Self Examination Is Good For the Soul

Psalm 26

Introduction

A. One of the greatest men of God recorded in the Bible is David: a man after
Gods own heart.

B. Much can be learned, both good and bad, by studying the life of this man. He,
like all men, made his share of mistakes but he had a heart for God. Some of my
favorite verses in the Psalms describe Davids love for the things of God.

C. Here in the 26th Psalm, we find his heart

1. Davids appeal - appealed to the Lord for judgment vs. 1
2. Davids desire walked in mine integrity vs. 1
3. Davids trust not in self, but in the Lord vs. 1
4. Davids confidence I shall not slide vs. 1

D. From this Psalm, I believe that David knew the importance of self-examination.
Too many times, we forget what manner of men that we are. We begin to slack
off on our Bible reading and prayer; slip in our daily walk with God; and lose sight
of where we are spiritually.

James 1:22-25 but be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving
your own selves. (23) For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like
unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: (24) for he beholdeth himself, and
goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. (25) But
whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not
a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.


1. In verse 1, we find the importance of reflection. I have walked We need to
examine where we have been spiritually in order to see what changes need to be
made.

2. In verse 11, we find the importance of resolve. I will walk We need to
examine where we desire to be spiritually the remainder of our lives

3. In verses 2-10, we find the importance of realization. Without self-
examination, the past becomes only history while the future becomes unsure.

E. From these verses, we see that it is important for the child of God to examine
himself or herself. Self-judgment is a time of honesty before the Lord in which
the believer is willing to allow the Holy Spirit to point out the spiritual failures and
a willingness to honestly correct them. The Holy Spirit used three words in verse2

1. Examine with Gods Word
2. Prove through divine testing
3. Try to refine Job 23:10

Psalms 139:1-6 O LORD, thou hast searched me, and known me. Thou knows my
down sitting and mine uprising, thou understands my thought afar off. Thou
compasses my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways. For
there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, thou knows it altogether. Thou
hast beset me behind and before, and laid thy hand upon me. Such knowledge is too
wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it.

a. God Knows My Emotions down sittinguprising
b. God Knows My Thoughts thought afar off
c. God Knows My Deeds all my ways
d. God Knows My Words word in my tongue



1. There Needs To Be Self-Examination of Walk vs. 1
(Unbroken fellowship through honesty)

Luke 6:42 Either how canst thou say to thy brother, Brother, let me pull out the
mote that is in thine eye, when thou thyself beholds not the beam that is in thine
own eye? Thou hypocrite, cast out first the beam out of thine own eye, and then
shall thou see clearly to pull out the mote that is in thy brothers eye.

James 4:11 Speak no evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his
brother, and judged his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judges the law: but
if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge.

2. There Needs To Be Self-Examination of Motivation vs. 3
(Why we do what we do)

Matthew 10:37-38 He that loves father or mother more than me is not worthy
of me: and he that loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And he
that takes not his cross, and followed after me, is not worthy of me.

3. There Needs To Be Self-Examination of Associations vs. 4-5
(Who we talk with; who we walk with; who we agree with)

Psalms 1:1 Blessed is the man that walked not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor
standeth in the way of sinners, nor sited in the seat of the scornful.

Psalms 119:63 I am a companion of all them that fear thee, and of them that
keep thy precepts.

Jeremiah 15:17 I sat not in the assembly of the mockers, nor rejoiced; I sat
alone because of thy hand: for thou hast filled me with indignation.


4. There Needs To Be Self-Examination of Confession vs. 6
(I will washI will compass)

Isaiah 1:16-18 Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from
before mine eyes; cease to do evil; Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the
oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow. Come now, and let us reason
together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as
snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.

Psalms 51:1-4 have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy loving kindness:
according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.
Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I
acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. Against thee, thee
only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightiest be justified
when thou speaks, and be clear when thou judges.

5. There Needs To Be Self-Examination of Witness vs. 7
(A debt of gratitude)

Psalms 116:12-14, 18-19 what shall I render unto the LORD for all his
benefits toward me? I will take the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the
LORD. I will pay my vows unto the LORD now in the presence of all his people I
will pay my vows unto the LORD now in the presence of all his people, in the courts
of the LORDS house, in the midst of thee, O Jerusalem. Praise ye the LORD.

6. There Needs To Be Self-Examination of Faithfulness vs. 8
(We live in days of unfaithfulness and lame excuses for unfaithfulness)

Psalms 27:4 One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I
may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of
the LORD, and to enquire in his temple.

Hebrews 10:25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the
manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the
day approaching.

7. There Needs To Be Self-Examination of Integrity vs. 11
(I will walk instead of I have walked in verse 1)

Psalms 26:1 Judge me, O LORD; for I have walked in mine integrity: I have
trusted also in the LORD; therefore I shall not slide.

8. There Needs To Be Self-Examination of Steadfastness vs. 11-12
(Consistency in both personal walk with the Lord and fellowship with the saints)

1 Corinthians 15:58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast,
unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that
your labor is not in vain in the Lord.

9. There Needs To Be Self-Examination of Salvation
2 Corinthians 13:5 Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your
own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye
be reprobates?