Integrity & Service

Integrity & Service:

Psalm 101 is an absolute treasure from the Word of God.

Here are a few excerpts from this Davidic psalm:

2I resolve myself to behave prudently,

   in the way of truth…

I will walk with integrity of heart in my house.

3I will not set anything wicked

   before my eyes.

I hate the work of those

   who stray off course;

I will not allow it to cling to me.

5bThe pompous prig,

   and those full of smug egotism,

I cannot tolerate.

6bThe one who continues

   in the way of truth,

That is the one

   who shall serve.

Throughout the entire Bible the words serve and minister are synonymous. David wrote this song of praise to God in a way that revealed both David’s character -AND- the character of God.

Just like David, our deepest desire may truly be to behave prudently and walk in the way of truth and integrity. Unfortunately, just like David, we don’t have the ability, capacity, strength, resolve, skill, or inherent character to make that reality.

I don’t know if the “Bathsheba Incident” occurred before or after David wrote this particular psalm. If David committed adultery and murder before writing Psalm 101 it would appear that David is, in fact, the “pompous prig” and meandering hypocritical windbag he “cannot tolerate.”  If David committed adultery and murder after writing Psalm 101 it seems the author’s credibility would be seriously deficient.

Therein lies the beauty of Scripture. God inspired and used flawed and broken people to reveal God’s character and desire for humanity.

King David was an imperfect picture of the Holy One, the anticipated Messiah, who would come after and not swerve, not be unfaithful to His Bride, not allow evil to cling, not be a pompous prig or full of smug egotism, who would perpetually abide in the way of truth… and in doing so, He would be the ONE to serve/minister the Father in heaven and all humanity.

We can resolve all day long to quit smoking, lose weight, quit drugs, clean up our language, to be better people, etc, etc, but in the end we either fail at the task or become a prideful prig for having “overcome,” thus looking down at those who cannot muster the same resolve.

Jesus’ strength and victory were/are the natural expression of His intimacy and unity as an eternal member of the Holy Trinity.

At the Cross He served us perfectly by paying our sin-debt (past, present, and future) in full.

The empty tomb confirms His authority as Sovereign over all things - including sin and death.

We can continue to pursue things under our own limited and frail power and celebrate meaningless victories that merely inflate our own egos. The alternative is that we resolve to behave prudently and walk in the way of truth by the power of God Almighty; and in so doing we celebrate eternal victories that glorify God, and we become servants/ministers of His gospel, His mission, and His kingdom.

Psalm 101 is simultaneously a picture of humanity’s sin and frailty and a picture divine character and power.

We can resolve to continue in autonomy and self-righteousness, waste our lives, and secure an eternity of separation from God -OR- we can call upon Him who is our LORD and Savior to redeem us - perfectly and completely.

It doesn’t matter when David wrote the psalm because, whether before or after the “Bathsheba Incident,” God eventually wiped David’s slate clean. David’s debt was not only paid, but the righteousness of God became David’s.

David understood that reality when he wrote in Psalm 103:12, “as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.”

If the desire for integrity and service are upon your heart then God is at work there. Your part isn’t to do the work, but rather to yield and allow the Holy Spirit to do that which God alone can do.

Blessings,

Kevin M. Kelley

#KMKelley1968

amostunlikelydisciple.com