When David wrote this psalm, he wrote that he wanted God to be justified. In other words, he was saying that God was fair in his punishment of him.

An old time preacher, Bishop Patrick paraphrased this thought with the quote, “If thou shouldst pronounce the heaviest sentence upon me for my crimes and execute it with the greatest severity, I could not accuse thee of too much rigor, but must still justify thee in thy proceedings and clear thee from all such unjust imputations.”

There are many in the Bible who felt God’s punishment was too severe. Cain after killing his brother Abel didn’t like the punishment God gave him saying in Genesis 4:13 “And Cain said unto the LORD, My punishment is greater than I can bear.”

 Adam didn’t admit his guilt blaming Eve for his own sin. In Genesis 3:12 it says, “And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat.”

God is just in His dealings with men. Remember, it is only because God loves us that He punishes us. Just as a father rebukes his child, so God rebukes His children.

Justify God by admitting your sin and then go on as David did. Make your life count for the glory of God.