Psalm 26 — I Have Led a Blameless Life

If [enemies] persist and, with hands red with blood, try to drag you down and kill you, remember that God is the proper judge (for he alone is righteous while that which is human is limited) and so say the words of [Psalm] 26.

Athanasius, On the Interpretation of the Psalms

This psalm begins with:

Judge me, LORD!
For I have walked in my integrity.
In the LORD I trust;
I do not falter.

It seems like a bold request, especially when reading through the rest of the psalm where the psalmist doesn't have a particular complaint or name an enemy. This is a straight up call for redemption based on personal innocence. God is called to take a close look and judge for himself.

I love the psalmist's straight forward, personal approach to God, honestly stating his case for having lived a humble, trusting life. This almost reads like a sequel to Psalm 25 where we're told that trust in Yahweh and following his instructions wil lead to a righteous life with divine deliverance. Psalm 26 describes the life where that has been done.

The Treasury. Gold- and silversmithery of Wrocław Archcatedral Exhibition.
Christian Mentzel the Elder (about 1675). Psalm 26:6–12
(psalm 25 in the Greek numbering), followed by the Gloria Patri. [So gorgeous!]

When considering humility it is always important to remember that being humble means knowing who you are — both the good and the bad. Only that way can we know who we are in relation to others and to God. If the psalmist says he is innocent, he may still be a humble man.

True Innocence and Honesty Before God

We may find it difficult at first to recognize humility in what may seem like a rather brash and prideful statement of complete innocence, but it is there. Especially the call for Yahweh's scrtiny is a moment of humble submission to divine authority. One does not lightly open the ark inner recesses of one's being to God's gaze, for the consequences of sin are real and God's mercy is very necessary, as the psalmist clearly recognizes in 26:9-11.

Psalms vol. 1 (The NIV Application Commentary)

Sources are here and an index of psalm posts is here.