ARE THEIR FRACTURES IN YOUR SINCERITY?

David often faced being outnumbered by his enemies both without and within. This put tremendous pressure on his conduct, beliefs, and patience to stand firm and not falter. Many times David was told that he was wrong; that he was to blame for starting the conflict, but he refused to let this dampen his spirits or cause him to doubt that he was in God’s will. In David’s mind, if you are going to say what you believe, then you need to believe what you say.

“O LORD Eternal, confirm that my actions were right because I did what I did in all honesty; I never doubted it for a second or lost my faith in Your guidance, O LORD Eternal. So go ahead and examine my reasons and motives anyway, O LORD Eternal. I’m ready to be tested because I have complete confidence in Your undying love, and will follow Your principles no matter what. I don’t hang around with dishonest people, nor do I spend time consorting with hypocrites; As a matter of fact, I detest that evil crowed and will have nothing to do with them. When I stand before Your altar, O LORD Eternal, I do so with a clear conscience. That’s why I can raise my voice to You in praise and testify about all the good things You’ve done for me. O LORD Eternal, I spend as much time as I can in Your sanctuary where I can feel Your presence and experience Your power. So don’t let me be confused with those who act evil; I don’t want to end up like people who spend their time ruining other people’s lives. They’re known for being up to no good, and are always out for what they can get by exploiting other people’s mistakes. I’ve made up my mind; I’m going to be open and honest. So be gracious and help me stay on course. I want to stand up before the congregation and give You all the glory and honor, O LORD Eternal.” Psalm 26:1-11

Reflection: Historians tell us that in ancient days when glazed pottery was shipped from one country to another by ship or caravan, they often arrived with fine cracks on the surface. Such imperfections in the porcelain dropped their value dramatically. So retailers would melt candle wax and pour it over these fractures and then polish the vase to make the fissures almost invisible. However, for their valued customers, the merchants would examine their merchandise and if found to be in perfect shape they marked them: sincerus — Latin for “sound” or “whole,” from which we get our English adverb, “sincere.” Then out on the street they were sold as sine cera – “without wax.” David wanted God to know that he was not trying to hide any cracks in his character, but neither was he pretending to be perfect. When it came to being honest with God, David did not pretend or play games. David knew that under any pressure and in the heat of the moment the wax of hypocrisy would melt and expose his real character. Let God prove us to be honest and sincere. After all, whose approval are we really seeking, man’s or God’s?