Xanthe Hancox

“As for you, if you walk before me faithfully with integrity of heart and uprightness, as David your father did, and do all I command and observe my decrees and laws, I will establish your royal throne over Israel forever, as I promised David your father when I said, ‘You shall never fail to have a successor on the throne of Israel.’ 1 Kings 9:4-5

In today’s verse, God tells Solomon that he will bless him if he walks in the way of his father, David. Further on in the chapter he warns him that if he or his people turn from God, he will cut them off from the land he has given them. This took place after Solomon had finished building the house of the Lord and the King’s house; some 24 years after he came to the throne. The temple and the palace work at Jerusalem were finished and now Solomon had to deal with life after completing his greatest accomplishment.

Interestingly, God says that David was a man of integrity, and other scriptures state he is a man after God’s own heart (1 Samuel 13:14; Acts 13:22). Remember, these are descriptions of a husband who committed adultery and then had a man murdered (Read the story in 2 Samuel 11). The dictionary definition of integrity talks about an unimpaired condition, firm adherence to a code of moral values, or the quality or state of being complete or undivided, i.e. completeness. Not really the words you’d use to describe someone with David’s track record!

What, then, does it mean to have a heart of integrity?

Once David had realised his sin, he came before God and repented, saying, “Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.” (Psalm 51:10). You see, we are all sinners. We can wallow in the guilt of our sin or realise that we too can be called a people of integrity despite our sin because of Jesus’ finished work for us. Don’t let the conviction of sin keep you from living a joyful Christian life. Rather, let it lead you to repentance and joy in the grace of our merciful God.

Prayer: Lord, guard my heart from sin and temptation. Forgive me for the times I have allowed the guilt of my sin to keep me from repentance and a heart of integrity. Amen