Integrity Of Heart

'' Psalm 78 : 72 He chose David his servant and took him from the sheep pens; from tending the sheep he brought him to be the shepherd of his people Jacob, of Israel his inheritance. And David shepherded them with integrity of heart; with skillful hands he led them.''

Dear people of God, let us meditate on some Scriptures from 1 Samuel and learn how ''Integrity of heart'' is considered a vital factor, if God has to take us to the next level in our faith and assign us higher tasks and work through us.

'' 1 Samuel 17 :20 Early in the morning David left the flock with a shepherd, loaded up and set out, as Jesse had directed. He reached the camp as the army was going out to its battle positions.''

In this Scripture, we read about David, who, on his father's instructions goes to the camp, carrying the food that his father wanted to give to his brothers.
When David had set out to the camp, he had absolutely no clue that he would see a Goliath there.

He did not have a clue that he would be the one who will kill this giant, neither was he prepared for such a situation.

But when he goes to the camp and hears Goliath speaking against the armies of the Living God, David could not remain silent, as his heart was devoted to God.
And he begins to inquire with people around as to what was happening out there.

Dear people, that which was driving David's actions in this situation, is his integrity towards God.

''1 Samuel 17 : 26 Who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the Living God? ''

When he heard Goliath shouting defiance, and scaring Israelites, David could not remain silent.

And he seemed apparently unafraid at his gigantic size .

He kept his conscience right with God, and he takes up his stand without any hesitation.
And when people overheard him inquiring about the whole matter, this was reported to Saul, who then sends for David.

Then, without a shadow of doubt David assures Saul that he will go and fight Goliath.

'' 1 Samuel 17 :32 David said to Saul, ''Let no one lose heart on account of this Philistine; your servant will go and fight him.''

David did not step back for any reason.
Even when Saul tried to discourage him that he was incapable and that he was just a boy, and would not be able to defeat Goliath, David was upright in explaining his confidence.

Lets read what he says:

''1 Samuel 17 :34 - But David said to Saul, ''Your servant has been keeping his father's sheep. When a lion or a bear came and carried off a sheep from the flock, I went after it, struck it and rescued the sheep from its mouth.
When it turned on me, I seized it by its hair, struck it and killed it.
Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, because he has defied the armies of the Living God.

The Lord who delivered me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.''

In this portion of Scriptures, every word that David spoke reflects on his integrity of his heart.

He was only a boy tending sheep.
But, whenever any wild animal comes and carries off a sheep from the flock, he literally ran after that animal in order to rescue the sheep under his care, even without thinking about his life.

He used to keep his life at risk in order to guard that which was entrusted to him.

And he kept his trust totally in God.

Therefore God enabled him to struck down those wild animals.

Apparently, that wasn't an easy task, as we read, the bear would leave the sheep and turn to him to kill him.
Even then, David explains that he used to seize it by its hair and struck it and killed it.

Dear people, what we need to observe and applaud here is not the muscle power of David, but his integrity in doing what is right in order to safeguard that which was under his care.

David chose to do what is right in the eyes of the Lord, even if it were to face the wildest of animals, and he ensured that the sheep that was under his care were safe.

And since God was delighted in David's integrity, He granted him victory over the wildest of animals and enabled him to kill them.

We need to also understand something more here...

Although David kept His trust in God, did God prevent the lions and bears from attacking the sheep?

Did David anytime blame God for giving him threats from these animals?

Did he complain or leave his trust in God and became selfish, and let go of the sheep to be killed, in order to save himself?

Dear people, from this we need to learn that we should not grumble or turn away from God, when we face tough situations. We should not act selfish when we are taken through trials, but only do what is right to do.

God was training David's heart towards something bigger when He allowed these animals to attack the sheep. Because in God's plan, one day David is going to be a ruler of His people, Israel.

Therefore God was preparing him and using these attacks in building up David's character.


And when the right time came, God made him a way to go to the battle field to carry some food to his brothers. God has higher plans when He led David there. Because by then David's heart was thoroughly trained in all the aspects that God wanted him to have, and he was ready to face this giant and save the Israelites.

And eventually, when David expresses that he wants to fight against Goliath and approaches Saul, God enabled Saul to be favorable to him.

'' 1 Samuel 17 : 37 Saul said to David, '' Go, and the Lord be with you.''

''1 Samuel 17 : 38 -40 ''Then Saul dressed David in his own tunic. He put a coat of armour on him and a bronze helmet on his head. David fastened on his sword over the tunic and tried walking around, because he was not used to them. ''I cannot go in these,'' he said to Saul,

''because I am not used to them.'' So he took them off.

Then he took his staff in his hand, chose five stones from the stream, put them in his pouch of his Shepherd's bag and, with his sling in his hand, approached the Philistine. ''

Now, David was dressed up with royal attire, which he was not used to.

Yet, he did not feel great to be dressed in those garments.

Instead he wanted to just fight the way he fought the lion and saved the sheep.

For him, Goliath was another lion, another bear, who is attacking his God's people.

A God whom he worships.. and whom he fears!

''1 Samuel 17: 45, 46 David said to the Philistine, ''You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the Lord will hand you over to me, and I'll strike you down and cut off your head.''

David, but has taken only the name of the Lord when he marched against Goliath.

He trusted that it is the Lord alone who will deliver Goliath into his hands.

All David had was few stones in his hand, and his shepherd staff, and the weapon he boasted was only the '' Name of the Lord Almighty.''

Dear people, God doesn't want us to get carried away when people try to make us 'somebody,' and try to assign some importance to us.

We should not forget the purpose we are called for. And we should not turn our focus from our duties.

Lest those become too heavy on us that we miss out on the very agenda God has for us.

'' 1 Samuel 17:47 All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves; for the battle is the Lord's, and he will give all of you into our hands.''

''1 Samuel 17 : 50 David triumphed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone; without a sword in his hand he struck down the Philistine and killed him.''

Dear people, why then most of us long for having everything in place, when we face such Goliaths in life?

If just a stone could bring him down, if we hold on to our God, in integrity of our hearts, will He not bring down any giants blocking our way?

The battle is not ours, its the Lord's. Let God take over the battle for us. Let us only take His name and stand against the forces coming against us, let us not lose our trust in God and let not our hearts give away for the fear of the gigantic shadows trying to scare us in our walk with God.

Do not let integrity slip away in the multitudes of the armies of the enemies surrounding you. Or in the royal tunics of praise and fame that people try to assign you.

David discarded even the royal attire. He went boasting only in the name of the Lord.

And God used whatever David had in his hand to pull down this giant before him.

Many a time, we give up on integrity, feeling sorry for ourselves when we face tough situations in life, and we start thinking, if only the situations were something else, if only I had so many people around me, if only I had good friends to support me, if only I had enough money, if only my family gives me all the support I need...

most of us do think this way....don't we ?

But dear people, to be victorious, and to overcome, all we must uphold is our integrity towards our God.

We do not need any weapons or resources of this world.
When we take that step of faith in the integrity of our hearts, and keep our conscience right with God, God will bring down any giants blocking our way.

He will do the battles for us and make our ways smooth before us.

Do not let fear grip your hearts..

Do not let your eyes focus on the vast armies of the enemies around you..

Do not let your physical conditions pull you down...

David was only a boy, neither was he trained to fight armies in battle fields, but that one quality that made him a way, was his integrity.

God was pleased with the way he was taking care of the sheep.

God wanted his people Israel, to be cared in such a manner.

He loved Israel. He wanted a king who would protect them and shepherd them with care.

And when he saw David upholding his integrity in taking care of the sheep to the extent that he ran after those wild animals and protected the sheep, God was delighted, and wanted His people to be cared in a similar manner. And David won God's favor to be entrusted with His people.

God therefore made a way for David from tending sheep, to be a shepherd of His people Israel.

''Psalm 78 : 72 He chose David his servant and took him from the sheep pens; from tending the sheep he brought him to be the shepherd of his people Jacob, of Israel his inheritance. And David shepherded them with integrity of heart; with skillful hands he led them.''

Dear people, God has higher plans for each one of us.

If He were to consider us for greater tasks, we must prove right in the eyes of the Lord even in the smaller things He assigns us, and smaller situations or tests He takes us through.

If David would have neglected the sheep and left them to the lions, God would not have been pleased with him.

Many of us who are shepherds of God's people, fall away in this aspect of integrity.

When we start tasting the benevolence of God, His rich blessings start pouring out on us, we tend to become lax in upholding our integrtiy towards the one Who called us.

God will not be pleased if we do this.

''Jeremiah 50: 6, 7 My people have been a lost sheep; their shepherds have led them astray and caused them to roam on the mountains. They wander over mountain and hill and forgot their own resting place. Whoever found them devoured them; their enemies said, 'We are not guilty, for they sinned against the Lord, their true pasture, the Lord, the hope of their fathers.' ''

If you are one of those shepherds tending God's flock, you need to take this oppurtunity to chek around if all the sheep is in the pen.

If all the sheep that God entrusted to you is safe under your care...?

Are you upholding your integrity towards your Master, and taking care of each one of them with the Truth that you were expected to share from His word...?

Or is anyone wandering about, and if the enemy is devouring them...?

if any of the sheep is being led astray because of your mistake ?

Just because there are tough situations around, are you trading the word of God for your selfish gain?

Are you showing the way to the Father's house as instructed by our Chief Shepherd, our Lord Jesus Christ?

Are you being protective about each sheep under your care?

Or, are you finding delight for yourself, when tunics of fame and praise, and wealth are put on you, and forget the very purpose of your calling, while the sheep wanders about in mountains and hills not knowing the way to the resting place?

God does not look at your abundant possessions or your capabilities dear people. All He looks at is how faithful are you towards keeping His ways, even in smaller things. And how whole heartedly you carry out the tasks assigned to you, without compromising, but always trying to please God.

When God wanted to find a king for his people, He wanted a ruler who can take real good care of His people, who can guard them being faithful to Him.

And when He thought whom should He chose, He did not look at a warrior who had fought many battles..

He did not look for a handsome well built wrestler who has strong muscle power..

He did not look for one who had experience in ruling kingdoms..

He did not look for one with great wealth and well trained in warfares...

All that God looked at was this tiny little heart of David, that was upholding in all integrity, keeping his life at risk to save the sheep that was under his care...

All God looked at was this small life that did not hesitate even to battle with lions and bears in order to keep safe that which was entrusted to him ....

All He was pleased in was in this beautiful heart of David that only, kept all its trust in His Name...

Dear ones, this is what our God looks at!

If we want to reap God's promises, and want to be considered to be taken to the next level in faith, and shower His benevolence on us, we need to uphold our integrity in smaller things.

We should not lose heart or give away when a lion or a bear like wild situations try to snatch away things from us.

We should not be afraid if a Goliath like situation stands in our way.

Neither we should be carried away if someone showers praises and assigns any fame to us.

We need to just do what is right in the eyes of the Lord irrespective of our situations.

All David had was some stones in hand...

neither did he delight in a king's tunic...

When Saul asked him, he said his strength lies in his Lord, and it is He who delivers this giant to him.

Taking the Name of the Lord he went against this giant, and just like God delivered Goliath into David's hands, God will surely deliver the Goliath like people or situations into our hands, if we uphold our integrity and do only what is right and pleasing to God, in every situation.

'' Isaiah 49 : 7 Kings will see you and rise up, princes will see and bow down, because of the Lord, who is faithful, the Holy One of Israel, who has chosen you. ''

This is God's promise for His chosen ones.

Do not let a bear, or a lion or a Goliath like situation, or a king's tunic like fame and wealth, slip us of this promise God has for us.

If we please God, by doing what is right, in due time, God will fulfill His promise and display His splendor in us.

'' Isaiah 49 : 1-3 Before I was born the Lord called me ; from my birth he has made mention of my name. He made my mouth like a sharpened sword, in the shadow of his hand he hid me;

he made me into a polished arrow and concealed me in his quiver. He said to me, ''You are my servant, Israel in whom I will display my splendor.''

So dear child of God, uphold your integrity in everything God takes you through, and keep your conscience always right with God.

God Bless You.