Proverbs 10:9 - "He who walks in integrity walks
securely, but he who perverts his ways will be found out."
Several times throughout the book of Proverbs we're given instruction concerning integrity. The idea of integrity has behind it a sense of fullness or completeness. Someone who walks in integrity is lacking in nothing. And it also carries with it the idea of genuineness, honesty, not only in word but also in deed. Someone who has integrity is real, they're not putting on a face, they're genuine and unchanging. They don't change with their circumstances. The verse above says that he who walks in integrity walks securely. Proverbs 11:3 says - "The integrity of the upright will guide them, but the crookedness of the treacherous will destroy them." Here integrity is contrasted with crookedness. And Proverbs 2:7 says, concerning God - "He stores up sound wisdom for the upright; He is a shield to those who walk in integrity." So those who walk in integrity walk securely, they have guidance and they have God as their shield.
A great example of integrity in the Bible is found in the life of Job. In fact, the word integrity is used more often to describe Job than anyone else in Scripture. The Lord used the word integrity to describe Job after He had allowed Satan to test him severely by taking away his children and possessions. Job 2:3 says - "The LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job? For there is no one like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man fearing God and turning away from evil. And he still holds fast his integrity, although you incited Me against him to ruin him without cause.”" That's true integrity, not wavering in the event of difficult circumstances. When Jobs circumstances were well Job prayed and offered sacrifices to the Lord, and when his circumstances were terrible we're told that he worshiped God. Though his circumstances changed he did not. This is what Job pointed out to his wife further on in that same chapter. In verses 9 and 10 we read - "Then his wife said to him, “Do you still hold fast your integrity? Curse God and die!” But he said to her, “You speak as one of the foolish women speaks. Shall we indeed accept good from God and not accept adversity?” In all this Job did not sin with his lips." And later in the book Job uses the word integrity to describe himself. He says in Job 27:5 - "Far be it from me that I should declare you right; Till I die I will not put away my integrity from me."
In chapter 31 Job spells out his integrity, and he really gives us a very full picture of what true integrity looks like lived out. There he says - "I have made a covenant with my eyes; How then could I gaze at a virgin? And what is the portion of God from above Or the heritage of the Almighty from on high? Is it not calamity to the unjust And disaster to those who work iniquity? Does He not see my ways And number all my steps? If I have walked with falsehood, And my foot has hastened after deceit, Let Him weigh me with accurate scales, And let God know my integrity. If my step has turned from the way, Or my heart followed my eyes, Or if any spot has stuck to my hands, Let me sow and another eat, And let my crops be uprooted.If my heart has been enticed by a woman, Or I have lurked at my neighbor’s doorway, May my wife grind for another, And let others kneel down over her. For that would be a lustful crime; Moreover, it would be an iniquity punishable by judges. For it would be fire that consumes to Abaddon, And would uproot all my increase. If I have despised the claim of my male or female slaves When they filed a complaint against me, What then could I do when God arises? And when He calls me to account, what will I answer Him? Did not He who made me in the womb make him, And the same one fashion us in the womb? If I have kept the poor from their desire, Or have caused the eyes of the widow to fail, Or have eaten my morsel alone, And the orphan has not shared it (But from my youth he grew up with me as with a father, And from infancy I guided her), If I have seen anyone perish for lack of clothing, Or that the needy had no covering, If his loins have not thanked me, And if he has not been warmed with the fleece of my sheep, If I have lifted up my hand against the orphan, Because I saw I had support in the gate, Let my shoulder fall from the socket, And my arm be broken off at the elbow. For calamity from God is a terror to me, And because of His majesty I can do nothing.If I have put my confidence in gold, And called fine gold my trust, If I have gloated because my wealth was great, And because my hand had secured so much; If I have looked at the sun when it shone Or the moon going in splendor, And my heart became secretly enticed, And my hand threw a kiss from my mouth, That too would have been an iniquity calling for judgment, For I would have denied God above. Have I rejoiced at the extinction of my enemy, Or exulted when evil befell him? No, I have not allowed my mouth to sin By asking for his life in a curse. Have the men of my tent not said, ‘Who can find one who has not been satisfied with his meat’? The alien has not lodged outside, For I have opened my doors to the traveler. Have I covered my transgressions like Adam, By hiding my iniquity in my bosom, Because I feared the great multitude, And the contempt of families terrified me, And kept silent and did not go out of doors? Oh that I had one to hear me! Behold, here is my signature; Let the Almighty answer me! And the indictment which my adversary has written, Surely I would carry it on my shoulder, I would bind it to myself like a crown. I would declare to Him the number of my steps; Like a prince I would approach Him.If my land cries out against me, And its furrows weep together; If I have eaten its fruit without money, Or have caused its owners to lose their lives, Let briars grow instead of wheat, And stinkweed instead of barley. The words of Job are ended."
This is an amazing and challenging testimony. Job talks about his sexual purity, hospitality, generosity, not trusting in wealth, not wishing evil upon his enemies, and on and on the list goes. I challenge you to read through this passage several times and compare yourself with Job. Can you describe your life in the same way that Job described his? Can you truly say that you are walking in integrity?
Psalm 26:1 - "Vindicate me, O LORD, for I have walked in my integrity, And I have trusted in the LORD without wavering."
Psalm 25:21 - "Let integrity and uprightness preserve me, For I wait for Thee."
Several times throughout the book of Proverbs we're given instruction concerning integrity. The idea of integrity has behind it a sense of fullness or completeness. Someone who walks in integrity is lacking in nothing. And it also carries with it the idea of genuineness, honesty, not only in word but also in deed. Someone who has integrity is real, they're not putting on a face, they're genuine and unchanging. They don't change with their circumstances. The verse above says that he who walks in integrity walks securely. Proverbs 11:3 says - "The integrity of the upright will guide them, but the crookedness of the treacherous will destroy them." Here integrity is contrasted with crookedness. And Proverbs 2:7 says, concerning God - "He stores up sound wisdom for the upright; He is a shield to those who walk in integrity." So those who walk in integrity walk securely, they have guidance and they have God as their shield.
A great example of integrity in the Bible is found in the life of Job. In fact, the word integrity is used more often to describe Job than anyone else in Scripture. The Lord used the word integrity to describe Job after He had allowed Satan to test him severely by taking away his children and possessions. Job 2:3 says - "The LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job? For there is no one like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man fearing God and turning away from evil. And he still holds fast his integrity, although you incited Me against him to ruin him without cause.”" That's true integrity, not wavering in the event of difficult circumstances. When Jobs circumstances were well Job prayed and offered sacrifices to the Lord, and when his circumstances were terrible we're told that he worshiped God. Though his circumstances changed he did not. This is what Job pointed out to his wife further on in that same chapter. In verses 9 and 10 we read - "Then his wife said to him, “Do you still hold fast your integrity? Curse God and die!” But he said to her, “You speak as one of the foolish women speaks. Shall we indeed accept good from God and not accept adversity?” In all this Job did not sin with his lips." And later in the book Job uses the word integrity to describe himself. He says in Job 27:5 - "Far be it from me that I should declare you right; Till I die I will not put away my integrity from me."
In chapter 31 Job spells out his integrity, and he really gives us a very full picture of what true integrity looks like lived out. There he says - "I have made a covenant with my eyes; How then could I gaze at a virgin? And what is the portion of God from above Or the heritage of the Almighty from on high? Is it not calamity to the unjust And disaster to those who work iniquity? Does He not see my ways And number all my steps? If I have walked with falsehood, And my foot has hastened after deceit, Let Him weigh me with accurate scales, And let God know my integrity. If my step has turned from the way, Or my heart followed my eyes, Or if any spot has stuck to my hands, Let me sow and another eat, And let my crops be uprooted.If my heart has been enticed by a woman, Or I have lurked at my neighbor’s doorway, May my wife grind for another, And let others kneel down over her. For that would be a lustful crime; Moreover, it would be an iniquity punishable by judges. For it would be fire that consumes to Abaddon, And would uproot all my increase. If I have despised the claim of my male or female slaves When they filed a complaint against me, What then could I do when God arises? And when He calls me to account, what will I answer Him? Did not He who made me in the womb make him, And the same one fashion us in the womb? If I have kept the poor from their desire, Or have caused the eyes of the widow to fail, Or have eaten my morsel alone, And the orphan has not shared it (But from my youth he grew up with me as with a father, And from infancy I guided her), If I have seen anyone perish for lack of clothing, Or that the needy had no covering, If his loins have not thanked me, And if he has not been warmed with the fleece of my sheep, If I have lifted up my hand against the orphan, Because I saw I had support in the gate, Let my shoulder fall from the socket, And my arm be broken off at the elbow. For calamity from God is a terror to me, And because of His majesty I can do nothing.If I have put my confidence in gold, And called fine gold my trust, If I have gloated because my wealth was great, And because my hand had secured so much; If I have looked at the sun when it shone Or the moon going in splendor, And my heart became secretly enticed, And my hand threw a kiss from my mouth, That too would have been an iniquity calling for judgment, For I would have denied God above. Have I rejoiced at the extinction of my enemy, Or exulted when evil befell him? No, I have not allowed my mouth to sin By asking for his life in a curse. Have the men of my tent not said, ‘Who can find one who has not been satisfied with his meat’? The alien has not lodged outside, For I have opened my doors to the traveler. Have I covered my transgressions like Adam, By hiding my iniquity in my bosom, Because I feared the great multitude, And the contempt of families terrified me, And kept silent and did not go out of doors? Oh that I had one to hear me! Behold, here is my signature; Let the Almighty answer me! And the indictment which my adversary has written, Surely I would carry it on my shoulder, I would bind it to myself like a crown. I would declare to Him the number of my steps; Like a prince I would approach Him.If my land cries out against me, And its furrows weep together; If I have eaten its fruit without money, Or have caused its owners to lose their lives, Let briars grow instead of wheat, And stinkweed instead of barley. The words of Job are ended."
This is an amazing and challenging testimony. Job talks about his sexual purity, hospitality, generosity, not trusting in wealth, not wishing evil upon his enemies, and on and on the list goes. I challenge you to read through this passage several times and compare yourself with Job. Can you describe your life in the same way that Job described his? Can you truly say that you are walking in integrity?
Psalm 26:1 - "Vindicate me, O LORD, for I have walked in my integrity, And I have trusted in the LORD without wavering."
Psalm 25:21 - "Let integrity and uprightness preserve me, For I wait for Thee."
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