I am just old enough to remember when Christmas purchasing and playing Santa for my younger brother changed. Used to be when Christmas toys were purchased, as you paid for them, someone assembled the toys for free for the fortunate child and the adult buyer. Then times changed & the buyer paid an extra fee to have the bicycle or toy assembled. And finally, no assembly was offered.Life is always assembly required. We have choices to make for every decision in life. David is asking for a prayer to be answered from the Lord in Palm 26. One of the most vivid sermons I remember, from my childhood, was a sermon on prayer; Father Ted said as a father to a teenager, his son made a request for something just about every time he walked into the house. Sometimes it was for an errand, sometimes it was for homework, or a particular something to eat, but he knew when something serious and attention getting was about to be discussed as his son talked earnestly about his son’s performance as a student or as a well-behaving member of the family. Father Ted said he could usually answer his teenager while reading the mail and walking through the room without a lot of deep thought. But Father Ted knew that if his son began a petition, he was going to have to sit down, make eye contact and give thought to the request and the conversation.
Father Ted said we should, as christians, be in prayer conversation with God all the time, but when we really need God’s attention in prayer, we should remember to thank Him for the good gifts we have in life and be able to point out to Him our endeavor to grow in ways that please Him. Psalm 26 is a guide to prayer by a man who was said to be the apple of God's eye. Life is assembly required, and it is about choices that please God, who loves us so much.
Psalm 26
1 Vindicate me, O Lord,
for I have walked in my integrity,
and I have trusted in the Lord without wavering.
2 Prove me, O Lord, and try me;
test my heart and my mind.
3 For your steadfast love is before my eyes,
and I walk in your faithfulness.
4 I do not sit with men of falsehood,
nor do I consort with hypocrites.
5 I hate the assembly of evildoers,
and I will not sit with the wicked.
6 I wash my hands in innocence
and go around your altar, O Lord,
7 proclaiming thanksgiving aloud,
and telling all your wondrous deeds.
8 O Lord, I love the habitation of your house
and the place where your glory dwells.
9 Do not sweep my soul away with sinners,
nor my life with bloodthirsty men,
10 in whose hands are evil devices,
and whose right hands are full of bribes.
11 But as for me, I shall walk in my integrity;
redeem me, and be gracious to me.
12 My foot stands on level ground;
in the great assembly I will bless the Lord.
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