Integrity.
How do you define integrity?
Merriaum-Webster.com has three definitions for integrity.
- Firm adherence to a code of especially moral or artistic values: incorruptibility
- An unimpaired condition: soundness
- The quality or state of being complete or undivided: completeness
Do any of these definitions align with your own?
Who has taught you the most about the definition of integrity?
If you were to measure yourself on a scale of one to ten, with one being least and ten being greatest, how strong is your personal integrity?
We’ll come back to these questions after considering a narrative about the reign of Jehu from 2 Kings.
Are You a Person of Integrity?
A Study of 2 Kings 10:18-33
Then Jehu assembled all the people and said to them, “Ahab served Baal a little, but Jehu will serve him much. 19 Now therefore call to me all the prophets of Baal, all his worshipers and all his priests. Let none be missing, for I have a great sacrifice to offer to Baal. Whoever is missing shall not live.” But Jehu did it with cunning in order to destroy the worshipers of Baal.[1]
Who is Jehu? (See 1 Kings 19:16 and 2 Kings 9:1-5.)
Why is Jehu cunningly preparing to destroy the worshipers of Baal? (See 1 Kings 18:16-19; 19:15-18; 22:52-53 and 2 Kings 9:7-10.)
And Jehu ordered, “Sanctify a solemn assembly for Baal.” So they proclaimed it. 21 And Jehu sent throughout all Israel, and all the worshipers of Baal came, so that there was not a man left who did not come. And they entered the house of Baal, and the house of Baal was filled from one end to the other. 22 He said to him who was in charge of the wardrobe, “Bring out the vestments for all the worshipers of Baal.” So he brought out the vestments for them. [2]
How extravagantly did Jehu prepare for this cunning ruse? Why?
Then Jehu went into the house of Baal with Jehonadab the son of Rechab, and he said to the worshipers of Baal, “Search, and see that there is no servant of the Lord here among you, but only the worshipers of Baal.” 24 Then they went in to offer sacrifices and burnt offerings. [3]
Do you think the worshipers of Baal suspected Jehu acted in a cunning manner to destroy them at this point? Why or why not?
Now Jehu had stationed eighty men outside and said, “The man who allows any of those whom I give into your hands to escape shall forfeit his life.” 25 So as soon as he had made an end of offering the burnt offering, Jehu said to the guard and to the officers, “Go in and strike them down; let not a man escape.” [4]
So when they put them to the sword, the guard and the officers cast them out and went into the inner room of the house of Baal, 26 and they brought out the pillar that was in the house of Baal and burned it. 27 And they demolished the pillar of Baal, and demolished the house of Baal, and made it a latrine to this day. [5]
Why did Jehu wait until after he offered a burnt offering to Baal before issuing an order to strike down the Baal worshipers?
Again, why did Jehu take these actions against the Baal worshipers?
28 Thus Jehu wiped out Baal from Israel. 29 But Jehu did not turn aside from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, which he made Israel to sin—that is, the golden calves that were in Bethel and in Dan. 30 And the Lord said to Jehu, “Because you have done well in carrying out what is right in my eyes, and have done to the house of Ahab according to all that was in my heart, your sons of the fourth generation shall sit on the throne of Israel.”[6]
How was Jehu a person of integrity according to God’s assessment?
But Jehu was not careful to walk in the law of the Lord, the God of Israel, with all his heart. He did not turn from the sins of Jeroboam, which he made Israel to sin.
32 In those days the Lord began to cut off parts of Israel. Hazael defeated them throughout the territory of Israel: 33 from the Jordan eastward, all the land of Gilead, the Gadites, and the Reubenites, and the Manassites, from Aroer, which is by the Valley of the Arnon, that is, Gilead and Bashan. [7]
How did Jehu stumble in his integrity?
What happened because of Jehu’s failure to maintain a wholehearted integrity in worshipping the Lord?
Are You a Person of Integrity?
Personal Application
Based on the narrative of Jehu, how does God define integrity?
Merriam-Webster.com has three definitions for integrity.
- Firm adherence to a code of especially moral or artistic values: incorruptibility
- An unimpaired condition: soundness
- The quality or state of being complete or undivided: completeness
Which of these definitions aligns with God’s definition of integrity?
Who has taught you the most about how to live with integrity?
What grade on a scale of one to ten, with one being the least and ten being the greatest, what grade would God give you for your integrity?
Now consider a passage from the New Testament.
One Sabbath, when he went to dine at the house of a ruler of the Pharisees, they were watching him carefully. 2 And behold, there was a man before him who had dropsy. 3 And Jesus responded to the lawyers and Pharisees, saying, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath, or not?” 4 But they remained silent. Then he took him and healed him and sent him away. 5 And he said to them, “Which of you, having a son or an ox that has fallen into a well on a Sabbath day, will not immediately pull him out?” 6 And they could not reply to these things. [8]
How does Jesus show both integrity and authority? Mercy?
Why couldn’t the lawyers and Pharisees reply?
From the study above about Jehu and the example from Jesus, what is the point God wants humanity to learn about him?
Is there anything in your daily life that you need to change so that you are worshipping God wholeheartedly with integrity?
How will you encourage others in your life to see the Lord as both righteous and merciful?
Heavenly Father, most holy one, enable us to live in this world with a heart of integrity that also knows when to extend mercy, just like your son Jesus showed us. May we seek ways to mend bridges and hearts with tenderness while remaining firm that You alone deserve our worship. Forgive us when we stumble, Lord, and help us forgive those who hurt us when they stumble. Realign our hearts each day as we arise to the tasks You prepared for us while we wait to join You in eternity.
Warmly,
Barbara Lynn
[1] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), 2 Ki 10:18–19.
[2] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), 2 Ki 10:20–22.
[3] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), 2 Ki 10:23–24.
[4] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), 2 Ki 10:24–25.
[5] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), 2 Ki 10:25–27.
[6] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), 2 Ki 10:28–30.
[7] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), 2 Ki 10:31–33.
[8] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Lk 14:1–6.