GOD TESTS HEARTS (3)

“TEST me, LORD, and TRY me, EXAMINE my HEART and my mind” – Psalm 26:2, NIV

We cannot overemphasize the truth that GOD TESTS HEARTS: “TEST me, LORD, and TRY me, EXAMINE my HEART and my mind” (Psa.26:2, NIV). The New King James says: “EXAMINE me, O Lord, and PROVE me; TRY my MIND and my HEART.” Most Bible versions interchangeably use the words: Test, Try, Prove, and Examine.

Psalm 26 is a robust prayer that can be prayed by any individual at any time. The redeemed and divinely transformed person in Christ can humbly echo the claims of integrity or voice the psalmist’s willingness to be examined by the Lord. No matter who prays this psalm or how and where they pray it, its words convey a vigorous desire to act with integrity and enjoy a covenant relationship with the Lord. The Psalm begins with themes of integrity, trust, and a request for vindication (vv.1-2), followed by bold assertions about the psalmist’s moral integrity (vv. 3-5) and religious integrity (vv. 6-8). After a second request for the Lord to act on his behalf, he concluded with a confident statement of faith and a commitment to worship the Lord (vv.9-12).

All through life, David faced many dangers and difficulties. He was harassed by enemies at home and abroad, hunted by opponents, accused by his fellows, and hated by the king of Israel – whose crown he would one day wear. Although David made some foolish mistakes in his lifetime, his desire was toward the Lord and his heart was centred on God; his hope was in Him alone. Although we do not have a specific historical event linked to Psalm 26, it appears that David was being accused of associating with ungodly men and participating in wickedness. But David clung to his integrity and cried out for the Lord to judge his case and come to his defence. In our key verse (v.2), David called for the Lord to appraise his Heart and Mind: his attitude, character, ethics, motives, and morals.

Being tested is something that most people do not look forward to. Usually people want to avoid a test, unless it’s absolutely compulsory. They could be worried that they are not prepared well enough or ready for the test. This is accentuated when a person has a history of not doing very well on tests, having failed or barely passed in the past. Despite such sentiments, tests are often required in life. There are many areas people need to be tested in on a regular basis. Unlike most human tests, God’s test is always a perfect one and can fully see into the heart and mind of a person. This is not a written, multiple choice examination that a person can get ‘lucky’ at guessing and pass. This is a test that checks the motives or thoughts in a person – the reality in a person.

While someone may be confessing love and service for God on the outside, in his heart and mind he can be thinking evil thoughts. He can harbour hatred or bitterness on the inside while talking about loving his neighbour. With God’s test, this can be revealed. David prayed to God, requesting to be tested. He wanted to be tried and his heart and mind examined. It is not out of place for Believers in Christ to intentionally approach the Lord in similar attitude, asking for a test from God: if there is any sin in our lives that have not been dealt with or any impure motives or thoughts that need to be revealed, confessed, and forgiven.

God does not test us to condemn or destroy us, but to build us up. He wants to see us succeed in our walk with Him. When His test reveals something wrong in our heart or life, He will be there to guide us in how to change and become more like Jesus. Beloved, let’s take time to ask God to test us. Let Him reveal to us where we need to grow and change and where we have already grown and changed. Then we must allow Him to transform us from the inside out – for His Glory!