The Lord judges the peoples. Judge me, Lord, according to my righteousness and according to the innocence that is in me.
David boldly asks God to examine the matter at hand and to judge according to his righteousness and innocence. He is not claiming that throughout his whole life he has never sinned. The point is a clean conscience regarding a specific accusation brought against him. This distinction is important, because a person can be innocent in one particular matter, while in general still remaining a sinner in need of God’s grace. David entrusts his case to the Judge who knows not only people’s words and deeds, but also their true motives. People can judge wrongly because of incomplete information, bias, or false testimony, but nothing is hidden from God. Therefore this verse encourages us, in times of slander or unjust accusation, to rely on the Lord’s righteous examination rather than endlessly trying to justify ourselves before people. At the same time, this prayer calls for sincere self-examination. We cannot ask God to confirm our innocence if we knowingly hide sin or justify our wrongdoing. A clean conscience is kept by living in truth, confessing sin, and submitting to God’s grace.