The last verses of Psalm 26 are similar to the first verses (Psalm 26:1–3). David emphasized his blamelessness and righteousness.
The tenor of this Psalm is similar to other psalms (Psalm 5:1–12, Psalm 7:1–17, Psalm 17:1 – 18:50, and Psalm 44:1–26) and can be heard throughout Scripture. It is not a psalm written only for a select few exceptionally righteous people but is for all. There are many examples in Scripture of people appealing to God on the basis of their righteousness, like Job (Job 27:5–6), King Hezekiah (2 Kings 20:3), Nehemiah (Nehemiah 5:19), Peter (John 21:17), and Paul (2 Corinthians 10:1 – 12:21). This does not mean that these people were free of sin, but that they knew that they were doing what is right before God.
We are indeed covered with sin, and many passages in the Bible may seem to contradict this Psalm. Isaiah 64:6 says that all our deeds are like filthy rags.
There are also times when this Psalm is not appropriate to the moment—if we love the ways of the world, Psalm 26 becomes a curse upon which we will be called into judgment. But God’s wrath is directed toward the wicked, not the righteous. God has cleansed us with the blood of reconciliation and continues to do so every day. We can sing this Psalm as a song of thanksgiving because we know that we are children of God through his grace in Christ Jesus.
9 Do not sweep my soul away with sinners, nor my life with bloodthirsty men,