For I am always aware of your unfailing love, and I have lived according to your truth.

Psalms 26:3

In Psalm 26, David defends his integrity before God. It’s likely that he composed this poem in response to an attack upon his character. Thus the opening verse, “Declare me innocent, O LORD, for I have acted with integrity,” is not a claim never to have sinned. Rather, David wants God to stand in as a character witness, refuting the spurious accusations against him.

As a part of his defense, David states, “For I am always aware of your unfailing love” (v. 3). The Hebrew reads, more literally, “For your steadfast love [chesed] is before my eyes.” This claim is not only part of David’s case for his integrity. It is also an explanation for how he can live with integrity. What keeps David going in the face of opposition, what motivates him to honor God even when he himself fails, is his remembrance of God’s faithful love and mercy.

So it is for us. We will not be able to live our lives with integrity because we have good intentions or because we expend great effort. Our sin will inevitably get the better of us, and we will fail. But what motivates us to continue to walk in the Lord’s way is remembering his love for us. This love has been communicated to us in a variety of ways, but most of all through Jesus Christ and his death for us.

Every day, we have a special opportunity to keep God’s unfailing love before our eyes. May this next week be a time for you to remember just how much God loves you and to live your life in response to his love.

FOR FURTHER REFLECTION:

What helps you to keep God’s love before your eyes? What distracts you from remembering God’s love? How might you reflect upon God’s love in this next week?

PRAYER:

O Lord, how I wish I could say, like David, that your steadfast love is always before my eyes. To be sure, there are times when I remember your love. But there are also times when I forget … or at least I act as if I have forgotten.

The more I reflect upon your love for me, gracious God, the more I am drawn to offer my whole life to you freely. The more I consider your faithfulness, the more I want to be faithful to you. The more I receive your grace, the more I am empowered to glorify you in all that I do.

I ask, Lord, that this next “holy” week might indeed be set apart for you. May I keep your love before me as I remember the cross. Amen.

Note: This reflection was originally published in 2009.