"I will wash mine hands in innocency: so will I compass thine altar, O LORD: That I may publish with the voice of thanksgiving, and tell of all thy wondrous works."
Psalm 26:6-7
This psalm of David points to his right relationship with Jehovah, his God. Although we are not told what he is being accused of by men, David defers his relationship to God and asks Him to examine his life. While people can often be unkind, demanding, and wrong in their assessment of the heart, David knew that God will look on him with righteous and fair eyes. Twice in this psalm, he holds up his personal integrity to the Lord for His inspection, “for I have walked in mine integrity,” (vv. 1, and 11).
“I will wash mine hands in innocency:”
In Bible times it was not unusual for a person to illustrate his innocence before God by washing his hands.
Job: “If I wash myself with snow water, and make my hands never so clean,” (Job 9:30).
Asaph: “Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency,” (Psalm 73:13).
Pilate: “When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye to it,” (Matthew 27:24).
In fact, for the priests to be ceremonially clean and be able to offer sacrifice and serve in the Temple service, they had to first wash their hands at the laver.
“And Moses and Aaron and his sons washed their hands and their feet thereat,” (Exodus 40:31).
“So will I compass thine altar, O LORD:”
By David’s emphasis on clean hands, he was showing that he was fit to serve around the offerings at the altar. His hands were clean, and his heart was pure!
“Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy place? He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully. He shall receive the blessing from the LORD, and righteousness from the God of his salvation,” (Psalm 24:3-5).
“That I may publish with the voice of thanksgiving,”
Having a heart that is right and hands that are clean before the LORD, David is ready to offer his thanksgiving to his God. Notice here that David was not interested in the offering of a bull as a sacrifice to the LORD, but he offers his personal “thanks,” to his faithful God. He is thanking his God for what He has done in his life.
The fact is, David knew he wasn’t ready to thank the Lord until his sin was handled rightly, and his hands were clean before the Lord. Before he offered his sacrifice of thanks and praise to his God, he needed to be sure his hands were clean. What an excellent picture for each of us, before we offer God our service, or thanks, or praise, let us be sure our hands are clean, that we have dealt with our sin accordingly (1 John 1:9).
“And tell of all thy wondrous works.”
With hearts and hands that are clean, we are ready to tell others of God’s great work in our lives. Now let’s share our great God with those who do not know Him!