Righteousness and Integrity

The Lord judges the peoples; judge me, O Lord, according to my righteousness

and according to the integrity that is in me.

Psalm 7:8

Psalm 7 is interesting in the fact that David is speaking in generalities and we do not know exactly what is taking place. Clearly there is a problem between him and someone or possibly multiple people. It seems that some accusation has been made against David of which he feels he is innocent. It also appears that those who have accused him want some sort of vindication. In the midst of this ordeal, David has only one place to turn, to the Lord.

As David makes his plea for help, he makes a bold assertion. He prays, “judge me, O Lord, according to my righteousness and according to the integrity that is in me.” David knows that he has no argument in the courts of man, so he takes his case straight to the Lord. David does not argue over a bunch of petty details but, makes one request – look at my righteousness and my integrity.

Obviously, David is not making a claim to sinless perfection. Scripture has clearly recorded for us David’s sins and shortcomings. However, David is making a claim to a pure and rightly directed heart. He is asking God to examine him because he knows that in this situation he has been a man of righteousness and integrity. He knows, that while he has failed in the past, he has handled this situation exactly as God would have him to.

As I consider David’s prayer it forces me to wonder how often can I make this same claim. When I deal with difficult situations, do I handle them with righteousness and integrity? Could I be so bold as to pray and ask God to simply look at my heart? Would my personal righteousness and integrity be enough to vindicate me?

As we consider the man that David has become, let us be inspired toward righteousness and integrity. Regardless of what the past has represented for us, it does not need to define our future. Just because there has not been a time in the past where we would have felt comfortable asking God to consider our righteousness and integrity does not mean we cannot grow to that point. Allow the growth of David to be an inspiration to you. Make a commitment today, to yourself and to the Lord, that you will become a man or a woman of righteousness and integrity.