“…I will live with integrity of heart in my house.” – Psalm 101:2, ISV

On a trip to Turkey a few years ago, I got an opportunity to tour the Topkapi Palace – one of the world’s largest surviving palaces – built in the 15^th Century by Sultan Mehmed II.

At its prime, the palace was a fearsome place, with onerous regulations.

Any breach of the laws of the palace, including that of failing to maintain silence, would be punished with immediate death.  

A palace in ancient times played different roles – the seat of State power, a place for making laws, and a court house, a military headquarters in addition to being the monarch’s residence.

The king or monarch had the power to do anything he wished in his palace; he was not just above the law; he was the law.

To be summoned to the palace was as good as a death sentence at worst or a life-changing experience at best.

However, David made a determination that his palace would be different from those of the other kings that didn’t know God.

“…I will live with integrity of heart in my house,” he declares, after maintaining that he would be “careful to lead a blameless life.”

Did you know that ‘integrity’ is an engineering term?

To have integrity means to be whole – as in a ‘whole’ number (an ‘integer’).

When a bridge or building is said to have ‘integrity,’ it implies that it maintains its original shape, strength, design, and purpose, especially when under pressure.

A structure with ‘integrity’ is a cohesive whole, where all its elements work together harmoniously, giving it the ability to withstand tension, the force of the elements or turbulence.

“Till I die, I will not deny my integrity. I will maintain my innocence and never let go of it; my conscience will not reproach me as long as I live.”

When it comes to people, ‘integrity’ encompasses honesty, fairness, and a commitment to ethical living or behavior especially when under pressure, thus reflecting a person’s true character.

However, since the fall of man in the Garden of Eden, integrity has been in short supply.

We all face societal, professional, or peer pressures that can lead us to compromise our Christian, personal, community and family values.

David understood that being a person or leader of integrity would require a strong commitment to his principles and personal values, which can be extremely challenging for a person with power and in a world full of competing interests, expectations and motivations.

The Bible has some wise counsel in regard to integrity.

“Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but whoever takes crooked paths will be found out.” Provers 10:9.

“The integrity of the upright guides them, but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity.” (Proverbs 11:3).

God instructs and expects leaders to lead with a heart of integrity. 

As leadership guru John Maxwell says; the foundation for all leadership is trust, integrity and justice.

“Leaders must raise the standard; as the leader goes, so goes the organization,” he says.

Though the Pharisees hated our Lord Jesus with a passion, one thing they could not fault Him on was integrity.

“Teacher,” they said, “we know that you are a man of integrity and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. You aren’t swayed by others, because you pay no attention to who they are.” (Matthew 22:16, NIV).

In the Bible, I also greatly admire the attitude of a man of God called Job.

Despite everything that the enemy threw at him, Job asserted:

“Till I die, I will not deny my integrity. I will maintain my innocence and never let go of it; my conscience will not reproach me as long as I live.” (Job 27:5-6). Wow!

May this be our determination too. Amen!