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We live in a sinful and dangerous world where bad things happen to good people
In times of sorrow, the faithless ask, “Where is thy God?” (Ps 42:3 & 10, 79:10, Joel 2:17)
Hold on to the hope of God’s countenance/presence (Ps 42:5& 11, Joshua 1:9, Rom. 4:20-
24, Num. 6:26)
To have integrity is to courageously hold to what is right and true without compromise, to stand
undivided, consistent, immovable, to be consistent in both heart and action, word and deed.
(see 1 Thess. 2:2) (Synonyms/Related Terms: Honesty, Uprightness, Principled, Complete,
Morally Sound) (Opposite: hypocrisy, Mark 7:6, Matt. 23:25-28)
I know, my God, that you test the heart and are pleased with integrity. (1 Chron.
29:17)
The man of integrity walks securely, but he who takes crooked paths will be found out.
(Prov. 10:9)
The integrity of the upright guides them, but the unfaithful are destroyed by their
duplicity. (Prov. 11:3)
Righteousness guards the man of integrity, but wickedness overthrows the sinner.
(Prov. 13:6)
He (God) stores up sound wisdom for the upright; He is a shield to those who walk in
integrity. (Prov 2:7)
Integrity draws people to you because they believe they can trust you
Integrity brings peace (i.e. a clear conscience) Mark the perfect man (Hebrew Word:
Tam = Man of Integrity), and behold the upright: for the end of that man is peace.(Ps.
37:37) (see also 1 Kings 9:4)
Integrity enables you to leave a good name. President Harry Truman used to say:
"Fame is a vapor, popularity an accident, riches take wings, those who cheer today
may curse tomorrow, only one thing endures -- character." Charles Spurgeon wrote, "A
good character is the best tombstone. Those who loved you, and were helped by you,
will remember you when forget-me-nots are withered. Carve your name on hearts, and
not on marble." Eccl.7:1 says, "A good name is better than precious ointment."
Truth faith that God is real and alive (1 Kings 22:14; Jer. 10:10)
Remembering that God is faithful and all-powerful. (Jer. 32:17-25, Ps. 119:49-50, Lam.
3:19-23)
God shall judge us according to our integrity (Ps. 7:8, Matt. 7:21-23).
Do you dare to ask what Job asked, “Let me be weighed in an even balance, that God
may know mine integrity”? (Job 31:6).
Job feared God (Job 1:1)
The Hebrew term here, yare, means revered and held in awe
It was also a reason for him to turn away from evil (Prov. 16:6)
If we dwell on what is evil, we are more likely to be enticed to commit sin (e.g. Looking at
pornography)
God also referred to Moses (Num. 12:7-8), David (Ps. 89:20) and Jesus in this way (Isa. 42:1)
Note that it was God who raised the issue of Job with Satan
God had a lesson to teach, both to men and angels! (Ezek. 40:4; Matt. 13:9)
Why was Job able to say “The Lord gives, and the Lord takes away”? (Job 1:21)
Because he understood that everything belongs to God, and what we have, we have only by
God’s grace (James1:17; Isa. 42:24; Matt. 20:15)
Why was Job able to say “Should we accept only good from God and not adversity”? (Job 2:10;
see also Lam. 3:38-39 and Heb. 12:9-11)
Perhaps he understood that all things work ultimately work to the good of those who love God
God can place a hedge of protection around us, or not. (Ps. 34:7; Ps. 80:12)
God does not perform evil, though he may allow it, within limits (Job 1:12; 2:7)
Why?