Integrity

The article this week is drawn from the lectionary reading for Psalm 26.

Integrity is a great theme for all of the lectionary readings this week. The Old Testament lesson from Job is particularly interesting, for it deals with the question about whether God has the power to make us love him for the sake of love itself, not for any reward. Even when God is silent on the matter and it appears that he has totally forgotten us; it is the human response that persists in integrity to love God, not matter what, that is so interesting and raises so many theological questions. It is also this integrity that is picked up again in the psalm.

The psalm begins, "Vindicate me, O God, for I have walked in my integrity, and I have trusted in the Lord without wavering." The writer of the psalm is evidently in some kind of trouble, perhaps surrounded by enemies. He does not say, "Vindicate me from my enemies," but this is certainly the meaning. The sense is that I am in trouble, but I have remained faithful. Come and save me from this mess that I am in.

Then comes an invitation to look on the heart. "Prove me, O Lord, and try me; test my heart and mind." Not many of us could bear the close scrutiny of God's searching of our hearts. The hymn, "Search Me, O God," is helpful at this point: "Search me, O God, and know my heart today; Try me, O Savior, know my thoughts, I pray. See if there be some wicked way in me; cleanse me from every sin and set me free." The desire to be set free from sin that is present in the hymn is also present in the psalm.

The psalmist then rejects the problems he sees with the wicked: "I do not sit in the company of evildoers'" (idolators?), "and I will not sit with the wicked." He wants to be counted among the faithful and those who worship the one true God.

Then come the positive things he does for the Lord. He performs all the proper rituals, tells people about the wonderful deeds of the Lord, and states, "I love the house in which you dwell." Rarely does any psalm writer say simply, "I love the Lord." Perhaps it is thought to be presumptuous to say such a direct thing. The psalmists will instead say things like, "I Love your house, O God," or "I love your law, O God." It becomes a matter of obedience to God's will. Only later when we see the intimate relationship between Jesus and the heavenly Father do we find direct references of love.

The psalmist concludes once again by stating, "I walk in my integrity." Is he being a bit defensive? Perhaps just a tiny bit. It is an invitation for God to see that he is doing the right things, and to step in and intervene on his behalf. Almost a hint of a whine is present, like that of Bob in the movie, "What About Bob?" in which the character pleads, "I'm doing the work, I'm baby-stepping."

The whole psalm begs the question, "What is true integrity?" If Job is taken into account, and I think that it should be, the answer to that question has something to do with loving God for God's own sake, not with any other motive, such as seeking some kind of heavenly reward, or even seeking relief from your daily problems. The love of God should stand on its own merit; that is true integrity of the human spirit. When we are able to do that, God proves that his love has changed us, and we are not the same as we once were. We are truly saved; not just saved from sin, but saved from ourselves, our selfishness and pride.

Go, walk in integrity. Love God for himself.

Blessings,

Terry