembly of (c) evildoers, and I will not sit with the (d) wicked.
6-10 I wash my hands in innocence and circle Your altar, Adonai, 7 proclaiming thanksgiving aloud, and telling all Your wondrous deeds. 8 Adonai, I love the habitation of Your house and the place where Your glory dwells. 9 Do not sweep my soul away with sinners, nor my life with bloodthirsty men, 10 in whose hands are [evil] plots, and whose right hands are full of bribes.
אנשי דמים (anshei damim) = “men of bloods”
11-12 But as for me, I shall walk in my integrity. Redeem me, and be gracious to me. 12 My foot stands on level ground. In the great assembly I will bless Adonai.
מקהלים (mak’heilim)
REFERENCES:
Verses 1-2
Psalm 51:1-2 For the choir director. A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet came to him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba. “Be gracious to me, O God, according to Your lovingkindness; according to the greatness of Your compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.”
Psalm 96:11-13 Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice; let the sea roar, and all that fills it. 12 Let the field exult, and everything in it! Then shall all the trees of the forest sing for joy 13 before Adonai, for He comes, for He comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness, and the peoples in His faithfulness.
Revelation 6:10 They cried out with a loud voice, “O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before You will judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?”
Psalm 143:2 Do not enter into judgment with Your servant, for no one living is righteous before You.
Matthew 6:13 “And lead us not into testing, but deliver us from evil…”
Verse 6
Deuteronomy 21:6-7 And all the elders of that city nearest to the slain man shall wash their hands over the heifer whose neck was broken in the valley and they shall testify, “Our hands did not shed this blood, nor did our eyes see it shed…”
Verse 7
(A reference to the Hallel? – Psalms 113-118)
Verse 9
Proverbs 29:10 Bloodthirsty men hate one who is blameless and seek the life of the upright. (+ Ps. 55:23)
Verse 10
Exodus 23:8 And you shall take no bribe, for a bribe blinds the clear-sighted and subverts the cause of those who are in the right.
Deuteronomy 16:19 You shall not pervert justice. You shall not show partiality, and you shall not accept a bribe, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and subverts the cause of the righteous.