"And if thou wilt walk before me, as David thy father walked, in integrity of heart, and in uprightness, to do according to all that I have commanded thee, and wilt keep my statutes and my judgments:" (I Kings 9:4)
One word has kept going through my mind this afternoon and evening: integrity. So, with your indugence I would like to spend a few moments with this virtue. Integrity.
As I was growing up my father taught me about the importance of keeping your word. I saw him keep his promises to others at his own expense if necessary. I have mentioned before that he raised me to live by the code of the knights. This was a natural outgrowth of that upbringing - to be a man of your word. Of course my dad was far from perfect - especially in the definition of today's churches. But one thing you could count on: if my father looked you in the eye, shook your hand, and gave you his word on something, he would literally move heaven and earth to accomplish it. Or die trying. I have my dad to thank for that virtue I possess.
Following farther in his footsteps, I joined the U.S. Army. My nearly ten years served in the service was during the end of the Cold War. I was a military police sergeant. Along with all the basic training and advanced training in law enforcement, I also received additional (voluntary) training in Special Forces Psychological Warfare. That's a really fancy name for teaching me to be a professional liar in the name of defending our nation. We learned how to right and distribute propaganda, how to get into peoples' minds (even entire cities and countries) and influence how they (re-)interpreted actions that had been taken.
Having said that, one thing the military was big on was integrity. We learned the phrase: "Learn it, live it, love it." What we were taught was ingrained so deeply that we could disassemble and reassemble our weapons in our sleep. We could identify enemy personnel from a distance (this was long before the electronic weaponry they have now) and take decisive action quickly - with no regrets and no second-guessing. Our training had become second-nature. It had become integrated into our very physical, emotional, and mental systems. Integrated - made one with, same. So naturally that's how I have always interpreted scriptural references to integrity: integrated. Our beliefs and religious training had become so much a part of us we didn't even think before we acted. We were religious robots.
Then comes along this passage where God is speaking to Solomon about how he should conduct his life with integrity just like his father, David. But wait a minute! David had his faults. He sinned. He wasn't perfect. He certainly wasn't a religious robot! What did God mean, then? The word used for "integrity" in this verse means "completeness, fullness, simplicity, innocence." How did David live a life of integrity when he committed so many sins?
He was pure enough in heart to confess his sins to God, repent, and move on in obedience in love. He had a heart of worship, a spirit of praise, and a gentle spirit deep inside. Sure he could kill his ten thousands when the situation called for it. Yet it was done to protect the dignity and honor of the One He loved: God. His love for God was so pure and his spirit so innocent of any evil toward Him that he (David) would not stand for anyone belittling, condemning, or trying to bring dishonor to God or His Name. Because of that love for God, David was the same about protecting those called by God's Name. His love for God and the Israeli people was so deep he would do whatever it took to protect them.
My prayer is that our love for God would grow so deep! So deep that we cannot stand to hear someone mock God or dismiss Him. That we would be so holy and so deeply convinced that we would stand up in righteous indignation and defend His honor, His Name, and His people. In these last days, as never before, we need each other and we must live lives of integrity. Of completeness, of fullness, of simplicity, and of innocence.
I encourage you today, my friend, to get alone with God and re-confess your love for Him. Ask Him to show you where you have neglected your relationship with Him and His Son, Jesus Christ. Put away any animosity, any hurt, any anger, anything that stands between you and the Savior. This might sound silly, but forgive Him for the (perceived) hurts He has caused you. Tell Him out loud that you forgive Him and that you are sorry for allowing this to come between you and Him. Let His love flow over those hurts and wounds, allow Him to heal your spirit, and let Him draw you in closer to His side.
Be blessed.
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