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Integrity Proverbs 11 June 27, 2004 Background A. The Proverbs: its name 1. Proverbs comes from the first word of the book in the Hebrew Book of Proverbs 2. Our English word: Latin words: Pro – verba meaning “For – words” and implies the condensed wisdom in the book. It can also mean “Up” words or positive words. B. The Proverbs: its structure 1. The first 6 verses are introductory. Beginning with verse 7 we have 10 father/son talks (1-9). Chapter 10 through 24 contains the proverbs of Solomon written down by Hezekiah’s men. 25 – 29 gives us a second collection of proverbs. Lastly, we meet three unknown men’s sayings: Agur and Lemuel in chapters 30 and 31. 2. So far we have discussed “The Beginning of Wisdom” (the fear of the Lord, what that means and how that plays out in our lives) and “Trust in the Lord With All Your Heart” (the role of the heart in spiritual life). C. The Proverbs: its nature “Proverbs are principles drawn from observation and not promises given by revelation.” D. Our chapter today begins with what makes God happy: integrity in public and personal justice. He hates in justice. 1. God first gives instruction about just weights and balances in Leviticus 19:35-37, and he gives a motive.“You shall do no wrong in judgment, in measures of length or weight or quantity. You shall have just balances, just weights, a just ephah, and a just hin: I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt. And you shall observe all my statutes and all my ordinances, and do them: I am the Lord.” I. What Integrity Means A. Integrity defined: Hebrew root – completeness; fullness; innocence; simplicity – i.e. integrity a. This word is translated in the AV as integrity 11, upright 2, uprightly 2, uprightness 2,venture 2, full 1, perfect 1, perfection 1, simplicity 1 b. This word in Prov. 11:3 is used 5 times in 5 verses. The other four times is all in the Book of Job. · “Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil? And still he holds fast to his integrity, although you incited Me against him to destroy him without cause.” Job 2:3 · “Then his wife said to him, “Do you still hold fast to your integrity? Curse God and die!” Job 2:9 · “Far be it from me That I should say you are right; Till I die I will not put away my integrity from me.” Job 25:5 · “Let me be weighed on honest scales, That God may know my integrity.” Job 31:6 · In the 24th Psalm, verses 3-5, David described the man of integrity when he said, “Who shall ascend into the hill of Jehovah? And who shall stand in his holy place? He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; Who hath not lifted up his soul unto falsehood, and hath not sworn deceitfully. He shall receive a blessing from Jehovah, and righteousness from the God of salvation.” c. Integrity is measured by what stays in place when everything is shaken by trial or blessing. d. Integrity is measured by what we do when no one is watching. B. Integrity associated with: a. Honesty in business (v. 1) b. Guidance (v. 3) c. Righteousness & eternal judgment (v. 4-6) d. Deliverance from trouble (ultimate judgment) e. Type and quality of our speech (9, 12-13) f. Blessing a city (11) g. Self-control (v. 13) h. Solomon begins by saying it is God’s delight (v. 1) II. What Destroys Integrity A. Pride (v. 1-3) a. The rule of self… when we exalt ourselves above law, rules, ethics, or the interest of others or we are just seeking to protect ourselves we run into the trap of pride… placing our will above God’s will. b. From pride come all the other problems in relationships and with personal character. So Proverbs says, “But with the humble is wisdom.” B. Perversity (v. 3b) a. It means crookedness and has to do with the nature of what is perverse. It isn’t straight. b. Titus 3:10 says something about how to deal with such people. “Reject a divisive man after the first and second admonition, knowing that such a person is warped and sinning, being self-condemned.” c. Usually, it takes a renewing of the mind following salvation for a person to get a grasp on what that really means. C. Trusting in Perishing Profits (v. 4) a. “Riches do not profit in the day of wrath.” Hebrew poetry says more than the sum of its parts. Look closely with me. Each line is a statement followed by a contrast until verses 7-8 which have the conjunction “and.” This leaves us to fill in the contrast. b. “The wicked” are the prideful. They have false balances and are perverse & unfaithful trusting in riches & setup to fall by their own wickedness and in the end they do not get what they want. Their expectations and hopes die with them in the grave. But the righteous are just beginning to get their expectation and hope for ever and ever. Verse 4 set this up. “Riches do not profit in the day of wrath, But righteousness delivers from death.” c. Wicked, prideful, unfaithful, hypocrite, devoid of wisdom… what does that person look like? He and she are very average. They have a moral twist because of being dead in there spiritual lives. III. What Integrity Does A. Gives guidance to the upright and blameless (v. 3a, 5a) a. Ps. 32:8 “I will guide you with mine eye.” b. John 16:13 “The Spirit of truth… will guide you…” What kind of guidance is left when we reject “truth”? c. Makes for some automatic decision making (e.g. Balaam a man bent on bending integrity with God). B. Gives us a hope beyond the grave (7-8) C. Makes us a blessing to the city (11) a. The blessings that come to the upright honors the city b. The upright blesses the city in which he lives c. This is a blessing in words and deeds per the context… D. Gives confidence: by keeping confidential information -- he keeps his word and the words of others (12-13) a. Look at first v. 12 1) It is dumb to despise your neighbor for practical reasons. E.g. A lack of safety and a lack of peace 2) You don’t really know it all this side of heaven 3) Roman 14 – don’t judge another man’s servant – the master is able to make him stand 4) James 4:11 – don’t speak evil of one another or you are speaking evil of the law – James won’t let us live in the illusion that we can be wrong with a brother and right with God. 5) John 7:24 – don’t judge by what you see (appearance) but use righteousness when judging 6) I Cor. 4:5 – don’t judge before the Lord reveals the hidden things of the heart 7) Clarification: means being judgmental not don’t be discerning… b. Pro. 15:4 “A wholesome tongue is a tree of life, but perverness in it breaks the spirit.” Sticks and stones may break my bones but words can hurt more than stones.” Some Observations: 1. If the integrity in our living does not flow from our worship and into our daily lives and conversations, then I suspect there is something wrong with the integrity of our worship. 2. Learning integrity is a process and takes a renewing of our minds (Romans 12:1-2). If you don’t enter this process you will fall victim to the same weakness of the Chinese reliance on the Great Wall. In the first 100 yrs. they were invaded 3 times because the gate keeper could be bribed. 3. Integrity is not balanced by love. It is full of love. There are not mutually exclusive. 4. Walking in integrity is walking in faith with God trusting that God’s word is true.
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