“I wash my hands in innocence and go around your altar, O Lord, proclaiming thanksgiving aloud, and telling all your wondrous deeds. O Lord, I love the habitation of your house and the place where your glory dwells.” -Psalm 26:6–8
In contrast to his refusal to associate with the assembly of evildoers, David loved the sanctuary of the Lord. And in contrast with the hypocrites, he performed the sacrificial rites sincerely.
The glory of the Lord dwelt in the most holy place of the tabernacle. And David longed to be in the presence of the Lord and the Lord’s people (Psalm 122:1). He was a true worshipper, one whose faith was rightly mixed with the outward sign (Hebrews 4:2).
This reminds us how easy it is to fall into the trap of rote liturgical activity, mindless worship. While we may say with David, I hate the assembly of evildoers, let us also say with him, “I love the Lord, his church, and it’s liturgies and I worship him in innocence.”