1. Vindicate Me (v. 1). The enemies who were slandering David are described in verses 4-5 and 9-10. They were deceitful, hypocritical, and wicked evildoers, sinners who schemed to rob others and even accepted bribes (Amos 5:12), murdering those who stood in their way. David the king was a godly man, but not every judge and official in the government was walking with the Lord. Perhaps all of this occurred at the time when Absalom was trying to seize the throne by spreading lies about his father (see 2 Sam. 14–15). David would see these deceitful men at the tabernacle altar, bringing their offerings, and it deeply grieved him. (See 119:28, 115, 136, 150, 158.) Throughout the history of both Israel and the church, there was a “congregation of evildoers” (v. 5; 50:16-21) along with the congregation of true worshippers (v. 12), the tares among the wheat (Matt. 13:24-30, 36-41), and wolves in sheep’s clothing (Matt. 7:15; Acts 20:26-31).

“Vindicate” means “give me justice, defend my reputation” (see 7:8; 35:24; 43:1). David was a man of integrity (7:8; 25:21; 41:12; 78:72), a fact that was affirmed by the Lord Himself (1 Kings 9:4-5). The people attacking him were “dissemblers” (v. 4) or “hypocrites,” play-actors who wore masks to cover up their evil character. Integrity means wholeness of character, an undivided mind and heart, completely devoted to the Lord. Without wavering, David stood for what was right, but double-minded people are unstable in all their ways (James 1:8). His life revealed a balance of faith (“I have trusted“) and works (“I have walked”), as commanded in James 2:14-26. When your character and conduct are attacked, it isn’t wrong to vindicate yourself, as Paul did (2 Cor. 10–12), or to ask the Lord to vindicate you. We aren’t just defending ourselves; we’re defending the name of the Lord whom we serve. Our vindication is “for his name’s sake” (23:3; 25:11).