The Lord repaid me according to my righteousness. according to the cleanness of my hands He rewarded me.
This statement must be understood in the context of David’s specific conflict and covenant faithfulness. He is not saying that he has never sinned or that he is absolutely perfect before God. Other parts of his life clearly show his awareness of his sinfulness. Here David testifies that in this struggle he did not choose the evil path attributed to him, and God vindicated his cause. “The cleanness of my hands” is an image of innocence in one’s actions. A believer can, in certain situations, have a clear conscience and ask for God’s righteous judgment. Yet this must never turn into self-justification for one’s whole life. Our final acceptance before God is by grace. At the same time, grace teaches us to practice true righteousness. Clean hands are not the price of salvation, but the fruit of a life lived by God’s grace.