The Big Picture

Psalms 18:20-21 (KJV) 20 The LORD rewarded me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands hath he recompensed me. 21 For I have kept the ways of the LORD, and have not wickedly departed from my God.

(Proverbs 11 also read)

If you know anything about the life of David, you know that he does not have clean hands, at least in the way we look at it.  We also know that David was aware of the sin in his life.  And yet he makes this statement.

There are a couple things we need to consider that David was also aware of.  First of all, he was aware of the fact that he never violated what seems to be God’s biggest concern.  David never worshiped other gods.  He never made sacrifices to other gods.  He maintained the Lord God as his Lord.

David is also aware of the process of repentance, confession, and forgiveness.  He knew that God would respond to his openness and contrition.

So?  You can get hung up on literal understandings of this verse or you can look at the entire scripture and understand what David is really trusting.  He’s not trusting in his righteousness, he’s trusting in God’s mercy.