Verse 11:
"But I lead a blameless life; redeem me and be merciful to me."
The word "But" forms the contrast for what he has just been describing about the wicked in verses 9 and 10. In contrast: "[He] leads a blameless life." This takes us back to verse 1: "Vindicate me, O Lord, for I have led a blameless life; I have trusted in the Lord without wavering."
The difference is in verse 1 he is talking about the past and in verse 11 he is talking about the present.
"I have led a blameless life" in the past - verse 1. "I lead a blameless life" in the present - verse 11. He asks for 2 things here: (1) that the Lord would "redeem" him and (2) that the lord would be "merciful" to him.
Lewis Sperry Chafer said: "Gentlemen, for half my life I have been teaching the grace of God, but I am just beginning to understand it. And gentlemen, it is magnificent. It is magnificent!"
C. H. Spurgeon said: "Our integrity is not absolute nor inherent, it is a work of grace in us, and is marred by human infirmity; we must, therefore, resort to the redeeming blood and the throne of mercy, confessing that though we are saints among men, we must still bow as sinners before God."
Psalm 32:1, 2:
"Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord does not count against him and in whose spirit is no deceit"
(NIV).
Isaiah 1:18:
"'Come now, let us reason together,' says the Lord. 'Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool'"
(NIV).
Verse
12:
"My feet stand on level ground; in the great assembly I will praise the Lord."
Here in verse 12 David returns to praise in this final verse.
Psalm 143:10:
"Teach me to do your will, for you are my God; may your good Spirit lead me on level ground"
(NIV).
Psalm 1:1, 2:
"Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night"
(NIV).
2 Samuel 22:17, 18:
"He reached down from on high and took hold of me; he drew me out of deep waters. He rescued me from my powerful enemy, from my foes, who were too strong for me"
(NIV).
2 Samuel 22:20:
"He brought me out into a spacious place; he rescued me because he delighted in me"
(NIV).
2 Samuel 22:47:
"The Lord lives! Praise be to my Rock! Exalted be God, the Rock, my Savior!"
(NIV)
Warren Wiersbe says: "David says, 'I'm on the level because I have integrity. I have nothing in my heart against the Lord. I am not disobeying Him.'"
Someone said "The Best way to rise to the heights is to stay on the level."
In the
Valley of Vision
there is recorded a Puritan prayer: "May I never vex him by my indifference and waywardness, grieve him by my cold welcome, resist him by my hard rebellion." (30)
Can you say with David this morning that you are standing "on level ground"?
