It’s an ancient protocol going back prior to human memory, still visible today in various forms: The man with authority hands the symbol of that authority to his superior, requesting to be examined in response to an accusation. In David’s time, it meant handing one’s own sword to the ruler, hilt first, with the point near his heart. This is the image behind David’s first words here.
David does not fear inspection from God. His conscience is clear and he appeals to God for a final judgment against his accusers. Whether the accusation is literal or symbolic, or simply the fleeting sense of guilt that often deceives us about our standing with God, David wants to hear what his Sovereign has to say about it.
David knows that living in moral purity is not about pride in his own significance, but of pride on behalf of his God. Nothing in our human existence can compare with the sheer joy of reflecting God’s glory onto our world. The means to that glory is righteous living. That in turn is possible only because of the Lord’s own power granted to those who embrace His revelation. The beginning point is humility, of walking through the Flaming Sword at the entrance to Eden. Eden itself expels those who don’t belong there. So nothing David says here is smug or proud, but simply good protocol when addressing his Master. An accurate account is not boasting.
Whether God executes any punishment on David is not the point. God’s wrath is better than conformity with the world. In the broadest sense, God executes judgment on our sin so that we might live for His glory. We suffer from it only to the degree we have committed ourselves to things not included in God’s revealed will for us. So if David’s life is over, only let God not include David in the same handling as those who boldly reject that will of God. Indeed, God has promised to rescue those who are motivated by His glory. Whatever is the fate of those who worship the Lord, such is what David desires.
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