PRAYER FOR DIVINE EXAMINATION


A. "EXAMINE ME, O LORD, AND PROVE ME; TRY MY REINS AND MY HEART" PSALMS 26:2-3
  1. It will not be too difficult to see:
    1. How serious the Psalmist took his relationship with the Lord
    2. He did not trust his own ability to judge the true tenor of his life
  2. Salvation and whole-hearted dedication to the Lord was uppermost upon his mind:
    1. He knew that the Lord loved him and that He would deal compassionately with his servant
    2. He knew, also, that God would not overlook anything that would break the relationship between the Psalmist and Himself
B. PRAYER FOR DIVINE EXAMINATION OF MY LIFE
  1. Clearly indicates:
    1. That I have no confidence in my own ability to ascertain the truth about myself - Says the prophet Jeremiah, "O Lord, I know that the way of man is not in himself; it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps" -Jer. 11:23
    2. In Proverbs 16:25 we read again, "There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end there of are the ways of death." verse. 2
    3. Paul learned, through bitter experience to say, "I have no confidence in the flesh" - Phil. 3:3
  2. Also, that the Psalmist was most anxious:
    1. That his relationship with God was not in danger - that he was sincere in what he did
    2. This is a most important part in our relation to the Lord - that there be hypocrisy in me - Matt. 7:1-5; 23:13-14
    3. "Blessed are the pure in heart; for they shall see God" - Matt. 5:8; Prov. 22:11
    4. "Blessed is the man unto whom the Lord imputeth not iniquity, and whose spirit there is no guile" - Ps. 32:1-2
    5. The Lord is looking for people, who are upright in all their ways, saith the Lord to King Asa, "The eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him" - 2 Chron. 16:9
C. BUT, WHEN WE ASK THE LORD TO EXAMINE OUR LIVES
  1. We thereby make a complete surrender to His judgment:
    1. That simply means that we accept His counsel and His corrections - regardless of what the price is; Examples: The rich young ruler was anxious for the Lord to state what he must do for eternal life; but when the Master told him, he refused - Matt. 19:16-22; Saul of Tarsus, on the other hand, accepted the counsel of the Lord and saved his soul - Acts 9; to Zacchaeus, the publican, he make adjustments in his life which were indicative of a change of heart - Luke 19:9
    2. That means further that we change yokes; we take upon ourselves the yoke of the Son of God - Matt. 11:28-30
    3. It implies that I must crucify the old man, that sinful nature in my body - Rom. 6:6
    4. Says Paul, "I am crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me. The life that I now live, I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." - Gal. 2:20
  2. Are we ready, as the Psalmist was:
    1. To let God expose any sin that may keep us out of the kingdom of God
    2. Are we ready to surrender completely to His will - even if it means the mortification of our fleshly sinful nature? "I die daily" - I Cor. 15:31
  3. Note some more implications of the prayer of our opening text:
    1. It means that he will expose any and every sin that will keep us out of the kingdom unless and until it is removed
    2. It means that to save us from being lost, he will do what is necessary to remove the sin out of our lives
    3. And, also, He may choose to cleanse us in the furnace of affliction - Mal. 3:2-3
    4. But, best of all, if we submit to God's way of cleansing our lives, we shall say with Job, "When he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold" - Job 23:10-12 Are we ready to join the Psalmist in praying, "Examine me, O Lord, and prove me; try my reins and my heart"


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