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Do you want to be judged? Most of what I hear falls on the no side of answer to that question. There's a little more tension when it comes time for the evaluation on the job. In the classroom, test day brings anxiety for many. And when the mother-in-law judges . . . well, that just isn't good!

I've heard people tell me they don't want to talk about God's judgment. Some tell me God would never sit in judgment on me, He's too kind to do that. Some are simply petrified of the thought and can't examine it for the fear that wells up.

In Psalm 26, David actually asks for God to judge him.

Judge me, examine me, prove me, try my affections and my heart. David certainly has a passion for this.

Of course, he goes on to claim that he has done everything right so, obviously, if God judges him, things will turn out good for him. Like going into a test extremely well prepared, excited to have finally an opportunity to tell what you know.

I don't think I have that kind of confidence in my own rightdoing before the God of the universe, but let's look a little deeper.

At the beginning and at the end of this Psalm the author cites integrity. Verse 11, "But as for me, I will walk in mine integrity: redeem me, and be merciful unto me." He claims the need for redemption and mercy, so he's not always done everything right. But he has always kept his integrity, his wholeness toward God, his internal unity toward the one goal of serving God.

This and God's mercy give him courage to face and even solicit God's judgment.