Psalm 139:19-24 “If only you, God, would kill the wicked. Get away from me, you bloodthirsty men! For they speak against you wickedly. Your enemies take your name in vain. LORD, don’t I hate those who hate you? Am I not grieved with those who rise up against you? I hate them with perfect hatred. They have become my enemies. Search me, God, and know my heart. Try me, and know my thoughts. See if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the everlasting way.”

David understands (and is probably experiencing) the evil thoughts and actions of the wicked, so He asks God to judge them. They are bloodthirsty, they hate God, and they take His name in vain. David wants to be nothing like them, so he asks God to search him to prove that he isn’t! He hates the wicked because of their actions and asks God to guide him so that He’ll be nothing like them.

Sometimes we justify our evil thoughts and actions. That’s not the way we’re supposed to be! We are to embrace holiness and despise evil to the point that we have clear consciences before God.

John 3:20-21 “For everyone who does evil hates the light and doesn’t come to the light, lest his works would be exposed. But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his works may be revealed, that they have been done in God.”

For additional worship: O Thou to Whose All Searching Sight