There is another aspect to this Psalm we might consider. Rather than looking outward to sources of stress, there are also inner sources of conflict when a person is (or should be) preparing to worship. Can you imagine how a devout Jew would think and feel as he was approaching the temple? How much he had been "polluted" by life and dealing with the world. The thoughts of having unclean lips and deceiving words, like Isaiah, would precipitate feelings of unworthiness and spiritual poverty. This Psalm would have been a good place to start.
How seriously do we examine ourselves before attempting any real worship? How important is it to examine our hearts even as we approach our times and places of collective worship? How often do we find ourselves with mixed emotions and thoughts while in the midst of our services?
How comforting and encouraging it is to come to worship the Lord God with clean hearts and hands! How good it is to meet together with brothers and sisters who are like-minded and whole hearted in fellowship and worship!
