“And David shepherded them with integrity of heart; with skillful hands he led them.” (Psalm 78:72 NIV)
Integrity filled David’s heart.
Integrity, according to Webster’s, is:
“The entire, unimpaired state of anything, particularly of the mind; moral soundness or purity; incorruptness; uprightness; honesty. integrity comprehends the whole moral character, but has a special reference to uprightness in mutual dealings, transfers of property, and agencies for others.”
When a ship’s walls are secure and robust, they have integrity. However, if a hole punctures the boat, its integrity is breached. Water pouring through the hole is hard to stop; within minutes, the bottom begins to fill with water. How large the puncture is, determines how fast the boat sinks. Think of the Titanic when it hit the iceberg. Once touted as unsinkable, the ship didn’t take long to disappear underwater when the collision comprised the ship’s hull.
Just like the hull of a ship, once our integrity is compromised, it’s hard to fix. If you get a reputation for lying, stealing, and cheating, gaining back integrity in your life is complicated. When someone lies to me, I remember. The next time I have interactions with them, I doubt what they say. They are no longer a reliable source because you can’t believe them. Once gone, integrity is hard to recover.
God and David’s heart are the same.
David’s integrity links directly to his relationship with God. His devotion to the one true King paved the way for his pure heart. Willingly, he served God, followed His decrees, and did His bidding. As a result, he had a heart like God:
“I have found David, son of Jesse, a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do.” (Acts 13:22 NIV)
If you want a heart filled with integrity, follow God’s commands. Put into practice the things God tells us all to do. Integrity comes when we don’t lie, steal, cheat, or kill. In the face of opposition, we stand on the truth, trusting in its power.
Years ago, my husband and I played on a tennis team. Our captain was not a woman of integrity. Everything she said to get us to play on the team was not valid. The captain recorded scores for matches that we never played. We had no idea what we were getting into when we agreed to play. Because she had no integrity, she compromised ours. We left the team; I’ve never played for that league again. She destroyed our friendship over her lack of honesty. Trust is key to any relationship; without it, the relationship can’t exist. Just like a ship that sinks when the hull’s integrity is compromised, friendships fail without truth.
God knows our hearts. He searches them for iniquities. Through Him, integrity can fill our hearts.
Question of the Day:
Have you asked God to search your heart?
Further Reading: Jeremiah 10:1-11:23 NIV, Colossians 3:18-4:18 NIV, Psalm 78:56-72 NIV,
