4 truths for the servant of God pursuing integrity in 2024
I. Our God Is a God of Integrity
Psalm 15:1 - O LORD, who may abide in Your tent? Who may dwell on Your holy hill?
A. God is characterized by holiness
B. He requires His people to be like Him
Leviticus 19:1-2 - Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying: “Speak to all the congregation of the sons of Israel and say to them, ‘You shall be holy, for I the LORD your God am holy.’”
II. Our Integrity Is a Mark of the Whole Person
Psalm 15:2 - He who walks with integrity, and works righteousness, and speaks truth in his heart.
A. Our works
James 1:22 - But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves.
B. Our heart
Matthew 23:25-28 - Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside they are full of robbery and self-indulgence. You blind Pharisee, first clean the inside of the cup and of the dish, so that the outside of it may become clean also. Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which on the outside appear beautiful, but inside they are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness. So you, too, outwardly appear righteous to men, but inwardly you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.
III. Our Relationships Will Display Our Level of Integrity
Psalm 15:3-5a - He does not slander with his tongue, nor does evil to his neighbor, nor takes up a reproach against his friend; In whose eyes a reprobate is despised, but who honors those who fear the LORD; He swears to his own hurt and does not change; He does not put out his money at interest, nor does he take a bribe against the innocent.
IV. Our Stability in Life Is Linked to Our Integrity
Psalm 15:5b - He who does these things will never be shaken.
James 1:2-4 - Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
This is our last sermon of the year on this last day of the year.
If you are anything like most folks you have probably spent some time over the last few days reflecting on 2023 and thinking about all the changes you would like to make in 2024.
As most folks reflect on the previous year they make some reactionary type of resolutions they would like to make in the next year.
Drank too much soda, then next year I will eliminate soda.
Ate too much fast food, next year lets cook dinner at home every night of the week.
Too much TV, let’s read 100 books next year
Bad grades, get good grades.
In fact according to Forbes magazine here are the most common New Year’s Resolutions made by folks.
Most common New Year’s Resolutions: (These can all come in on one slide at the same time)
Improve Fitness (48%)
Improve Finances (38%)
Improve Mental Health (36%)
Lose Weight (34%)
Improve Diet (32%)
Make Time for Loved Ones (25%)
Stop Smoking (12%)
Learn a new skill (9%)
Make for time for hobbies (7%)
Improve work life balance (7%)
Now I point out all of these resolutions not to poke fun at those who will make some New Year’s Resolutions, but to try to show you a common note about these.
They are generally reactive in nature.
Many times they are in an attempt to make you more attractive or seemingly more amazing.
Rarely are they carried through
Often they require a level of dedication that you lacked the year before and will most likely lack once February rolls around.
Whether you decide to do Resolutions or not, the reality is that we all need to grow in our integrity over the next year.
Today let’s look at
A Picture of God’s Servant for 2024
And lets look in Psalm 15 for 4 truths for the servant of God pursuing integrity in 2024
With these thoughts in mind would you take your Bible and turn with me to Psalm 15. That is page ____________ of the front section of the Bible in front of you.
Let’s Read:
Psalm 15 (NASB95)
A Psalm of David.
1 O Lord, who may abide in Your tent? Who may dwell on Your holy hill?
2 He who walks with integrity, and works righteousness, And speaks truth in his heart.
3 He does not slander with his tongue, Nor does evil to his neighbor, Nor takes up a reproach against his friend;
4 In whose eyes a reprobate is despised, But who honors those who fear the Lord; He swears to his own hurt and does not change;
5 He does not put out his money at interest, Nor does he take a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things will never be shaken.
This passage starts with a pretty big question:
“Who can abide in your tent, who can dwell in your holy hill.”
As you are sitting here today you may completely miss the significance of that question.
-There was obviously an Old Testament context to this question in the sense that God was physically and gloriously present in the tabernacle and later in the temple in a way that He is not currently present today.
-When we go to worship God on Sunday morning, we don’t go before a room to worship Him knowing that He is in the room either behind a closed door or behind a veiled curtain.
And while today we do not necessarily need to think about what kind of person can go to the tabernacle or the temple, there is a bigger question that is being asked here..
What kind of person does God allow into His presence?
Why? Because we all desire to physically be in His presence someday!
The rest of the chapter is spent in answering that question for us.
Verse 2 tells what that person must possess.
-It’s a person who is a person of integrity. Some who outwardly works righteously and inwardly is a truthful person.
-A good way to think if integrity is by thinking of an individual who is both consistently righteous on the outside and on the inside.
-It is the idea of being a whole person or a complete person in the sense that the entirety of the individual is defined by righteousness and a desire to do what is righteous.
-So, the answer to the question, “Who can dwell with God” is really answered in verse 2 and the answer is that it is the person of integrity.
And then verse 3-5 begin to describe what a person of integrity looks like.
There are eight descriptive lines that follow verse two that help us get a picture of what kind of person this is.
-These descriptions are obviously not exhaustive, but they give a representative illustration of a blameless person.
-Now what is important to understand about these descriptions is that they are descriptions!
-These are not commands!
-Now these concepts are definitely prescribed or commanded in other places in the Scriptures but here they are simply given as a picture.
-But why?
-The Psalms often do this. Instead of just commanding us to do something, the Psalms often have the purposes of causing the reader to reflect, to consider, and to examine ourself.
-These descriptions are to cause us to ponder and consider whether we are this kind of person and they help us think about where we need to continue to grow in godliness.
-This is obviously not a list of things to do in order to be saved. The Scripture teaches from beginning to end that salvation is by grace through faith, but these eight definitions do help us evaluate the direction and condition of our lives.
Now join me friend as we consider, 4 truths for the servant of God pursuing integrity in 2024
The first truth we must understand is that…
I. Our God is a God of integrity
If we going to spend so much time talking about integrity we should probably spend a bit of time defining what integrity is.
Integrity – perfect, without fault, free of blemish.
Who better to define integrity than God Himself. We need to spend some time unpacking this perfect example of integrity as we think through these verses..
The question in verse 1 automatically assumes the authors recognition of the superiority of the integrity of God as found through the descriptions of being in God’s presence.
Psalm 15:1 O LORD, who may abide in Your tent?
Who may dwell on Your holy hill?
This verse is pointing toward the pilgrimage that would have happened to Mount Zion or God’s holy hill.
“The complementary usage of “sanctuary” and “your holy hill” suggests the background of a pilgrimage to Mount Zion, God’s holy hill. There David had first placed a tent for the ark of the covenant (cf. 2 Sam 6:1–19). On that site the tent was later replaced by the magnificent temple of Solomon. The word “tent” is a technical term for the tabernacle of God among Israel. (Willem A. VanGemeren, “Psalms,” in The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs, ed. Frank E. Gaebelein, vol. 5 (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1991), 148.)
In other words from the Psalmist’s perspective, who will be best suited to be in the presence of God at the tabernacle or the temple in God’s holy hill.
What makes this hill holy in their mind?
It is the place of dwelling for God and …
God is characterized by holiness
The idea of holiness surrounds the idea of being completely set apart for something greater.
In other words, God is so different for creation He is set apart to be in a state of perfection.
This perfection is something that is overwhelming for us to even consider.
God has not been influenced by sinful thinking.
God will never be influenced by sinful thinking.
God is not capable of sinful thinking because He is holy and completely set apart to be fully blameless.
If we could ever see the holiness of God it would overwhelm us with the thoughts of His splendor.
Consider this description from the propehet Isaiah of the holiness of God.
Isaiah 6:1–7 (NASB95)
1 In the year of King Uzziah’s death
King Uzziah was a good king in Judah
He had been king for 52 years
The people would have had reason to be nervous in the face of a new reality of a new leader coming.
I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, lofty and exalted, with the train of His robe filling the temple.
2 Seraphim stood above Him, each having six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew.
3 And one called out to another and said, “Holy, Holy, Holy, is the LORD of hosts, The whole earth is full of His glory.”
4 And the foundations of the thresholds trembled at the voice of him who called out, while the temple was filling with smoke.
5 Then I said, “Woe is me, for I am ruined! Because I am a man of unclean lips, And I live among a people of unclean lips; For my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts.”
6 Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a burning coal in his hand, which he had taken from the altar with tongs.
7 He touched my mouth with it and said, “Behold, this has touched your lips; and your iniquity is taken away and your sin is forgiven.”
*Explain this passage in more detail.
What happens in this passage?
Isaiah is given a glimpse at the holiness of God and he is completely overwhelmed.
He cannot help but reflect on the fact that he is no where close to the holiness of God
He cannot help but recognize that in comparison with God’s holiness his personal depravity is exposed.
Sometimes in the midst of a group of sinners we can try to hide behind the mask of being a little bit less depraved than the person sitting next to us,
But in contrast with the holiness of God then every single bit of our sinful thoughts, desires, and actions are on full display.
I fear that for many with the church, we find way too much comfort in comparing our lives with those around us to try to cover the reality that in the presence of a holy God we are a wicked wretch.
I fear too often instead of trying to be holy like who has called you is holy, we strive to be more holy than the person to our right or left.
Or we strive to be a bit more holy than those who completely reject God and consider it enough.
Here is the thing we must remember, God is holy and …
He requires His people to be like Him
“Who may dwell on Your Holy Hill”
The Psalmist’s question seems at first to be about who can go on this pilgrimage, but it does not take long to realize that the context is pointing to something far deeper than just a taberacle or a mountain.
“John 4:23–24 (NASB95)
23 “But an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers. 24 “God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”
*Explain John 4 better.
Leviticus 19:1–2
1 Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying:
2 “Speak to all the congregation of the sons of Israel and say to them, ‘You shall be holy, for I the LORD your God am holy.
Here is the understanding that a student of the Pentatuech would have understood. Certainly a student of the New Testament should also understand this idea as well.
It is not enough for us to recognize that God is Holy and we are not.
This realization should lead us to conviction.
That conviction should lead us to salvation.
Salvation leads us to justification.
Justification leads us to sanctification,
Sanctification leads us to strive to live like God.
So we seek to be holy because He is holy.
Not to earn His favor but because despite our failure he chose to show His favor on us and offered His Son to redeem us.
This thought of God’s holiness and His expectation that I should be puruing living in His holiness points me to the second point.
II. Our integrity is a mark of the whole person
Ok, so who can be in the presence of a Holy God?
Psalm 15:2 He who walks with integrity, and works righteousness,
And speaks truth in his heart.
“The “blameless” walk is the manner of life characterized by integrity. The word tāmîm signifies a moral way of life. It is not synonymous with “perfect” but with an attitude of the heart desirous of pleasing God (cf. 18:24; 101:2, 6; 119:1; Matt 5:48; Eph 1:4; Col 1:22). Noah was such a man (Gen 6:8), as was Abraham (Gen 17:1). The walk of integrity was required both before the Flood and before the law was revealed at Sinai. Regardless of what God requires, the blameless man does God’s will on earth.” (Willem A. VanGemeren)
What are some of the things that point towards a person being a person of integrity.
Well, let’s start by seing the things that point to a person’s integrity.
Our works
James 1:22
22 But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves.
It is possible for a person to demonstrate some high standards of integrity through their life, but then in the end it is revealed that it is a show.
This is why our works can show people where our heart is but in the end it cannot be the final thing by which our integrity is judged.
Have you ever gone to the store to pick out the perfect watermelon?
You look for the one that has all the indicators of being juicy and perfect inside.
For most of us a sign that says “delicious watermelon, 4.99”
Maybe you pick it up and shake it while listening for sloshing sound inside.
Maybe you smell it as if you are the most incredible melon tracker
Mayber you have learned to flick it listening for the perfect hollow but not to hollow sound.
And then you drive home thinking about the juice from this delicous watermelon running down your arm.
Only to cut it open and find it is about as moist as a chicken breast in the hands of an amateur cook or a swab of cotton packed in the back of your mouth.
It looked great.
It sounded great.
It smelled great.
In the end it was not great.
Your works should be an indicator of your heart. But if your works are never demonstrating integrity than it would be safe to assume that your heart is not full of integrity.
The biggest indicator of your integrity should be …
Our heart
There is a common phrase when it comes to integrity that everyone likes to quote and it goes something like this.
Integrity is doing what is right even when NO ONE is watching.
And that’s true. When someone is alone, their actions often change.
But there is another definition that shows the other side, and the saying is something like this.
Integrity is doing what is right even when EVERYONE is watching.
When someone is living in a fragmented way. When they are trying to conceal their true heart motivations and cover them us with righteous deeds so that others won’t see their hypocrisy, God has a way of revealing that.
Matthew 23:25–28
25 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside they are full of robbery and self-indulgence.
26 “You blind Pharisee, first clean the inside of the cup and of the dish, so that the outside of it may become clean also.
27 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which on the outside appear beautiful, but inside they are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness.
28 “So you, too, outwardly appear righteous to men, but inwardly you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.
The Pharisees were being described in so many different ways here to illustrate the lack of heart of content.
You ever go to a restaurant and get a plate of food.
After you eat about half of the food you discover that there is something stuck inside of the bowl from the last persons meal?
What is the most important part of running the dish room in a dining establishment?
It is making sure the part of the dish that comes in contact with the food is clean.
What good is it if on Easter you pull out Grandma’s china and polish off the outside and make sure it is shiny and amazing, but you never rinsed the Thanksgiving meal out of the dish?
Have you ever considered how beautiful some caskets are?
They are shiny on the outside.
They truly are pieces of mastery by a skilled craftsman.
But inside they are all full of a body that is in the process of decay.
You might think that this casket is the most incredible thing, but in reality you would not want to open it up.
Now let’s apply it to us today.
It is really easy to spend all of our spiritual energy on trying to polish the outside of the dish or put another coat of stain on a box that contains a rotting corpse.
How does this work?
We become Christian robots?
I put on my Sunday clothes
I polish my Sunday shoes.
I part my hair just right
I carry my Sunday Bible
I have my Sunday smile
I go to my Sunday School
I sit like a robot
I sing like a robot
I might even practice some of the proper positioning of my hands during worship.
But deep down inside I (and probably those closest to you the rest of the week) know that I am still full of the vile filth of a unclean dish.
Friend are you defined as a person of integrity on the whole level, or just the parts others can see.
Are you full of integrity or just an actor on display?
There are some other indicators of integrity.
III. Our relationships will display our level of integrity
Psalm 15: 3-5a
3 He does not slander with his tongue,
Nor does evil to his neighbor,
Nor takes up a reproach against his friend;
4 In whose eyes a reprobate is despised,
But who honors those who fear the LORD;
He swears to his own hurt and does not change;
5 He does not put out his money at interest,
Nor does he take a bribe against the innocent.
Look at verse 3 again.
One marker of a person of integrity is how you use your mouth.
A person of integrity does not gossip against others.
“Gossip is saying something about someone else (whether true or not) for the purpose of changing someone else’s opinion about the person.”
Did you hear that Pastor Johnny does not like cats? Not true, but if told to a cat lover they would have some pretty big opinions of me.
Did you hear that Pastor Johnny loves the Chicago Cubs? Very true, but spoken to a Cardinals fan it may result in an instant distrust of my judgment.
Now normally gossiping is on topics much more important than my feelings on felines or my ability to care about a bunch of loveable losers.
What else does a person of integrity seek to avoid with their tongue?
He does not seek to take sides and destroy those around them with their tongue.
You ever see people who are so determined to be right they will say cruel things against those who are in their way.
Like have you ever watched a political debate? Or an NBA game? Or teenagers who are working through problems in their own strength? Or adults who are mad at someone at their job?
If you are person of integrity you are seeking to avoid tearing others down and instead you are looking for ways to build them up with your words.
I must tell you the contrast with people who are actively pursuing integrity is refreshing in their communication.
Sure they still handle conflict by speaking the truth with love.
So instead of attacking the person they use their mouth to pursue peace with that person.
Instead of being critical of those who are in authority they are thankful for them instead.
Instead of seeking to destroy a perceived opponent, they look for opportunities to encourage them to do what is right by responding right.
Verse 4 can be tricky, but it is helpful to understand the first two lines of this verse contrasting one another. So those two verses are really in conjunction with together.
They say
In whose eyes a reprobate is despised,
But who honors those who fear the LORD;
Now the tricky part is the word reprobate. That is a word that we could really follow through the Bible and go down all sorts of rabbit trails of theology but in this context its meaning is actually straightforward.
The reprobate is one who is against God! It’s someone that is opposed to God’s ways and even opposed to the character of God. The person is obviously not someone of integrity.
Now the contrast here is that the person of integrity despises those who despise God but they honor those who fear God.
That doesn’t mean that they hate the reprobate or refuse to do good to them. No, not at all, we are called to even love our enemy.
But what this does mean is that a person of integrity holds highly the character of those who fear God and how they choose to live their life and they do not view a person who despises God in that same way.
They don’t want to be like the person who hates God, but they most definitely want to honor and imitate the one who does fear God.
What kind of person do I want to be like?
What kind of person do I want my kids to look up to?
Are we finding our sources of inspiration from a reprobate who despises God, lives in a way completely contrary to God’s Word, but is rich, famous, gorgeous, or funny so we will overlook all the ways they live opposite God.
Or are we looking for people who are willing to take cultural hits in order to continue to live in a way that is pleasing to God?
IV. Our stability in life is linked to our integrity
Psalm 15:5b He who does these things will never be shaken.
What does it mean that a person of integrity will never be shaken?
No matter what comes your way a person of integrity will continue to live in integrity.
James 1:2–4
2 Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials,
3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.
4 And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
Why do so many resolutions only last for a few weeks?
Because the person was not changed to the innerperson.
So the person on the Keto diet rocks it until the Valentines treats come.
The financial commitment lasts until there is some new want that becomes a perceived need.
The person of integrity though will stay true to being = perfect, without fault, free of blemish.
When illness comes they will walk in the same way.
When financial struggles come…
When things are going well …
When things are going poorly …
When relationships are falling apart …
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