When We Have Clean Hands

When We Have Clean Hands

Psalm18:20-24

20 The LORD rewarded me according to my righteousness;
     According to the cleanness of my hands
     He has recompensed me.
21 For I have kept the ways of the LORD,
     And have not wickedly departed from my God.
22 For all His judgments were before me,
     And I did not put away His statutes from me.
23 I was also blameless before Him,
     And I kept myself from my iniquity.
24 Therefore the LORD has recompensed me according to my righteousness,
     According to the cleanness of my hands in His sight. 

   In our American legal system, there is a doctrine known as the clean hands doctrine.  This is a rule of law that someone bringing a lawsuit or motion and asking the court for a favorable judgment must be innocent of wrongdoing or unfair conduct relating to the subject matter of this claim.  For example, if a seller sues a customer for not paying payments on a contract, but he had defrauded the defendant in some way, then the courts will not find in his favor because he is said to have unclean hands in the matter.  The judge is not bound to reward an illegal act. 

   The background of Psalms 18 is that David is running for his life from King Saul, his father-in-law.  Some in Saul’s court wanted to put this young upstart David in his place, so they made up things against him to tell King Saul.  The King was already jealous of David, so these stories only made it worse for David.  They said, "Saul, David said this," but he never said anything against Saul.  They said, "David is doing this to you," but he never did anything to injure Saul.  David's hands were clean.  Nevertheless, he was forced to flee from Saul and hide in the wilderness, fearing for his life.  He prayed to God for delivery from this powerful enemy, and God honored his prayers and not only kept him safe, but gave him favor with many people around him – including enemies of the Israelites. 

   During his long season of affliction under Saul, David had many opportunities to strike out against Saul, and history would have forgiven him for acting in self-defense.  Yet David consistently conducted himself in righteousness, and knew that God rewarded him because of it.

   Now, this was not a claim of sinless perfection on David’s part.  We see him make some questionable decisions during this stressful time of his life.  But through it all David kept the integrity of his heart right towards God.  He accepted God’s correction when he did wrong and actually defended Saul’s life and kept his followers from harming the King.  David resisted the remarkably strong temptation to depose Saul violently and take the throne promised to him.  This demonstration of righteousness was rewarded by God, Who gave David a throne that could never be taken away from him.

   No matter how difficult our problems may be, if we have clean hands before God He will fill our hands with blessing.  "The Lord rewarded me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands He has recompensed me" v. 20.

   David's hands were clean. He worshipped God sincerely and tried to follow His commandments and the statutes of the Law and God knew.  God knows the intents of our hearts, and knows when our hands are clean or only white-washed. 

   When our hands are clean and we are keeping our hearts right before God, He will work for us.  He will give us what we need to see us through our problems, protect us and help us.

   God responds to us as we respond to Him.  Verses 25 & 26 tell us, “With the merciful You will show Yourself merciful; With a blameless man You will show Yourself blameless; With the pure You will show Yourself pure; And with the devious You will show Yourself shrewd.”  I read this to mean that we decide how close God will be and how much help He will be able to show us.  In verse 19 David said, "He delivered me because He delighted in me."  The Lord delights in all His children, but if we have clean hands and a pure heart we open the way for God to shower us with blessings.  God rewards us according to our righteousness. Are you keeping the ways of the Lord? If so, you may depend on His protection and strength.  When your hands are clean, He sees you through your difficult trials and circumstances.

Stephen Cram                      February 13, 2011                 Colossians 2:8