Psalm 26 – How can anybody possibly live a perfect life?

Can anybody possibly live a perfect life? Every Christian knows the answer is no. But in Psalm 26 David seems to say that's exactly what he's doing. How can that be? Certainly, he knows better than to believe that.

Psalm 26 

Of David. 

Ps 26:1 Vindicate me, O LORD, 
for I have led a blameless life; 
I have trusted in the LORD 
without wavering. 

Ps 26:2 Test me, O LORD, and try me, 
examine my heart and my mind; 

Ps 26:3 for your love is ever before me, 
and I walk continually in your truth. 

Ps 26:4 I do not sit with deceitful men, 
nor do I consort with hypocrites; 

Ps 26:5 I abhor the assembly of evildoers 
and refuse to sit with the wicked. 

Ps 26:6 I wash my hands in innocence, 
and go about your altar, O LORD, 

Ps 26:7 proclaiming aloud your praise 
and telling of all your wonderful deeds. 

Ps 26:8 I love the house where you live, O LORD, 
the place where your glory dwells. 

Ps 26:9 Do not take away my soul along with sinners, 
my life with bloodthirsty men, 

Ps 26:10 in whose hands are wicked schemes, 
whose right hands are full of bribes. 

Ps 26:11 But I lead a blameless life; 
redeem me and be merciful to me. 

Ps 26:12 My feet stand on level ground; 
in the great assembly I will praise the LORD. 

Do you see what I mean? Verses 1 and 11 both say he has led a blameless life.

Background on Psalm 26

Let's see the commentary for this Psalm to see if the author says anything about this apparent conflict between our belief as Christians and what David wrote about himself. Check out verse 1 again, before we read the comments on it.

Ps 26:1 Vindicate me, O LORD,
         for I have led a blameless life;
         I have trusted in the LORD
         without wavering.

At first glance the word vindicate suggests a desire to be shown to be right over against other people: “I have been falsely accused; show everybody that I am really innocent.” But as I read this psalm I sense that it is not David’s reputation in the eyes of other people that concerns him but rather God’s vindication of the rightness of a devout and moral life. In other words, it is not his own reputation but God’s reputation that he covets. He has been trying to obey God. He is surrounded by many who think that he is foolish, just as we are surrounded by similar mockers of righteousness today. What he is asking is that God will show by the quality and steadiness of his life that a moral life is always best—for the sake of God’s own honor and for the good of those who may be looking on.