The title affirms this to be a psalm of David, and there is no reason to doubt the correctness of the superscription; but there are no indications by which we can determine on what occasion it was written.
It is not difficult, however, to ascertain from its contents the state of mind in which it was composed; and as that state of mind is not uncommon among those who are the professed people of God, the psalm will be useful in all ages of the world. The state of mind is that in which there is deep solicitude in regard to personal piety, or on the question whether the evidences of our piety, are genuine, and are such as we may rely on as warranting our hope of salvation. In this state of mind, and under this deep solicitude, the psalmist appeals to God to search him, or to judge in his case; he then recounts the evidences on which he relied as a ground for concluding that he was truly a friend of God; and then expresses the earliest desire of his heart to be found among the friends of God, and not to be united in character or in destiny with the wicked.
The psalm, therefore, properly consists of three parts:
I. A solemn appeal to God, or an earnest prayer that He would examine and judge of the evidences of piety on which the psalmist was accustomed to rely, Psalms 26:1-2. He was conscious of integrity or uprightness of intention, but he still felt that there was a possibility that he might deceive himself, and he, therefore, prays that God would search his heart and try his reins - that He would examine the evidences of his personal piety, and save him from delusion.
II. A statement of the evidences on which he relied, Psalms 26:3-8.
These evidences were the following:
(1) That God’s loving-kindness was before his eyes, and that he had walked in his truth, Psalms 26:3.
(2) That he had not been the companion of the wicked, nor had he delighted to associate with them, Psalms 26:4-5).
(3) The desire of his heart to approach the altar of God with purity, and to celebrate the praises of God; or his delight in public worship, Psalms 26:6-7.
(4) That he had loved the place where God dwelt, or the habitation of his house, Psalms 26:8.
III. His earnest wish to be found among the friends of God, or to have his portion with them, Psalms 26:9-12.
(1) His “prayer” that this might be his lot, Psalms 26:9-10.
(2) His “purpose” to walk with the just and the holy, or to be found among the friends of God, Psalms 26:11-12.
In reference to all this, he asks the guidance and direction of God; he prays for the searching of His eye; he pleads that God would enable him sincerely to carry out these desires and purposes of his soul. The psalm is a beautiful illustration of the nature of true religion, and of the desire of a truly pious man that all the evidences of his piety - all which is his ground of reliance - may be submitted to the searching eye of God.