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(A talk with children): — As a rule, children are not very anxious for examinations. They do not see what possible good can come out of them. If most of them had their wishes, they never would have one at all. Yet in days to come these children will see that of all things that they did in their school days perhaps the most important were these very examinations. Now, David here asked God to examine him; he asked a very keen examiner to take the task in hand. He knew what that meant: he knew that no weakness, no ignorance, no sin would remain hidden; but that everything would be known, not only to God, but also largely to David himself. And that was one of the reasons why he wanted to he examined.

I. NOW, OBSERVE THAT THE WORD "EXAMINE" HERE IS A VERY FORCIBLE WORD. It means "to examine by fire," and, therefore, by that which shall burn up all the dross, and only leave behind that which can pass through fire. Again, the word "try" is further expressive. The Hebrew word means "melting by fire"; in other words, it means "examine by fire to the point of melting." Thus the examination the Psalmist asked for was an examination by fire — an examination that should burn away everything that was impure.

II. THE RESULT OF AN EXAMINATION TO A LARGE EXTENT IS TO MAKE ONE KNOW ONESELF. If it were not for the examinations which children get, some of them would get, very conceited, and would think that they knew everything. When anyone begins a study he is convinced in a week or so that he knows all about it. If you see him again in a twelvemonth he begins to doubt it; but if you see him in two years be is quite convinced he knows very little. Now, examinations are very helpful in that way. The condition of learning is just to learn, first of all, that we know next to nothing, and thus to be dissatisfied with ourselves. Then, and then only, we shall make an effort.

III. FAILURE IN EXAMINATION HAS VERY OFTEN LED TO DETERMINATION on the part of a boy or girl never to fail again; thus failure has been one of the greatest blessings they have had in life. David felt sure that if God examined him he would know very much more of his own poor miserable self than he did before, and some path of sin which had escaped his notice would be revealed to him. Indeed, he was anxious that the Lord should not conceal from him anything that was evil in him. To be conscious of one's error is the first step necessary to avoid repeating it.

IV. Again, there was another feeling on the part of David, namely, that thorough as God was as an examiner, and thorough as the exposure would be by such an examination, GOD WAS NEVERTHELESS VERY KIND; for David says in the following verse, "For Thy loving kindnesses are before mine eyes." Our best loved teachers have been those who, though they saw all our failings, all our mistakes, very clearly, yet did not hold us up to ridicule, but sympathised with our difficulties and put the best construction on all our actions. So it is with our Lord. He knows our hearts, and reads every thought before we express it in words. Hidden desires are all known to Him. But then, He is so kind, so loving, so forgiving, we can leave ourselves in His hands.

(D. Davies.)

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KJV: Examine me, O LORD, and prove me; try my reins and my heart.

WEB: Examine me, Yahweh, and prove me. Try my heart and my mind.