Let integrity and uprightness preserve me, for I wait for You. Redeem Israel, O God out of all their troubles! (Psalm 25:21-22)
In Genesis 25, the Bible described Jacob as being a “temperate man” (some translations say “quiet man”) who dwelt in tents. This was juxtaposed with the description of Esau, described as a hairy, boisterous hunter, in other words, the exact opposite of Jacob. The Hebrew word that described Jacob as temperate is תם tam — which means “wholesome, complete, having integrity.“ The plural form of this word is used in Genesis 17 when God called Abraham to “walk before Me and be perfect (תמים tamim).” It would seem that, of the two brothers, it was Jacob who aspired to emulate his father and grandfather and who, in time, would be the man God called to bear the name and title, Israel.
I say title because the word Israel is comprised of two other words — ישר yashar and אל el . Together these words are translated as “upright (yashar) before God (el).” In other words, Jacob and his descendants, like Abraham, were called to walk in a way that was distinguished from all other peoples; they were charged with the responsibility to live in an upright manner before God and to be perfect and whole (tam). Therefore, it is not surprising that David invoked this concept when he said, “Let integrity (tam) and uprightness (yashar) preserve me.” Obviously, he understood how important these attributes were in regard to God’s people and their role in the Kingdom of Heaven.
But David also understood this — our hope for the future is in the LORD, the Redeemer of Israel, not necessarily our integrity. The word translated here as “wait” (קוה kavah) also means “to look for, expect and hope.” David understood, as Jacob and Abraham understood, that walking in integrity before God would not go unrewarded even though, at times, it was difficult to do so. To live up to the challenge given to His people would require commitment to these standards in good and bad times — especially in the bad times. But their expectation, their hope, was that the LORD would preserve the upright and deliver them from their troubles.
Likewise, you and I should have that same expectation and hope; but we should also strive to live up to the standards we speak of — to live upright before God in integrity. In the day of adversity, how we have lived our lives will matter, as it is written: “Blessed is the man whom You instruct, O Lord … that You may give him rest from the days of adversity … for the Lord will not cast off His people, nor will He forsake His inheritance” (Psalm 94:12-14).
Blessings and Shalom,
Bill
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