Psalm 26:9
9 Gather ['acaph] not my soul [nephesh] with sinners [chatta'], nor
my life [chay] with bloody [dam] men ['enowsh]: KJV-Interlinear
9 Do
not take my soul away along with sinners, Nor my life with men of bloodshed, NASB
My soul, refers to the
person of the individual believer. It refers to me as a person. It refers to
you as a person. It distinguishes you as a believer in Christ, as a separate
and independent and autonomous person, unique in this world.
One of the many
objectives for your spiritual life is to be set apart from the masses of
humanity that do not have or don’t pursue their relationship with God.
The phrases, along with
sinners, and with men of bloodshed, are idioms, phrases where David is asking
God to exclude him from these groups of people. To not number him among them.
To not include him in the dealings and manners of life that are common to
society and the world in general.
As we saw the other day
in our study in Isaiah, there are basically two classes of people within the
human race. First there are unbelievers, which makes up the largest group.
Second, there are believers, or those who have believed in the Savior who is
Jesus Christ.
And among believers there
are at least three subgroups. The first and largest group, is of believers who
are saved because they have believed in Christ, but they don’t pursue their
spiritual life, remaining spiritual infants or babies, never growing up, and
never accomplishing life as God intended for them.
The second group, within
the class of believers, includes those that learn some doctrine, know some
truth, and attain some form of spiritual growth, but are more or less fickle
and inconsistent within their spiritual lives.
The third group, is the
smallest group which includes those believers who have pursued their spiritual
life by means of instruction and learning, and have attained the highest level
within their spiritual life, which is spiritual maturity. It is this group of
believers who pursue their spiritual knowledge and understanding and wisdom, no
matter what the circumstances of their life might be.
Within the history of the
human race, there are those people who make a difference, and those people who
do not.
And making a difference
in human history has everything to do with the function of the spiritual life
in history, and nothing to do with human discovery, or human invention, or
human ingenuity. Many discoverers and inventors and leaders of history have
been unbelievers. They did not accomplish anything on their own except by way
of the grace of God, who put them into history at a time of God’s choosing, not
theirs.
No person chooses the
time in which they will be born into history. God alone makes that decision.
Within the class of
humanity that has and will believe in Christ, the same principle of inclusion
in history applies, however, believers have additional opportunities that are
potentially available to them, also by the grace of God.
Unfortunately, most
believers choose wrong and never discover those opportunities.
Therefore, there are
people in history who make a difference, which means a difference that counts
not on a temporary basis but on a forever basis. And their lives have
extraordinary meaning and purpose during their life in history.
And then there are people
who are nothing more than historical filler. They become a part of the swirling
effect of the world and the jungle of life, and of society in general, with
nothing to add to eternity.
All of the discoveries
and inventions of man, certainly have tendencies toward conveniences and
perhaps higher qualities of life in this world. But those conveniences or
higher qualities are only temporary, and are only as good as long as a person
is alive in this world. They do not carry over into the next life.
The only thing that
carries over into the next life is your salvation, and the spiritual content of
your soul.
The things and gadgets of
this life do not advance into the next life.
The only way to have
meaning and purpose in your life, in this life, is to advance in your spiritual
life. And the only way to advance in your spiritual life, is to learn Bible
doctrine. And learning Bible doctrine is a lifelong commitment that does not
end while you are in this life.
Spiritually immature people,
remain in their immaturity, because they have no commitment, no desire, no
drive to better themselves in Gods eyes. They are only satisfied with how they
see themselves, or how other people see them in life.
Spiritually mature
people, have a commitment and a desire and a drive that lasts their entire
life, and never ends.
In this Psalm, the desire
is to not be numbered among those who would be historical filler. But rather be
numbered among those who will be historical successes, both now and forever.
And the remarkable thing
is, that each and every person has the opportunity to be the success. But
unfortunately most do not pursue that opportunity.
