Psalms 26:12

My foot standeth in an even place,.... Or "in a plain" (b); in a sure place; on Christ the sure foundation, and who is the plain way and path to eternal life; see Psalms 27:11; or in the ways and

My foot standeth in an even place: in the congregations will I bless the LORD. My foot ... even place - not in a slippery place.

In an even place, Heb. in rectitude, or in a right, or straight, or plain, or even place; which may be understood either, 1. Civilly, or in regard of his outward condition. So this is opposed to the slippery places, in which wicked men are said to be, 73:18 ; and the sense is, I stand upon a sure and solid foundation, where I fear no fall, nor to be overthrown by the assaults of mine enemies, being under the protection of God’ s promise, and his almighty and watchful providence. Or, 2. Morally, or in regard of his conversation. So the sense is, I do and will persist or continue in my plain, and righteous, and straight course of life, not using those frauds, and wicked arts, and perverse and crooked paths, which mine enemies choose and walk in, or whereof they do falsely accuse me. And so this is the same thing for substance with his walking in his integrity, expressed in the foregoing verse, as also . In the congregations will I bless the Lord; I will not only privately acknowledge, but publicly, and in the assemblies of thy people, celebrate thy praises, both for thy grace enabling and inclining me to choose, and love, and persevere in the ways of holiness and righteousness, and for thy protection hitherto afforded to me in the midstof all my dangers and troubles, and for that well-grounded assurance which thou hast given me, of thy favour, and of thy future deliverance.

Psalms 26:12 My foot standeth in an even place: in the congregations will I bless the LORD.Ver. 12. My foot standeth in an even place] i.e. Mine affections are in an equal tenor. A good man is τετραγωνοςολοκληρος, the scales of his mind neither rise up toward the beam, through their own lightness, or their overly weened opinion of prosperity; nor are too much depressed with any load of sorrow, but hanging equal and unmoved between both, give him liberty in all occurrences to enjoy himself. I will bless the Lord] For performance of promises; chiefly in that great panegyris Hebrews 12:23

(12) My foot standeth.—It seems more in accordance with the general drift of the poem to take this verse, When I stand in an even or level place [i.e., when I am rescued from the difficulties which now beset me] I will praise Jehovah in the congregation.

Verse 12. My foot standeth in an even place] On the above principles I have taken my stand: to abhor evil; to cleave to that which is good; to avoid the company of wicked men; to frequent the ordinances of God; to be true and just in all my dealings with men; and to depend for my support and final salvation on the mere mercy of God. He who acts in this way, his feet stand in an even place. I will bless the Lord.] In all my transactions with men, and in all my assemblings with holy people, I will speak good of the name of the Lord, having nothing but good to speak of that name. ANALYSIS OF THE TWENTY-SIXTH PSALM There are four general parts in this Psalm: - I. An appeal of David to God to be his Judge, Psalms 26:1-2. II. The causes that induced him to make the appeal. His conscious innocence, integrity, c. III. A petition, Psalms 26:9-11. IV. His gratitude, Psalms 26:12. I. He begins with his appeal to God, whom he knew to be a just Judge and therefore desires to be dealt with according to law: "Judge me; examine me; prove me; try me; even my reins and my heart." II. Then he assigns two causes of it; his integrity and his faith. 1. His faith and confidence in God were such that he knew that the Judge of all the world would do him right. "I have trusted in the Lord, therefore, I shall not slide." I will not change my religion, though powerfully tempted to do so. 2. His integrity: "I have walked in my integrity." For which he assigns the cause: "Thy loving-kindness is before my eyes; I have walked in thy truth." I follow thy word, and the principle it lays down. Next he sets down his integrity by an injunction of parts, which were two: 1. How he carried himself to men; 2. How he conducted himself towards God. 1. He abstained from all society, confederacy, counsels, and intimacy with wicked men; he did hate and abominate their ways: "I have not sat in counsel with vain persons, neither will I go in with dissemblers. I have hated the congregation of evil doers, and will not sit with the wicked." 2. The other degree of his integrity was, his piety: "I will wash my hands in innocence," i.e., I will worship thee; and for this end he would keep his hands from blood, oppression, c., in order that he "might publish with the voice of thanksgiving, and tell of all the wondrous works of the Lord." 3. He mentions a second act of his piety, his love to God's house, and the service done in it: "O Lord, I have loved the habitation of thy house, and the place where thy honour dwelleth." III.

12. Faith realises the answer to its prayer as already granted, and security assured. He has traversed the rough winding path through the gloomy defile, and stands in the open plain, where there is no more fear of stumbling or sudden assault. Life thus prolonged is the reason and the opportunity for public thanksgiving. Cp. Psalms 22:25.

My foot standeth in an even place - The word rendered “even place” - מישׁור mı̂yshôr - means properly “righteousness,” or “justice;” then, “evenness, a level region, a plain:” Isaiah 40:4; Isaiah 42:16.

12. An even place—In a level and plain path. In the congregations—In the public assemblies, which implies his restoration to Jerusalem and the regular worship—a pledge of the acceptance of all his petitions.