Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Integrity of the Whole

So yesterday we looked at God's description of Job. A man of blameless character, at least in comparison to all else who lived. Helpful  is this statement from the Expositors Commentary:
He was not sinless, for nobody can claim that distinction, but he was complete and mature in character and "straight" in conduct. The word translated "perfect" is related to "integrity," another important word in Job (2:3,9; 27:5; 31:6). People with integrity are whole persons, without hypocrisy or duplicity. In the face of his friends' accusations and God's silence, Job maintained his integrity, and the Lord ultimately vindicated him.
The author of Job was making it quite clear that compared to those around Job, he was above the rest. Notice these phrases:
Job 1:3
was the greatest of all the people of the east.
ESV
Job 1:8
that there is none like him on the earth
ESV
The Book of Job is about a man who is being tested not about his faith or integrity but about his love for God. As we will see in days to come the test of Job is more about Satan's accusation against God then about Job's faith.
 For today let's revisit the quote from Hendrickson and the Expositors Commentary. Do you agree with his definition of someone of integrity? How would you describe integrity? Here are some definitions:
  • an undivided or unbroken completeness or totality with nothing wanting; "

  • moral soundness;

  • wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn

  • Integrity as a concept has to do with perceived consistency of actions, values, methods, measures, principles, expectations and outcome. People use integrity as a holistic concept, judging the integrity of systems in terms of those systems' ability to achieve their own goals (if any). ...en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Integrity

  • Integrity then involves the totality of who we are, not just parts of us. In all areas, in all demonstrations we are to have integrity.
    Dear Heavenly Father, We know that only you are complete and full of integrity in all that you are. We are parts and pieces of what we were to be when you first created mankind in the Garden. Please help us to be put back together again, for your glory and our sakes. Amen. 

    A little plug for Horizon University and going to Bible College.  https://www.calvarychapelmagazine.org/heartland20221115/