Proverbs: The Fear of the Lord and Wisdom: The Doctrine of Election

Biblical Integrity

Transcript: AI Transcript

Professor: John Weaver

Subject: Old Testament Studies

Genre: Sermon

Dictation Name:

Date: 2013-09-08

Synopsis: John Weaver preaches on biblical integrity from Job 2:9–10, defining it as uprightness, obedience to God, and holding fast to truth regardless of circumstances. He contrasts Job’s godly response to suffering with his wife’s foolish counsel to curse God and die, emphasizing that integrity preserves, guides, and blesses believers. Applications include the importance of a godly spouse, the need for maturity through Scripture, and guarding one’s speech.

[John Weaver] The book of Job, chapter 2, and we're going to read verses 9 and 10. Job, chapter 2, verses 9 and 10. The message is entitled Biblical Integrity. Notice Job, chapter 2, verse 9. Job 2, verse 9, Then said his wife unto him, Dost thou still retain thine integrity? Curse God and die. But he said unto her, Now speaketh, as one of the foolish women speaketh, What, shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? In all this did not Job sin with his lips." Integrity is a missing attribute in the lives of most people, even in the lives of most professing Christians. Unhappily, the average professing Christian cannot be clearly distinguished from the average unsaved person. Truthfully, many do not even know what the word integrity means, much less how it is to be applied in our lives. We do not know the essence of integrity and therefore we do not need or know its value.

[John Weaver] So let me ask you a very important question. Listen carefully before I even. Share the scriptures with you concerning integrity. Would you be willing right now to pray David's petition that he petitioned God in Psalm 7 and in Psalm 26? You say, well, wait a minute. I've got to know what that petition is. Well, if you'll just hold Job chapter 2, turn right over to Psalm 7. And then we're going to Psalm 26. And you might as well hold Psalm 26, because we will be going back there. But look in your Bibles to Job 7 and verse 8 first. I'm sorry, it's Psalm 7, verse 8. Psalm 7, verse 8. Look at David's petition. Psalm 7, verse 8. Look what he said.

[John Weaver] The Lord shall judge the people. Judge me, O Lord, according to my righteousness, and according to my integrity that is in me." Wow! Would you be willing to pray right now that God would judge you according to the integrity that you have? Well, look in Psalm 26 and verse 1, and if you will just hold that passage, we'll come back there just momentarily. But look in Psalm 26 and verse 1 where David says this again,"...Judge me, O LORD, for I have walked in my integrity." I have trusted also in the Lord, therefore I shall not slide." So he is asking God again to judge him because he has walked in his integrity. So would you at this point in time and history be willing for God to judge you according to the integrity that you have? So my question would be then, would you stand or fall based upon your integrity?

[John Weaver] The word integrity in the Hebrew refers to uprightness, perfection, completeness, simplicity, fullness. Now, the very first time the word integrity is used in the Bible demonstrates the meaning of simplicity. If you remember, and you don't have to turn there, but if you remember in Genesis chapter 20, Abraham had said to Abimelech concerning Sarah, his wife, that she's my sister. And even Sarah herself said, he's my brother. And Abimelech saw Sarah, that she was an exceedingly beautiful woman and very desirable. And I think at that time she was pushing 80 or 90.

[John Weaver] So God really blessed her, that is for sure. Because Isaac was born when she was 90 and Abraham was 100. And so Abimelech saw her and had taken her to be his wife. In fact, he did take her. And God came to Abimelech in a dream at night and said, if you touch her, you're a dead man. I'll kill you because she's a man's wife. And he had fast closed up all the wounds in Abimelech's household. And so in Genesis 20, verse 5 and 6, Abimelech said this, said he not unto me, she is my sister, and she even herself said, he is my brother.

[John Weaver] In the integrity of my heart and in the innocency of my hands have I done this. And God said unto him in a dream, Yea, I know that thou didst this in the integrity of thine heart, for I have also withheld thee from sinning against thee, therefore I suffered thee not to touch her. So what did Abimelech say? In the integrity of my heart, have I done this? In other words, Abimelech is saying, Lord, my sin in taking Sarah was unintentional and unpremeditated. It was done in my simplicity.

[John Weaver] Had I not been deceived, I would not have taken this woman because even her husband said she's my sister and she herself said, I am his sister. So God, in this instance, did sovereignly protected Abimelech from violating Sarah and sinning against him. But he said, in the integrity of my heart and the innocence of my heart. And I was simple in this. I did not know the true situation. I want to show you that integrity consists of walking uprightly and refusing to do that which is evil, sinful, and contrary to God's Word. If you would look in your Bibles to Job chapter 1 and verse 1, the Bible says this, There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job, and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God and eschewed evil. I really like that word, eschewed.

[John Weaver] Let me tell you what it means. He couldn't stomach evil. He couldn't swallow it. He spit it out. So integrity, then, consists of walking uprightly and eschewing or spitting out evil and wickedness and anything that's contrary to God in His Word. Integrity involves holding fast to truth regardless of circumstances or situations. Now, let me just tell you that integrity is that which preserves us and enables us to persevere in the face of unethical and immoral situations.

[John Weaver] Let me give you two scriptures. David said in Psalm 25 in verse 21, let integrity and uprightness preserve me for I wait upon thee. And then he said in Psalm 26 and verse 11, but it's for me, I will walk in my integrity, redeem me and be merciful unto me.

[John Weaver] Now, I told you That integrity is that which preserves us and protects us and enables us to face unethical and immoral situations in a straightforward manner. If you will go back to Psalm 26, I want to read this entire Psalm just so I can prove this point to you that it is indeed integrity that protects and preserves us. Look what he said. Psalm 26, verse 1. Judge me, O Lord, for I have walked in mine integrity. I have trusted also in the Lord, therefore I shall not slide. Examine me, O Lord, and prove me, and try my reins in my heart, for thy lovingkindness is before mine eyes. Did you hear that? And I have walked in thy truth.

[John Weaver] I have not sat with vain persons, neither will I go in with dissemblers. I have hated the congregation of evildoers, and will not sit with the wicked. I will wash my hands in innocency, so I will accomplish thine altar, O Lord, that I may publish with the voice of thanksgiving, and tell of all my wondrous works. Lord, I have loved the habitation of thy house, and the place where thine honor dwelleth.

[John Weaver] Gather not my soul with sinners, nor my life with bloody men, in whose hand is mischief, and their right hand is full of bribes. But as for me, I will walk in mine integrity. Redeem me and be merciful unto me. My foot standeth in an even place. In the congregations will I bless the Lord."

[John Weaver] Now, I want you to notice what he said. He's walked in God's truth. Therefore, he's not sat with vain persons. He's not going to sit with the wicked. He's not going to associate with evildoers. He's going to accomplish God's altar. He loves the habitation of God's house. He does not want to be with wicked, ungodly men. He does not want to be around mischief and men who take bribes.

[John Weaver] And then he says, because of this biblical integrity, my foot standeth in an even place. So let me just tell you this. Biblical integrity. will enable you to stand in an even place in an uneven world and in an uneven life. So he says, my integrity has enabled me to do this. Now, I want you to understand that biblical integrity is more than an attribute. It is more than a characteristic. It is a way of life. Moreover, it is a way of life that leads us, guides us and directs us in our choices.

[John Weaver] It has implications and applications not only in our lives, but in the lives of our family and friends as well. Biblical integrity will enable us to minister to others. Listen carefully. One cannot give out that which he does not possess. You know what was said about David in Psalm 78 and verse 72. Listen to this. So he fed them, that is the people of Israel. So he fed them according to the integrity of his heart and he guided them with the skillfulness of his hands. He fed them with the integrity of his heart. The Bible says in Proverbs 11 verse 3, the integrity of the upright shall guide them, but the perverseness of transgressors shall destroy them. So it's integrity then that guides us. And God said in Proverbs 19 verse 1, better is the poor that walketh in his integrity than he that is a perverse and is a fool. So God said you'd rather be poor and have integrity, then be perverse and be rich and be a fool. And then in Proverbs 20, verse 7, I want you to listen to this.

[John Weaver] The just man walketh in his integrity. His children are blessed after him. You not only cannot dish out that which you do not possess, you cannot pass on to your children that which you do not possess. I'm trying to emphasize that biblical integrity in reality is a life of obedience to God and his word. Each one in this room knows that David was called a man after God's own heart.

[John Weaver] I want you to hold Job, too, but I want you to turn to First Kings chapter nine. First Kings chapter nine, and I want you to see what God told Solomon. David's son who ascended to the throne after David's death. So look in 1 Kings 9 and begin with verses 4 and 5, just showing you and demonstrating again that biblical integrity equals obedience. Notice 1 Kings 9, verse 4. Look what God tells Solomon. And if thou wilt walk before me, as David thy father walked, in integrity of heart and in uprightness, to do according to all that I have commanded thee, and will keep my statutes and my judgments, then will I establish the throne of thy kingdom upon Israel forever, as I promised to David thy father, saying, There shall not fail thee a man upon the throne of Israel." Notice what he told Solomon. If you will walk in the integrity of the heart, the way David did, and you keep my commandments, and my statutes and my judgments, then I'm going to honor you and I'm going to bless you.

[John Weaver] Now, when you understand that biblical integrity is obedience to God, you can now understand David's statement in Psalm 41 in verse 12 when he says, ask for me. Thou upholdest me in mine integrity. Thou settest me before thy face forever. So what is God doing? God is upholding those that obey him. David said, you uphold me and my integrity.

[John Weaver] Now, when we talk about Job, one of the characteristics or attributes that Job is known for is his patience. You remember, it was James, the apostle who spoke in James 5 and verse 11, and he said this, You have heard of the patience of Job and have seen the end of the Lord, that the Lord is very pitiful and of tender mercy. You've heard of the patience of Job. Now, it should be evident that Job's patience was in reality a manifestation and a demonstration of his integrity. He had biblical integrity.

[John Weaver] and therefore he was patient in his sufferings. Now I want you to look in Job 2 and verse 3 at the question that God asks Satan. Job 2 verse 3. Job 2 verse 3. Watch carefully. And the Lord said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect or mature and an upright man, one that feareth God and escheweth evil, and still, that is, in light of all that Satan hath afflicted him with, and still he holdeth fast his integrity, although thou movest me against him to destroy him without cause. Without me reading and going over all of chapter one, most of you know that Job lost his ten children.

[John Weaver] He had seven sons, I believe, and three daughters. He had a multitude of possessions. He lost all of his possessions. And I might add, he lost all of his children, ten of them. And he lost all of his thousands of cattle in one day. In one day. In one day. And in light of all of that, Job still did not act defiantly or transgress against God. The Bible says in all this, Job sinned not with his lips.

[John Weaver] Now, I want you to underline something in your heart. I want you to understand my emphasis upon this point. Biblical integrity. will enable you to give God honor and glory, worship and praise, even in the direst situations. What did Job do when he lost all ten children? What did Job do when he lost all of his possessions in one day? I will tell you what he did not do.

[John Weaver] He did not fall apart. He did not go into an emotional frenzy. He did not whine, complain, or bellyache, or attack God as being unfair and unkind. If you look in Job 1 and verse 20, you will see what he did do. Job 1 verse 20, after he's lost his ten children, all of his possessions, then Job arose and rent his mantle and shaved his head and fell down upon the ground and worshipped and said, naked came out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither.

[John Weaver] The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away. Blessed be the name of the Lord, and all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly." Isn't that amazing? Just lost ten children. Lost everything he had. And yet he's still blessing and praising God. Did you know that David did exactly the same thing when his child died? In 2 Samuel, chapter 12 and verse 20, the Bible says, Then David arose from the earth and washed and anointed himself and changed his apparel, listened and came into the house of the Lord and worshiped. Then he came to his own house, and when he required, they set bread before him and he did eat. What did David do? He went to the house of the Lord and worshipped. Now, I want you to look back at Job 2 and verse 9. Because Job 2 verse 9 is a further elucidation of Job's integrity. Because in verse 9, Job's wife is giving him an admonition. She says in verse 9, Then said his wife unto him, Dost thou still retain thine integrity?

[John Weaver] Curse God, and die! Wow! For your information, Job's wife is referred to only twice in the book of Job. Each time and not so good a light. If you would turn to Job 19, and you might ought to mark this passage, we will come back there momentarily. Look in Job 19 and verse 17. Job says this, this is the second allusion to his wife in the entire book. He said, my breath is strange to my wife, though I am treated for the children's sake of mine own body. Now, a few scholars have tried to be kind to Job's wife by suggesting that her admonition in Job 2 and verse 9 was born out of her love for Job. She just did not want to see him suffer, and therefore, out of her great love for Job, she says, curse God and die.

[John Weaver] Well, personally, I don't believe that is the case. I will show you why. If you go back to Job 19, and let's begin reading at verse 13. And I want you to see how everyone forsook Job, including his wife. Notice Job 19 and verse 13. Job says this concerning what God has done in his sufferings. He says, He hath put my brethren far from me, and mine acquaintance are very estranged from me.

[John Weaver] My kinfolk have failed, and my familiar friends have forgotten me. They that dwell in mine house and my maids, count me a stranger. I am an alien in their sight." They won't even speak to him. They avoid him. Watch what he says. I call my servant, and he gave me no answer. I am treating him with my mouth. My breath is strange to my wife, though I am treated for the children's sake of my own body. In other words, his wife wouldn't have anything to do with him either. If his breath is strange to his wife, she's not near him, she's not around him, and he has to beg for her attendance for the children's sake, very obviously, she has forsaken him as well. If you look back at Job 2 and verse 9, one scholar has rendered what his wife says like this.

[John Weaver] And yet dost thou hold fast on integrity, blessing God and dying?" In other words, his wife would have been absolutely baffled at Job. How could he continue to bless and praise God even while he was suffering and dying? If that is a correct interpretation, then obviously Job's wife was a stranger to the grace of God, or at least completely and totally ignorant of truth. Another scholar that I read said this, I could not help but smile. He said, it is incredible that an angry woman could be content with saying so little as is ascribed in the Hebrew to the wife of Job.

[John Weaver] Well, she may not have said much, but what she did say certainly revealed not only her character, but her lack of faith as well. I want you to understand that Job has not only lost everything at this point, he is sitting in a pile of ashes with boils all over his body and worms eating his body. And he's sitting in that pile of ashes with a potsherd that is a broken piece of pottery and he's scraping his boils and scraping the worms off as well. Look in Job 2 verse 7. So Satan went forth from the presence of the Lord and smote Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot into his crown, and he took him a potsherd to scrape himself withel, and he sat down among the ashes." You say, well, that doesn't say anything about worms there. No, but in Job 17 verse 14, Job said, I have said to corruption, thou art my father, and to the worm, thou art my mother and my sister. So the worms then were eating him as well.

[John Weaver] And here's Job suffering immensely. And you've got to remember, when his three friends come, they do not give him any comfort. They falsely accuse him and falsely condemn him. I want to read to you what one commentator said on this verse 9. Here it seems to be a strong irony. Job was exceedingly afflicted and apparently dying through sore disease, yet his soul was filled with gratitude to God. His wife, destitute of the salvation which her husband possessed, gave him this ironical reproof, bless God and die. What? Bless him for his goodness while he is destroying all that thou hast. Bless him for his support while he is casting thee down and destroying thee. Bless on and die. And die, probably, she regarded God as a stern and severe being. And suppose that by indulging in blasphemy, Job would provoke him to cut him off at once.

[John Weaver] She did not expect him to lay wicked hands upon himself. She expected that God would at once interpose and destroy him. The sense is that nothing but death was expected, and the sooner he provoked God to cut him off from the land of the living, the better. Wow. Who needs a wife like that? With enmity toward God, with uncharitableness towards her husband, is there in her words more than mockery.

[John Weaver] Would she be counseling him to commit suicide? Would she be counseling him just to take God on and rebel and let God kill him? But I want you to understand that Job repels her in a godly manner. I came across in my studies this little poem. Concerning Job, listen carefully. And by the way, the author is not given. It just simply says this. When the devil engaged with Job's patience in battle, tooth and nail strove to weary him out of his life.

[John Weaver] He robbed him of children, slaves, house and castle, but mark me, he ne'er thought of taking his wife. But heaven at length, Job's forbearance rewards. At length, double wealth, double honor arrives. Heaven doubles his children, slaves, house and herds. But we don't hear a word of a couple of wives. Well, who would want two wives like that? No man needs a wife like Job's wife, much less a couple of them. Her counsel was wicked. Her agitation was vile.

[John Weaver] And let me tell you something, folks. I don't care how much you suffer. I don't care how much pain you are in. Death is never an easy way out if you're going to take it in rebellion to God. Job was indeed quite a man. Job was a man who was filled with biblical graces and biblical attitudes.

[John Weaver] Now, men, I want to ask you a question. If you're suffering. And if you're destitute. And your wife of a lifetime comes to you and mocks you and counsels you to curse God and die. How would you respond to such counsel? I am almost positive that most of us would have yelled, screamed, and become incensed at such atrocious advice. I am sure that most of us would not and could not have contained ourselves.

[John Weaver] Job was different because of his integrity. Job not only kept his cool, But he gave forth a biblical answer. Look in verse 10. After she admonishes him to curse God and die. But he said unto her, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? Shall we receive good at the hand of God and shall we not receive evil? In all this did not Job sin with his lips. Job gave a biblical answer.

[John Weaver] He bravely resisted and he overcame the temptation. He not only gave her an answer, he gave her a right, a good and godly answer. I want you to think for a moment. Satan had smitten him from the top of his head to the bottom of his foot. And the only limitation Satan had was this. God said, you may touch his body, but you must spare his life. Could it be that Satan spared the use of his tongue in hopes that he would curse God with it? And yet he uses his tongue.

[John Weaver] To give a blessed truth. And he retains his integrity. I want you to notice. Although Job's wife spoke foolishly. Job did not call his wife foolish, nor did he call her a fool. He simply states in verse 10 that she is speaking as one of the foolish women speaks. The word foolish in the Hebrew refers to one that is stupid or foolish. It also refers to one that is wicked and impious as well as ungodly. I want you to note that the word sin and the word folly are closely connected in scripture because in the scripture sin is regarded as the supreme folly. And so he tells his wife, you're speaking As one of the stupid women speaks, as one of the foolish women, as one of the wicked women, as a woman who's impious.

[John Weaver] She may not or she may have been mocking him as well as upbraiding him for his continual trust in the Lord and holding fast to biblical principles. Yet Job did not attack her. I want to remind you of something. Do you remember when David brought the ark to Jerusalem? Michael saw David dancing before the Lord, and she despised him in her heart. And she mocked him. And consequently, the Bible says God cursed her and she bore no children. She died childless. So here, Job's wife is basically mocking him. And so she comes to him and says, the South still retain that integrity, curse God and die.

[John Weaver] And he said, you're speaking is one of the stupid women speaks what? Shall we receive good at the hand of God and shall we not receive evil? Listen very carefully. If you truly and genuinely understand the sovereignty of God. Then you must understand. That in his divine providence. Whatever God allows to come to pass in our lives, he allows to come to pass for our good and his glory.

[John Weaver] We just lost. Two friends. Our brother Joe died of cancer in four months. Brother Lowry just died of cancer after fighting it for four years. Brother Lowry was in far more pain and agony than our brother Joe was. But have you ever stopped to think about this? When God allows us to suffer greatly, His comfort is also greatly increased as well. So Job says, what? Shall we receive good at the hand of God and not receive evil? What is the understanding? He understands God's sovereignty. He understands God's providence.

[John Weaver] He understood Romans 8, 28, for it was never written. And we know that all things were good to them that loved God, to them who were called according to his purpose. I want to read to you what Albert Barnes said, one of the commentators. Listen. He's commentating on verse 10, shall we receive good at the hand of God and not evil? He says this, shall we not expect it?

[John Weaver] Shall we not be willing to bear it when it comes? Shall we not have sufficient confidence in him to believe that his dealings are ordered in goodness and equity? Shall we at once lose all of our confidence in our great benefactor the moment he takes away our comforts and visits us with pain? This is the true expression of piety. It submits to all the arrangements of God without complaint.

[John Weaver] It receives blessings with gratitude. It is resigned when calamities are sent in their place. It esteems it as a mere favor to be permitted to breathe the air which God has made, to look upon the light of his sun, to tread upon his earth, to inhale the fragrance of his flowers, and to enjoy the society of friends whom he gives. And when he takes one or all away, it feels that he is not only that he has taken only that which belongs to him, and withdraws a privilege to which we had no claim. In addition to that, true piety feels that all claim to any blessing, if it had ever existed, has been forfeited by sin. What right has a sinner to complain when God withdraws his favor and subjects him to suffering? What claim has he on God that he should make it wrong for him to visit him with a calamity?

[John Weaver] Wherefore doth the living man complain, a man for the punishment of his sins? Lamentations 339. Stop and think about that. What right do we have to any of God's blessings? The answer is none. Why in the world should we complain when God brings suffering or calamity upon us? I must hasten to point this out. Job had far more blessings than he had curses. He had far more good days than he had bad days.

[John Weaver] And it is true with us. Listen, folks. No matter how sick we become, no matter how destitute we become, no matter how much we suffer, we still must confess that God has not dealt with us according to our sins, nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. We've had far more blessed days than we've had cursed days. We've had far more days that we've been healthy than when we've been sick. The truth is, we've had mercy upon mercy, grace upon grace, and blessing upon blessing.

[John Weaver] So why in the world should we complain when we're smitten with some calamity or some evil? Are we not willing to suffer for our sins? Are we not willing to suffer for our own stupidity and our own acts of rebellion against God? Are we not willing to suffer for His glory? Are we not willing to learn by chastisement? You've got to remember, we can either learn by instruction of the Word or instruction of the rod.

[John Weaver] You know what the Bible says in Philippians 1 in verse 29? Listen carefully. For unto you it is given on behalf of Christ not only to believe on Him, but also to suffer for His sake. Do you realize that just like faith is the gift of God, suffering is a gift of God? And God does not give that gift of faith to every individual, nor does He give the gift of suffering to every individual. But to those to whom He gives the gift of suffering, He also gives them greater consolation and greater grace and greater mercy.

[John Weaver] Do you remember the song, Am I a Soldier of the Cross? I want you to listen just a few stanzas. Am I a soldier of the cross, a follower of the Lamb? And shall I fear to own his cause or blush to speak his name? Here it is. Must I be carried to the skies on flowery beds of ease while others fought to win the prize and sailed through bloody seas?

[John Weaver] Are there no foes for me to face? Must I not stem the flood? Is this vile world a friend of grace to help me unto God? And the answer, of course, is no. Sure, I must fight if I would reign, increase my courage, Lord. I'll bear the toil, endure the pain, supported by thy word. Yeah, we suffer at times. What did Job say? What? What? Shall we receive good at the hand of God and not evil? In Proverbs 24 and verse 10, the Bible says this, If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small. If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small.

[John Weaver] You can also change that a little bit. If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy faith is small. Or thy integrity is small.

[John Weaver] Now, don't you listen to what Solomon said in Ecclesiastes 7 in verse 14. Here's what he said. In the day of prosperity, be joyful. But in the day of adversity, consider. God had also set one over against the other to the end that man should find nothing after him. So what is he saying? In the day of adversity, Be joyful in the day of prosperity. Be joyful. But in the day of adversity, consider, because what God is doing is setting one against the other, that we may find out that there is nothing under the sun worth living or dying for, except Him. Our hope, our trust, our faith, our comfort should be in God alone.

[John Weaver] Now, I want to spend the rest of my time making some applications. And I want you to listen carefully to these. First of all, Job is applauded by the Lord himself for holding fast his integrity. The sovereign God of heaven and earth looked at Satan and said, how shall I consider my servant Job? There's none like Him. He's a mature, upright man. He holdeth fast His integrity, even though you move me against Him without cause.

[John Weaver] Let me tell you something. Obviously, biblical integrity pleases the Lord. It glorifies the Lord. It is an acknowledgement and worship of the Lord when you and I stand true in desperate situations and hold fast to the faith and hold fast to biblical obedience. If you want to honor and glorify God, if you want to please Him, you need to develop biblical integrity in your life. OK. Here's my second application. This would be.

[John Weaver] For all men and women, especially the younger men. I want you to understand the importance of having a good and godly wife. You've heard me say this before, and it is the absolute truth. A woman can make or break a man. And that's the truth. She can support him and stand by him and be a real blessing. Or she can whine and complain and bellyache and attack him and be a curse. Each one of you know that God counsels and commands wives To be like godly Sarah.

[John Weaver] In first Peter chapter three. And everyone in here knows. The description of the good, godly and energetic wife of Proverbs 31. I want to read to you. What one author said about Job's wife. Would you listen? What experience of life and insight the writer manifests in introducing Job's wife as the mocking opposer of his constant piety. Job had lost his children, but this wife he has retained, for he needed not to be tried by losing her. He was tried and proven sufficiently by having her.

[John Weaver] She is further on, once referred to, but even then not to her advantage. Why, asked Cthostrom, did the devil leave him his wife? Because he thought her a good scourge by which to plague him more acutely than by any other means. Moreover, the thought is not for distance. that distant that God left her to him in order that when in the glorious issue of his sufferings, he receives everything doubled, he might not have this thorn in the flesh also doubled. Wow.

[John Weaver] Now, I want you to listen, I told you that a good godly woman can make a man. An ungodly woman and an unkind woman can break a man. In First Kings 21 and verse 25, every one of you in here know. Each one knows that Ahab was the most wicked king in Israel. Now listen, First Kings 21, 25. But there was none like unto Ahab, which did sell himself to work wickedness in the sight of the Lord, whom Jezebel, his wife, stirred up. Ahab was wicked enough in and of himself, but he had a wicked wife who constantly stirred him up. It was Jezebel that caused the murder of Naboth and his sons.

[John Weaver] Do you remember Solomon and all of his wisdom? In his old age, he kind of lost some of that wisdom. Because the Bible says in Nehemiah 13 in verse 26, Did not Solomon, king of Israel, sin by these things? Yet among many nations was there no king like him who was beloved of his God, and God made him king over Israel. Nevertheless, even him did outlandish women cause to sin. And you go back to 1 Kings and you'll find that Solomon built all of those altars to these false, wicked gods for his wives. Here's the third application. Biblical integrity only comes with age. experience and application. May I remind you. When we talk about Job's integrity. Job was an older man with grown children. Notice, Brother Wayne, I didn't say old man, he's just an older man with grown children. Now.

[John Weaver] I realize that the scripture tells us that old men are not always wise. I understand that. But I want you to understand this. When we are converted, we do not instantly and miraculously become wise, holy and full of wisdom and integrity. We don't. No, integrity comes as we grow in grace and apply God's Word to our lives and develop biblical convictions. Let me prove this. How many of you would really want and desire to live your life all over again knowing what you know now? Wouldn't you?

[John Weaver] Look at all the sins we would avoid. Look at all the stupid mistakes that we would not repeat. If we could start out being a young man and knowing what we know now.

[John Weaver] Now, the point I'm trying to make is this. We will never mature. And we will never possess biblical integrity unless we study and apply God's Word to our lives. Do you remember that passage in Psalm 119, verses 9-11, where David asked, Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed thereto according to thy word. With my whole heart have I sought thee, O let me not wander from thy commandments. Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. So as a young man, you have to study the Word of God. You have to make applications in order that you might have biblical convictions and mature in biblical integrity. If you do not have a desire to study and a desire to learn and a desire to apply God's Word in your life, then very obviously you're not going to end up with biblical integrity. You can't. It's impossible. The point I'm trying to make is this. I might have done some things stupidly when I was 20 years old that I would never do now.

[John Weaver] Because I did not have the integrity then That I hope by God's grace, I have now. So we're going to be like Job. We have to study the word of God, we have to make application in our lives and conform our lives to that word in order to develop a biblical integrity. Number four, listen carefully. Temptations to curse God, sin against Him, defy Him, and distrust Him should be rejected with the greatest of horrors.

[John Weaver] We must refuse to identify with anyone or anything that mocks or reproaches our Heavenly Father. I've got news for you. I am not going to listen to music that mocks God or is unbiblical. I'm not going to watch a TV program that mocks God. And I'm not just talking about making fun of God, but I'm talking about pushing those things which God condemns. I'm not going to sit there and watch a program that's got a bunch of queers or homos in it. I'm not. I'm not going to watch something that's got abortion and adultery. I'm not. I'm just simply saying, I'm not even going to read things that intimates that somehow that God is unkind or unfaithful or untrue. No, I'm not going to do that. And you and I have to understand that we cannot put those things in our mind. What we must put on our mind is His Word. And by the way. Past mercies.

[John Weaver] should make present afflictions light and easy to endure. Why? Because of our faith in Him. And we know that since He has blessed us and been merciful to us in times past, we have hope then for those future mercies and future blessings. When I'm sick, I have hope that God's going to heal me. Because he healed me in times past. When I need a blessing, I have hope that God is going to bless me because he's blessed me so bountifully in times past. So past mercies should make present afflictions. More easily endured. One last.

[John Weaver] Application, I love the way verse 10 ends. Look at Job 2 and verse 10. Here's the ending of it. In all this. Job did not sin with his lips. Do you know it's our mouth that gets us in trouble most of the time? Every one of us has said things we wish we had never said. And you know, the computer is the same way. When you hit that little SIM button, you can't take back a word that you've written. It's there for anybody and everybody to see. David said it like this in Psalm 34 and verse 13, keep thy tongue from evil and my lips from speaking guile. I love Psalm 39, verse one, where David said, I said I would take heed to my ways that I sin not with my tongue, I will keep my mouth with a bridle while the wicked is before me. And one of my favorite verses is Proverbs 21, 23. Let me quote it. Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles. Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles.

[John Weaver] I want you to know Job said what needed to be said. But he left out. That which was not needed to be said. We need wisdom. And this is where biblical integrity comes in. We need wisdom to say what needs to be said. And we need the same biblical wisdom to refrain from saying what does not need to be said. Curse God and die, said his wife. What?

[John Weaver] You're speaking as one of the foolish women speaks. What? Shall we receive good at the hand of God and not evil? And all this Job sinned not with his lips. Each of us need to seek biblical integrity and apply it in every area of our lives. Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, we bow before Thee. We honor Thee. We glorify Thee. And Lord, we marvel at Job and the integrity that he had and the grace that You gave him and the mercy And Lord, we do ask today for that biblical integrity in our lives.

[John Weaver] Make us what we should be. Give us grace to serve Thee acceptably with reverence and godly fear. In Thy name we pray, Amen. This program was produced by Dominion Ministry. For more information about Pastor Weaver's sermons, You may contact Dominion Ministry by mail at 7400 Abercorn, that's A-B-E-R-C-O-R-N Street, Suite 705, PMB 175, Savannah, Georgia, 31406. Or give us a call at 912-925-0995.

[John Weaver] You can also visit our website at www.dominionministry.com

Biblical Integrity

John Weaver | SermonAudio

Lecture Metadata	Details
Speaker	John Weaver
Source	SermonAudio
Media ID	123113150349
Subject	Old Testament Studies
Course	Proverbs: The Fear of the Lord and Wisdom: The Doctrine of Election
Genre	Sermon
Date	2013-09-08
Dictation Name
Book	Book 081: Proverbs: The Fear of the Lord and Wisdom - Volume 1 — Chapter 12
Source Timed Segments	70

Formatted Transcript

Introduction and Definition of Integrity

Integrity is a missing attribute in most lives; the Hebrew word means uprightness, perfection, completeness, simplicity. The first biblical use (Genesis 20) shows it as simplicity or unintentional sin.

The book of Job, chapter 2, and we're going to read verses 9 and 10. Job, chapter 2, verses 9 and 10. The message is entitled Biblical Integrity. Notice Job, chapter 2, verse 9. Job 2, verse 9, Then said his wife unto him, Dost thou still retain thine integrity? Curse God and die. But he said unto her, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? Shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? In all this did not Job sin with his lips. Integrity is a missing attribute in the lives of most people, even in the lives of most professing Christians. Unhappily, the average professing Christian cannot be clearly distinguished from the average unsaved person. Truthfully, many do not even know what the word integrity means, much less how it is to be applied in our lives. We do not know the essence of integrity and therefore we do not need or know its value.

So let me ask you a very important question. Listen carefully before I even share the scriptures with you concerning integrity. Would you be willing right now to pray David's petition that he petitioned God in Psalm 7 and in Psalm 26? You say, well, wait a minute. I've got to know what that petition is. Well, if you'll just hold Job chapter 2, turn right over to Psalm 7. And then we're going to Psalm 26. And you might as well hold Psalm 26, because we will be going back there. But look in your Bibles to Psalm 7, verse 8 first. I'm sorry, it's Psalm 7, verse 8. Psalm 7, verse 8. Look at David's petition. Psalm 7, verse 8. Look what he said.

The Lord shall judge the people. Judge me, O Lord, according to my righteousness, and according to my integrity that is in me. Wow! Would you be willing to pray right now that God would judge you according to the integrity that you have? Well, look in Psalm 26 and verse 1, and if you will just hold that passage, we'll come back there just momentarily. But look in Psalm 26 and verse 1 where David says this again, Judge me, O LORD, for I have walked in my integrity. I have trusted also in the Lord, therefore I shall not slide. So he is asking God again to judge him because he has walked in his integrity. So would you at this point in time and history be willing for God to judge you according to the integrity that you have? So my question would be then, would you stand or fall based upon your integrity?

The word integrity in the Hebrew refers to uprightness, perfection, completeness, simplicity, fullness. Now, the very first time the word integrity is used in the Bible demonstrates the meaning of simplicity. If you remember, and you don't have to turn there, but if you remember in Genesis chapter 20, Abraham had said to Abimelech concerning Sarah, his wife, that she's my sister. And even Sarah herself said, he's my brother. And Abimelech saw Sarah, that she was an exceedingly beautiful woman and very desirable. And I think at that time she was pushing 80 or 90.

So God really blessed her, that is for sure. Because Isaac was born when she was 90 and Abraham was 100. And so Abimelech saw her and had taken her to be his wife. In fact, he did take her. And God came to Abimelech in a dream at night and said, if you touch her, you're a dead man. I'll kill you because she's a man's wife. And he had fast closed up all the wombs in Abimelech's household. And so in Genesis 20, verse 5 and 6, Abimelech said this, Said he not unto me, She is my sister? And she, even she herself said, He is my brother.

In the integrity of my heart and in the innocency of my hands have I done this. And God said unto him in a dream, Yea, I know that thou didst this in the integrity of thine heart, for I have also withheld thee from sinning against me, therefore I suffered thee not to touch her. So what did Abimelech say? In the integrity of my heart, have I done this? In other words, Abimelech is saying, Lord, my sin in taking Sarah was unintentional and unpremeditated. It was done in my simplicity. Had I not been deceived, I would not have taken this woman because even her husband said she's my sister and she herself said, I am his sister. So God, in this instance, did sovereignly protect Abimelech from violating Sarah and sinning against him. But he said, in the integrity of my heart and the innocence of my heart. And I was simple in this. I did not know the true situation. I want to show you that integrity consists of walking uprightly and refusing to do that which is evil, sinful, and contrary to God's Word. If you would look in your Bibles to Job chapter 1 and verse 1, the Bible says this, There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job, and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God and eschewed evil. I really like that word, eschewed.

Integrity as Obedience and Preservation

Integrity consists of walking uprightly and eschewing evil. It preserves and enables perseverance in unethical situations, as seen in David’s psalms.

Let me tell you what it means. He couldn't stomach evil. He couldn't swallow it. He spit it out. So integrity, then, consists of walking uprightly and eschewing or spitting out evil and wickedness and anything that's contrary to God in His Word. Integrity involves holding fast to truth regardless of circumstances or situations. Now, let me just tell you that integrity is that which preserves us and enables us to persevere in the face of unethical and immoral situations.

Let me give you two scriptures. David said in Psalm 25 in verse 21, Let integrity and uprightness preserve me; for I wait upon thee. And then he said in Psalm 26 and verse 11, But as for me, I will walk in my integrity: redeem me, and be merciful unto me. Now, I told you that integrity is that which preserves us and protects us and enables us to face unethical and immoral situations in a straightforward manner. If you will go back to Psalm 26, I want to read this entire Psalm just so I can prove this point to you that it is indeed integrity that protects and preserves us. Look what he said. Psalm 26, verse 1. Judge me, O Lord, for I have walked in mine integrity. I have trusted also in the Lord, therefore I shall not slide. Examine me, O Lord, and prove me, and try my reins and my heart, for thy lovingkindness is before mine eyes. Did you hear that? And I have walked in thy truth.

I have not sat with vain persons, neither will I go in with dissemblers. I have hated the congregation of evildoers, and will not sit with the wicked. I will wash my hands in innocency, so will I compass thine altar, O Lord, that I may publish with the voice of thanksgiving, and tell of all thy wondrous works. Lord, I have loved the habitation of thy house, and the place where thine honour dwelleth. Gather not my soul with sinners, nor my life with bloody men, in whose hands is mischief, and their right hand is full of bribes. But as for me, I will walk in mine integrity: redeem me, and be merciful unto me. My foot standeth in an even place: in the congregations will I bless the Lord.

Now, I want you to notice what he said. He's walked in God's truth. Therefore, he's not sat with vain persons. He's not going to sit with the wicked. He's not going to associate with evildoers. He's going to compass God's altar. He loves the habitation of God's house. He does not want to be with wicked, ungodly men. He does not want to be around mischief and men who take bribes.

And then he says, because of this biblical integrity, my foot standeth in an even place. So let me just tell you this. Biblical integrity will enable you to stand in an even place in an uneven world and in an uneven life. So he says, my integrity has enabled me to do this. Now, I want you to understand that biblical integrity is more than an attribute. It is more than a characteristic. It is a way of life. Moreover, it is a way of life that leads us, guides us and directs us in our choices.

Integrity Guides and Blesses

Biblical integrity guides choices, feeds others, and blesses one’s children. It is a life of obedience to God’s word, as God told Solomon about David.

It has implications and applications not only in our lives, but in the lives of our family and friends as well. Biblical integrity will enable us to minister to others. Listen carefully. One cannot give out that which he does not possess. You know what was said about David in Psalm 78 and verse 72. Listen to this. So he fed them, that is the people of Israel. So he fed them according to the integrity of his heart and he guided them with the skillfulness of his hands. He fed them with the integrity of his heart. The Bible says in Proverbs 11 verse 3, The integrity of the upright shall guide them: but the perverseness of transgressors shall destroy them. So it's integrity then that guides us. And God said in Proverbs 19 verse 1, Better is the poor that walketh in his integrity, than he that is perverse in his lips, and is a fool. So God said you'd rather be poor and have integrity, than be perverse and be rich and be a fool. And then in Proverbs 20, verse 7, I want you to listen to this.

The just man walketh in his integrity: his children are blessed after him. You not only cannot dish out that which you do not possess, you cannot pass on to your children that which you do not possess. I'm trying to emphasize that biblical integrity in reality is a life of obedience to God and his word. Each one in this room knows that David was called a man after God's own heart. I want you to hold Job 2, but I want you to turn to First Kings chapter nine. First Kings chapter nine, and I want you to see what God told Solomon. David's son who ascended to the throne after David's death. So look in 1 Kings 9 and begin with verses 4 and 5, just showing you and demonstrating again that biblical integrity equals obedience. Notice 1 Kings 9, verse 4. Look what God tells Solomon. And if thou wilt walk before me, as David thy father walked, in integrity of heart and in uprightness, to do according to all that I have commanded thee, and wilt keep my statutes and my judgments: then I will establish the throne of thy kingdom upon Israel for ever, as I promised to David thy father, saying, There shall not fail thee a man upon the throne of Israel. Notice what he told Solomon. If you will walk in the integrity of the heart, the way David did, and you keep my commandments, and my statutes and my judgments, then I'm going to honor you and I'm going to bless you.

Now, when you understand that biblical integrity is obedience to God, you can now understand David's statement in Psalm 41 in verse 12 when he says, And as for me, thou upholdest me in mine integrity, and settest me before thy face for ever. So what is God doing? God is upholding those that obey him. David said, you uphold me in my integrity.

Job’s Integrity in Suffering

Job’s patience was a manifestation of his integrity. Despite losing children and possessions, he worshipped God and did not sin with his lips.

and therefore he was patient in his sufferings. Now I want you to look in Job 2 and verse 3 at the question that God asks Satan. Job 2 verse 3. Job 2 verse 3. Watch carefully. And the Lord said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect or mature and an upright man, one that feareth God and escheweth evil? and still, that is, in light of all that Satan hath afflicted him with, and still he holdeth fast his integrity, although thou movedst me against him, to destroy him without cause. Without me reading and going over all of chapter one, most of you know that Job lost his ten children.

He had seven sons, I believe, and three daughters. He had a multitude of possessions. He lost all of his possessions. And I might add, he lost all of his children, ten of them. And he lost all of his thousands of cattle in one day. In one day. In one day. And in light of all of that, Job still did not act defiantly or transgress against God. The Bible says in all this, Job sinned not with his lips.

Now, I want you to underline something in your heart. I want you to understand my emphasis upon this point. Biblical integrity will enable you to give God honor and glory, worship and praise, even in the direst situations. What did Job do when he lost all ten children? What did Job do when he lost all of his possessions in one day? I will tell you what he did not do. He did not fall apart. He did not go into an emotional frenzy. He did not whine, complain, or bellyache, or attack God as being unfair and unkind. If you look in Job 1 and verse 20, you will see what he did do. Job 1 verse 20, after he's lost his ten children, all of his possessions, then Job arose and rent his mantle and shaved his head and fell down upon the ground and worshipped and said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither.

The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord. And in all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly. Isn't that amazing? Just lost ten children. Lost everything he had. And yet he's still blessing and praising God. Did you know that David did exactly the same thing when his child died? In 2 Samuel, chapter 12 and verse 20, the Bible says, Then David arose from the earth, and washed, and anointed himself, and changed his apparel, and came into the house of the Lord, and worshipped: then he came to his own house; and when he required, they set bread before him, and he did eat. What did David do? He went to the house of the Lord and worshipped. Now, I want you to look back at Job 2 and verse 9. Because Job 2 verse 9 is a further elucidation of Job's integrity. Because in verse 9, Job's wife is giving him an admonition. She says in verse 9, Then said his wife unto him, Dost thou still retain thine integrity?

Job’s Wife’s Foolish Counsel

Job’s wife told him to curse God and die. Job responded biblically, not calling her a fool but saying she spoke as foolish women do, and he did not sin.

Curse God, and die! Wow! For your information, Job's wife is referred to only twice in the book of Job. Each time and not so good a light. If you would turn to Job 19, and you might ought to mark this passage, we will come back there momentarily. Look in Job 19 and verse 17. Job says this, this is the second allusion to his wife in the entire book. He said, My breath is strange to my wife, though I intreated for the children's sake of mine own body. Now, a few scholars have tried to be kind to Job's wife by suggesting that her admonition in Job 2 and verse 9 was born out of her love for Job. She just did not want to see him suffer, and therefore, out of her great love for Job, she says, curse God and die.

Well, personally, I don't believe that is the case. I will show you why. If you go back to Job 19, and let's begin reading at verse 13. And I want you to see how everyone forsook Job, including his wife. Notice Job 19 and verse 13. Job says this concerning what God has done in his sufferings. He says, He hath put my brethren far from me, and mine acquaintance are verily estranged from me.

My kinfolk have failed, and my familiar friends have forgotten me. They that dwell in mine house, and my maids, count me for a stranger: I am an alien in their sight. They won't even speak to him. They avoid him. Watch what he says. I called my servant, and he gave me no answer; I intreated him with my mouth. My breath is strange to my wife, though I intreated for the children's sake of mine own body. In other words, his wife wouldn't have anything to do with him either. If his breath is strange to his wife, she's not near him, she's not around him, and he has to beg for her attendance for the children's sake, very obviously, she has forsaken him as well. If you look back at Job 2 and verse 9, one scholar has rendered what his wife says like this.

And yet dost thou hold fast on integrity, blessing God and dying? In other words, his wife would have been absolutely baffled at Job. How could he continue to bless and praise God even while he was suffering and dying? If that is a correct interpretation, then obviously Job's wife was a stranger to the grace of God, or at least completely and totally ignorant of truth. Another scholar that I read said this, I could not help but smile. He said, it is incredible that an angry woman could be content with saying so little as is ascribed in the Hebrew to the wife of Job. Well, she may not have said much, but what she did say certainly revealed not only her character, but her lack of faith as well. I want you to understand that Job has not only lost everything at this point, he is sitting in a pile of ashes with boils all over his body and worms eating his body. And he's sitting in that pile of ashes with a potsherd that is a broken piece of pottery and he's scraping his boils and scraping the worms off as well. Look in Job 2 verse 7. So went Satan forth from the presence of the Lord, and smote Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot unto his crown. And he took him a potsherd to scrape himself withal; and he sat down among the ashes. You say, well, that doesn't say anything about worms there. No, but in Job 17 verse 14, Job said, I have said to corruption, Thou art my father: to the worm, Thou art my mother, and my sister. So the worms then were eating him as well.

And here's Job suffering immensely. And you've got to remember, when his three friends come, they do not give him any comfort. They falsely accuse him and falsely condemn him. I want to read to you what one commentator said on this verse 9. Here it seems to be a strong irony. Job was exceedingly afflicted and apparently dying through sore disease, yet his soul was filled with gratitude to God. His wife, destitute of the salvation which her husband possessed, gave him this ironical reproof, bless God and die. What? Bless him for his goodness while he is destroying all that thou hast. Bless him for his support while he is casting thee down and destroying thee. Bless on and die. And die, probably, she regarded God as a stern and severe being. And suppose that by indulging in blasphemy, Job would provoke him to cut him off at once.

She did not expect him to lay wicked hands upon himself. She expected that God would at once interpose and destroy him. The sense is that nothing but death was expected, and the sooner he provoked God to cut him off from the land of the living, the better. Wow. Who needs a wife like that? With enmity toward God, with uncharitableness towards her husband, is there in her words more than mockery.

Job’s Godly Response and Sovereignty

Job understood God’s sovereignty, asking whether we should receive good but not evil from God. True piety submits to God’s arrangements without complaint.

Would she be counseling him to commit suicide? Would she be counseling him just to take God on and rebel and let God kill him? But I want you to understand that Job repels her in a godly manner. I came across in my studies this little poem. Concerning Job, listen carefully. And by the way, the author is not given. It just simply says this. When the devil engaged with Job's patience in battle, tooth and nail strove to weary him out of his life.

He robbed him of children, slaves, house and castle, but mark me, he ne'er thought of taking his wife. But heaven at length, Job's forbearance rewards. At length, double wealth, double honor arrives. Heaven doubles his children, slaves, house and herds. But we don't hear a word of a couple of wives. Well, who would want two wives like that? No man needs a wife like Job's wife, much less a couple of them. Her counsel was wicked. Her agitation was vile.

And let me tell you something, folks. I don't care how much you suffer. I don't care how much pain you are in. Death is never an easy way out if you're going to take it in rebellion to God. Job was indeed quite a man. Job was a man who was filled with biblical graces and biblical attitudes.

Now, men, I want to ask you a question. If you're suffering. And if you're destitute. And your wife of a lifetime comes to you and mocks you and counsels you to curse God and die. How would you respond to such counsel? I am almost positive that most of us would have yelled, screamed, and become incensed at such atrocious advice. I am sure that most of us would not and could not have contained ourselves.

Job was different because of his integrity. Job not only kept his cool, but he gave forth a biblical answer. Look in verse 10. After she admonishes him to curse God and die. But he said unto her, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? Shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? In all this did not Job sin with his lips. Job gave a biblical answer.

He bravely resisted and he overcame the temptation. He not only gave her an answer, he gave her a right, a good and godly answer. I want you to think for a moment. Satan had smitten him from the top of his head to the bottom of his foot. And the only limitation Satan had was this. God said, you may touch his body, but you must spare his life. Could it be that Satan spared the use of his tongue in hopes that he would curse God with it? And yet he uses his tongue.

To give a blessed truth. And he retains his integrity. I want you to notice. Although Job's wife spoke foolishly. Job did not call his wife foolish, nor did he call her a fool. He simply states in verse 10 that she is speaking as one of the foolish women speaks. The word foolish in the Hebrew refers to one that is stupid or foolish. It also refers to one that is wicked and impious as well as ungodly. I want you to note that the word sin and the word folly are closely connected in scripture because in the scripture sin is regarded as the supreme folly. And so he tells his wife, you're speaking as one of the stupid women speaks, as one of the foolish women, as one of the wicked women, as a woman who's impious.

She may not or she may have been mocking him as well as upbraiding him for his continual trust in the Lord and holding fast to biblical principles. Yet Job did not attack her. I want to remind you of something. Do you remember when David brought the ark to Jerusalem? Michal saw David dancing before the Lord, and she despised him in her heart. And she mocked him. And consequently, the Bible says God cursed her and she bore no children. She died childless. So here, Job's wife is basically mocking him. And so she comes to him and says, Dost thou still retain thine integrity? Curse God and die.

And he said, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? Shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? Listen very carefully. If you truly and genuinely understand the sovereignty of God. Then you must understand. That in his divine providence. Whatever God allows to come to pass in our lives, he allows to come to pass for our good and his glory.

We just lost two friends. Our brother Joe died of cancer in four months. Brother Lowry just died of cancer after fighting it for four years. Brother Lowry was in far more pain and agony than our brother Joe was. But have you ever stopped to think about this? When God allows us to suffer greatly, His comfort is also greatly increased as well. So Job says, What? Shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? What is the understanding? He understands God's sovereignty. He understands God's providence.

He understood Romans 8:28, though it was never written. And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. I want to read to you what Albert Barnes said, one of the commentators. Listen. He's commentating on verse 10, shall we receive good at the hand of God and not evil? He says this, Shall we not expect it? Shall we not be willing to bear it when it comes? Shall we not have sufficient confidence in him to believe that his dealings are ordered in goodness and equity? Shall we at once lose all of our confidence in our great benefactor the moment he takes away our comforts and visits us with pain? This is the true expression of piety. It submits to all the arrangements of God without complaint.

It receives blessings with gratitude. It is resigned when calamities are sent in their place. It esteems it as a mere favor to be permitted to breathe the air which God has made, to look upon the light of his sun, to tread upon his earth, to inhale the fragrance of his flowers, and to enjoy the society of friends whom he gives. And when he takes one or all away, it feels that he is not only that he has taken only that which belongs to him, and withdraws a privilege to which we had no claim. In addition to that, true piety feels that all claim to any blessing, if it had ever existed, has been forfeited by sin. What right has a sinner to complain when God withdraws his favor and subjects him to suffering? What claim has he on God that he should make it wrong for him to visit him with a calamity?

Wherefore doth a living man complain, a man for the punishment of his sins? Lamentations 3:39. Stop and think about that. What right do we have to any of God's blessings? The answer is none. Why in the world should we complain when God brings suffering or calamity upon us? I must hasten to point this out. Job had far more blessings than he had curses. He had far more good days than he had bad days.

Applications of Biblical Integrity

Applications include pleasing God, the importance of a godly wife, maturity through Scripture, rejecting temptations to curse God, and guarding one’s speech.

Now, I want to spend the rest of my time making some applications. And I want you to listen carefully to these. First of all, Job is applauded by the Lord himself for holding fast his integrity. The sovereign God of heaven and earth looked at Satan and said, Hast thou considered my servant Job? There's none like him. He's a mature, upright man. He holdeth fast his integrity, even though you moved me against him without cause.

Let me tell you something. Obviously, biblical integrity pleases the Lord. It glorifies the Lord. It is an acknowledgement and worship of the Lord when you and I stand true in desperate situations and hold fast to the faith and hold fast to biblical obedience. If you want to honor and glorify God, if you want to please Him, you need to develop biblical integrity in your life. OK. Here's my second application. This would be.

For all men and women, especially the younger men. I want you to understand the importance of having a good and godly wife. You've heard me say this before, and it is the absolute truth. A woman can make or break a man. And that's the truth. She can support him and stand by him and be a real blessing. Or she can whine and complain and bellyache and attack him and be a curse. Each one of you know that God counsels and commands wives to be like godly Sarah.

In first Peter chapter three. And everyone in here knows the description of the good, godly and energetic wife of Proverbs 31. I want to read to you what one author said about Job's wife. Would you listen? What experience of life and insight the writer manifests in introducing Job's wife as the mocking opposer of his constant piety. Job had lost his children, but this wife he has retained, for he needed not to be tried by losing her. He was tried and proven sufficiently by having her.

She is further on, once referred to, but even then not to her advantage. Why, asked Chrysostom, did the devil leave him his wife? Because he thought her a good scourge by which to plague him more acutely than by any other means. Moreover, the thought is not for distance, that distant that God left her to him in order that when in the glorious issue of his sufferings, he receives everything doubled, he might not have this thorn in the flesh also doubled. Wow.

Now, I want you to listen, I told you that a good godly woman can make a man. An ungodly woman and an unkind woman can break a man. In First Kings 21 and verse 25, every one of you in here know. Each one knows that Ahab was the most wicked king in Israel. Now listen, First Kings 21, 25. But there was none like unto Ahab, which did sell himself to work wickedness in the sight of the Lord, whom Jezebel his wife stirred up. Ahab was wicked enough in and of himself, but he had a wicked wife who constantly stirred him up. It was Jezebel that caused the murder of Naboth and his sons.

Do you remember Solomon and all of his wisdom? In his old age, he kind of lost some of that wisdom. Because the Bible says in Nehemiah 13 in verse 26, Did not Solomon king of Israel sin by these things? yet among many nations was there no king like him, who was beloved of his God, and God made him king over Israel: nevertheless even him did outlandish women cause to sin. And you go back to 1 Kings and you'll find that Solomon built all of those altars to these false, wicked gods for his wives. Here's the third application. Biblical integrity only comes with age, experience and application. May I remind you. When we talk about Job's integrity. Job was an older man with grown children. Notice, Brother Wayne, I didn't say old man, he's just an older man with grown children. Now.

I realize that the scripture tells us that old men are not always wise. I understand that. But I want you to understand this. When we are converted, we do not instantly and miraculously become wise, holy and full of wisdom and integrity. We don't. No, integrity comes as we grow in grace and apply God's Word to our lives and develop biblical convictions. Let me prove this. How many of you would really want and desire to live your life all over again knowing what you know now? Wouldn't you?

Look at all the sins we would avoid. Look at all the stupid mistakes that we would not repeat. If we could start out being a young man and knowing what we know now. Now, the point I'm trying to make is this. We will never mature. And we will never possess biblical integrity unless we study and apply God's Word to our lives. Do you remember that passage in Psalm 119, verses 9-11, where David asked, Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed thereto according to thy word. With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments. Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. So as a young man, you have to study the Word of God. You have to make applications in order that you might have biblical convictions and mature in biblical integrity. If you do not have a desire to study and a desire to learn and a desire to apply God's Word in your life, then very obviously you're not going to end up with biblical integrity. You can't. It's impossible. The point I'm trying to make is this. I might have done some things stupidly when I was 20 years old that I would never do now.

Because I did not have the integrity then that I hope by God's grace, I have now. So we're going to be like Job. We have to study the word of God, we have to make application in our lives and conform our lives to that word in order to develop a biblical integrity. Number four, listen carefully. Temptations to curse God, sin against Him, defy Him, and distrust Him should be rejected with the greatest of horrors. We must refuse to identify with anyone or anything that mocks or reproaches our Heavenly Father. I've got news for you. I am not going to listen to music that mocks God or is unbiblical. I'm not going to watch a TV program that mocks God. And I'm not just talking about making fun of God, but I'm talking about pushing those things which God condemns. I'm not going to sit there and watch a program that's got a bunch of queers or homos in it. I'm not. I'm not going to watch something that's got abortion and adultery. I'm not. I'm just simply saying, I'm not even going to read things that intimates that somehow that God is unkind or unfaithful or untrue. No, I'm not going to do that. And you and I have to understand that we cannot put those things in our mind. What we must put on our mind is His Word. And by the way. Past mercies.

should make present afflictions light and easy to endure. Why? Because of our faith in Him. And we know that since He has blessed us and been merciful to us in times past, we have hope then for those future mercies and future blessings. When I'm sick, I have hope that God's going to heal me. Because he healed me in times past. When I need a blessing, I have hope that God is going to bless me because he's blessed me so bountifully in times past. So past mercies should make present afflictions more easily endured. One last.

Application, I love the way verse 10 ends. Look at Job 2 and verse 10. Here's the ending of it. In all this. Job did not sin with his lips. Do you know it's our mouth that gets us in trouble most of the time? Every one of us has said things we wish we had never said. And you know, the computer is the same way. When you hit that little send button, you can't take back a word that you've written. It's there for anybody and everybody to see. David said it like this in Psalm 34 and verse 13, Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile. I love Psalm 39, verse one, where David said, I said, I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue: I will keep my mouth with a bridle, while the wicked is before me. And one of my favorite verses is Proverbs 21:23. Let me quote it. Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles. Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles.

I want you to know Job said what needed to be said. But he left out that which was not needed to be said. We need wisdom. And this is where biblical integrity comes in. We need wisdom to say what needs to be said. And we need the same biblical wisdom to refrain from saying what does not need to be said. Curse God and die, said his wife. What?

You're speaking as one of the foolish women speaks. What? Shall we receive good at the hand of God and not evil? And all this Job sinned not with his lips. Each of us need to seek biblical integrity and apply it in every area of our lives. Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, we bow before Thee. We honor Thee. We glorify Thee. And Lord, we marvel at Job and the integrity that he had and the grace that You gave him and the mercy. And Lord, we do ask today for that biblical integrity in our lives.

Study Guide

Major Themes

Definition and Nature of Biblical Integrity

Summary: Integrity is uprightness, perfection, simplicity, and obedience to God’s word; it involves eschewing evil and holding fast to truth.

Evidence: The word integrity in the Hebrew refers to uprightness, perfection, completeness, simplicity, fullness... integrity consists of walking uprightly and refusing to do that which is evil, sinful, and contrary to God's Word.

Integrity as Preservation and Guidance

Summary: Integrity preserves believers in trials, enables them to stand in an even place, and guides their choices and ministry to others.

Evidence: Let integrity and uprightness preserve me... my foot standeth in an even place... The integrity of the upright shall guide them.

Job’s Integrity Amid Suffering

Summary: Job retained his integrity despite losing everything and being afflicted with boils; he worshipped God and did not sin with his lips.

Evidence: In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly... still he holdeth fast his integrity.

The Foolishness of Job’s Wife

Summary: Job’s wife counseled him to curse God and die, revealing her lack of faith; Job rebuked her gently, calling her speech foolish but not attacking her person.

Evidence: Then said his wife unto him, Dost thou still retain thine integrity? Curse God and die... Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh.

God’s Sovereignty in Good and Evil

Summary: Job acknowledged that both good and adversity come from God’s hand, and true piety submits without complaint, trusting God’s purposes.

Evidence: What? Shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? ...true piety feels that all claim to any blessing... has been forfeited by sin.

Practical Applications of Integrity

Summary: Believers must develop integrity to please God, choose godly spouses, mature through Scripture, reject temptations to curse God, and guard their speech.

Evidence: Biblical integrity pleases the Lord... A woman can make or break a man... integrity comes as we grow in grace and apply God's Word... keep thy tongue from evil.

Key Arguments

Integrity is obedience to God’s commands

Summary: Biblical integrity equals walking in obedience to God’s statutes and judgments, as seen in God’s words to Solomon about David.

Evidence: If thou wilt walk before me, as David thy father walked, in integrity of heart... to do according to all that I have commanded thee.

Integrity enables worship in suffering

Summary: Job’s integrity allowed him to worship and bless God even after losing his children and possessions, demonstrating that integrity sustains faith in dire situations.

Evidence: Then Job arose... and fell down upon the ground and worshipped... blessed be the name of the Lord.

A godly response to foolish counsel

Summary: Job responded to his wife’s wicked advice with a biblical answer, not sinning with his lips, showing that integrity controls the tongue.

Evidence: But he said unto her, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh... In all this did not Job sin with his lips.

Suffering is a gift from God

Summary: Suffering is given by God for believers’ good and His glory, and it brings greater consolation and grace.

Evidence: For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ... to suffer for his sake... suffering is a gift of God.

Past mercies ease present afflictions

Summary: Remembering God’s past blessings and healings gives hope and makes current trials easier to endure.

Evidence: Past mercies should make present afflictions light and easy to endure... because he healed me in times past.

Guarding the tongue is essential to integrity

Summary: Job sinned not with his lips; believers must keep their mouths from evil to avoid troubles and maintain integrity.

Evidence: Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles.

Scripture References

Job 2:9-10

Context: The main text: Job’s wife tells him to curse God and die; Job rebukes her and does not sin with his lips.

Psalm 7:8

Context: David asks God to judge him according to his righteousness and integrity.

Psalm 26:1

Context: David asks God to judge him because he has walked in integrity.

Genesis 20:5-6

Context: Abimelech claims integrity of heart in taking Sarah, and God acknowledges his simplicity.

Job 1:1

Context: Job is described as perfect, upright, fearing God, and eschewing evil.

Psalm 25:21

Context: David prays for integrity and uprightness to preserve him.

Psalm 26:11

Context: David declares he will walk in integrity and asks for redemption and mercy.

Psalm 26:1-12

Context: David describes walking in integrity, avoiding evildoers, and standing in an even place.

Psalm 78:72

Context: David fed Israel according to the integrity of his heart.

Proverbs 11:3

Context: The integrity of the upright guides them.

Proverbs 19:1

Context: Better is the poor who walks in integrity than a perverse fool.

Proverbs 20:7

Context: The just man walks in integrity; his children are blessed after him.

1 Kings 9:4-5

Context: God tells Solomon to walk in integrity as David did, keeping God’s commandments.

Psalm 41:12

Context: David says God upholds him in his integrity.

James 5:11

Context: Reference to the patience of Job and the Lord’s mercy.

Job 2:3

Context: God tells Satan that Job still holds fast his integrity despite being afflicted without cause.

Job 1:20-22

Context: Job worships after losing everything, saying the Lord gave and has taken away; he does not sin or charge God foolishly.

2 Samuel 12:20

Context: David worships after his child dies, similar to Job’s response.

Job 19:13-17

Context: Job describes how his wife and others have forsaken him.

Job 2:7-8

Context: Satan smites Job with boils; Job sits in ashes scraping himself.

Historical References

Abimelech in Genesis 20

Context: Abimelech took Sarah in integrity of heart, not knowing she was Abraham’s wife; God protected him from sinning.

David’s worship after his child’s death (2 Samuel 12)

Context: David arose, washed, and worshipped after his child died, paralleling Job’s response to loss.

Michal’s mockery of David

Context: Michal despised David for dancing before the Lord and was cursed with childlessness.

Ahab and Jezebel

Context: Jezebel stirred up Ahab to wickedness, illustrating how an ungodly wife can destroy a man.

Solomon’s foreign wives

Context: Solomon’s outlandish women caused him to sin by building altars to false gods.

Important Quotes

Dost thou still retain thine integrity? Curse God and die.

Significance: Job’s wife’s foolish and wicked counsel, which tests Job’s integrity.

Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? Shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil?

Significance: Job’s godly response, demonstrating his understanding of God’s sovereignty and his refusal to sin with his lips.

In all this did not Job sin with his lips.

Significance: Highlights Job’s self-control and integrity even under extreme provocation.

The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.

Significance: Job’s worshipful response to devastating loss, exemplifying integrity in suffering.

Biblical integrity will enable you to stand in an even place in an uneven world and in an uneven life.

Significance: Summarizes the preserving and stabilizing effect of integrity.

The just man walketh in his integrity: his children are blessed after him.

Significance: Shows the generational blessing of a life of integrity.

Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles.

Significance: Emphasizes the importance of guarding speech as part of integrity.

Discussion Questions

How does the Hebrew meaning of integrity (uprightness, perfection, simplicity) challenge or expand your current understanding of the word?

Context: The sermon defines integrity from the Hebrew and its first use in Genesis 20.

In what ways does integrity preserve and guide a believer according to Psalm 26 and Proverbs 11:3?

Context: The sermon explains that integrity enables standing in an even place and guides choices.

Why is Job’s response to his wife’s counsel considered a model of biblical integrity, and how can we apply it when facing foolish advice?

Context: Job did not sin with his lips but gave a godly answer rooted in God’s sovereignty.

How does understanding God’s sovereignty help believers accept both good and adversity without complaint?

Context: Job’s question, ‘Shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil?’ is discussed.

What role does a spouse play in either strengthening or undermining a believer’s integrity, based on the examples of Job’s wife, Jezebel, and Solomon’s wives?

Context: The sermon applies the importance of a godly spouse and warns against ungodly influences.

Why is maturity and the study of God’s Word essential for developing biblical integrity, and how does Psalm 119:9-11 support this?

Context: Integrity comes with age, experience, and application of Scripture.

What practical steps can we take to guard our tongues and avoid sinning with our lips, as Job did?

Context: The sermon ends with an application on keeping the mouth from evil.

Applications

Develop biblical integrity to please and glorify God

Summary: Believers should cultivate integrity because it pleases the Lord and honors Him, especially in desperate situations.

Evidence: Biblical integrity pleases the Lord. It glorifies the Lord... you need to develop biblical integrity in your life.

Choose a godly spouse

Summary: A godly wife can make a man, while an ungodly one can break him; young men should seek a wife like the Proverbs 31 woman.

Evidence: A woman can make or break a man... God counsels and commands wives to be like godly Sarah.

Mature in integrity through Scripture and application

Summary: Integrity is not instant; it comes by studying and applying God’s Word, leading to biblical convictions.

Evidence: We will never possess biblical integrity unless we study and apply God's Word to our lives.

Reject temptations to curse or distrust God

Summary: Believers must refuse to identify with anything that mocks God, including media that promotes sin.

Evidence: Temptations to curse God... should be rejected with the greatest of horrors... I am not going to listen to music that mocks God.

Guard your speech

Summary: Like Job, believers should say what is needed and refrain from what is not, keeping the tongue from evil to avoid troubles.

Evidence: Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles... we need wisdom to say what needs to be said.

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deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | weaver_study | 2026-06-05T22:36:07Z

Clean Transcript

Biblical Integrity

Clean readable transcript. This view follows the Commentary.net cleaned segment text while preserving timestamps for audio follow-along.

The book of Job, chapter 2, and we're going to read verses 9 and 10. Job, chapter 2, verses 9 and 10. The message is entitled Biblical Integrity. Notice Job, chapter 2, verse 9. Job 2, verse 9, Then said his wife unto him, Dost thou still retain thine integrity? Curse God and die. But he said unto her, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? Shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? In all this did not Job sin with his lips. Integrity is a missing attribute in the lives of most people, even in the lives of most professing Christians. Unhappily, the average professing Christian cannot be clearly distinguished from the average unsaved person. Truthfully, many do not even know what the word integrity means, much less how it is to be applied in our lives. We do not know the essence of integrity and therefore we do not need or know its value.
#1 | 0:01 to 1:17 | cleaned
So let me ask you a very important question. Listen carefully before I even share the scriptures with you concerning integrity. Would you be willing right now to pray David's petition that he petitioned God in Psalm 7 and in Psalm 26? You say, well, wait a minute. I've got to know what that petition is. Well, if you'll just hold Job chapter 2, turn right over to Psalm 7. And then we're going to Psalm 26. And you might as well hold Psalm 26, because we will be going back there. But look in your Bibles to Psalm 7, verse 8 first. I'm sorry, it's Psalm 7, verse 8. Psalm 7, verse 8. Look at David's petition. Psalm 7, verse 8. Look what he said.
#2 | 1:17 to 2:14 | cleaned
The Lord shall judge the people. Judge me, O Lord, according to my righteousness, and according to my integrity that is in me. Wow! Would you be willing to pray right now that God would judge you according to the integrity that you have? Well, look in Psalm 26 and verse 1, and if you will just hold that passage, we'll come back there just momentarily. But look in Psalm 26 and verse 1 where David says this again, Judge me, O LORD, for I have walked in my integrity. I have trusted also in the Lord, therefore I shall not slide. So he is asking God again to judge him because he has walked in his integrity. So would you at this point in time and history be willing for God to judge you according to the integrity that you have? So my question would be then, would you stand or fall based upon your integrity?
#3 | 2:15 to 3:19 | cleaned
The word integrity in the Hebrew refers to uprightness, perfection, completeness, simplicity, fullness. Now, the very first time the word integrity is used in the Bible demonstrates the meaning of simplicity. If you remember, and you don't have to turn there, but if you remember in Genesis chapter 20, Abraham had said to Abimelech concerning Sarah, his wife, that she's my sister. And even Sarah herself said, he's my brother. And Abimelech saw Sarah, that she was an exceedingly beautiful woman and very desirable. And I think at that time she was pushing 80 or 90.
#4 | 3:22 to 4:13 | cleaned
So God really blessed her, that is for sure. Because Isaac was born when she was 90 and Abraham was 100. And so Abimelech saw her and had taken her to be his wife. In fact, he did take her. And God came to Abimelech in a dream at night and said, if you touch her, you're a dead man. I'll kill you because she's a man's wife. And he had fast closed up all the wombs in Abimelech's household. And so in Genesis 20, verse 5 and 6, Abimelech said this, Said he not unto me, She is my sister? And she, even she herself said, He is my brother.
#5 | 4:13 to 4:58 | cleaned
In the integrity of my heart and in the innocency of my hands have I done this. And God said unto him in a dream, Yea, I know that thou didst this in the integrity of thine heart, for I have also withheld thee from sinning against me, therefore I suffered thee not to touch her. So what did Abimelech say? In the integrity of my heart, have I done this? In other words, Abimelech is saying, Lord, my sin in taking Sarah was unintentional and unpremeditated. It was done in my simplicity.
#6 | 4:59 to 5:34 | cleaned
Had I not been deceived, I would not have taken this woman because even her husband said she's my sister and she herself said, I am his sister. So God, in this instance, did sovereignly protect Abimelech from violating Sarah and sinning against him. But he said, in the integrity of my heart and the innocence of my heart. And I was simple in this. I did not know the true situation. I want to show you that integrity consists of walking uprightly and refusing to do that which is evil, sinful, and contrary to God's Word. If you would look in your Bibles to Job chapter 1 and verse 1, the Bible says this, There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job, and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God and eschewed evil. I really like that word, eschewed.
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Let me tell you what it means. He couldn't stomach evil. He couldn't swallow it. He spit it out. So integrity, then, consists of walking uprightly and eschewing or spitting out evil and wickedness and anything that's contrary to God in His Word. Integrity involves holding fast to truth regardless of circumstances or situations. Now, let me just tell you that integrity is that which preserves us and enables us to persevere in the face of unethical and immoral situations.
#8 | 6:39 to 7:22 | cleaned
Let me give you two scriptures. David said in Psalm 25 in verse 21, Let integrity and uprightness preserve me; for I wait upon thee. And then he said in Psalm 26 and verse 11, But as for me, I will walk in my integrity: redeem me, and be merciful unto me.
#9 | 7:24 to 7:48 | cleaned
Now, I told you that integrity is that which preserves us and protects us and enables us to face unethical and immoral situations in a straightforward manner. If you will go back to Psalm 26, I want to read this entire Psalm just so I can prove this point to you that it is indeed integrity that protects and preserves us. Look what he said. Psalm 26, verse 1. Judge me, O Lord, for I have walked in mine integrity. I have trusted also in the Lord, therefore I shall not slide. Examine me, O Lord, and prove me, and try my reins and my heart, for thy lovingkindness is before mine eyes. Did you hear that? And I have walked in thy truth.
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I have not sat with vain persons, neither will I go in with dissemblers. I have hated the congregation of evildoers, and will not sit with the wicked. I will wash my hands in innocency, so will I compass thine altar, O Lord, that I may publish with the voice of thanksgiving, and tell of all thy wondrous works. Lord, I have loved the habitation of thy house, and the place where thine honour dwelleth.
#11 | 8:43 to 9:09 | cleaned
Gather not my soul with sinners, nor my life with bloody men, in whose hands is mischief, and their right hand is full of bribes. But as for me, I will walk in mine integrity: redeem me, and be merciful unto me. My foot standeth in an even place: in the congregations will I bless the Lord.
#12 | 9:10 to 9:31 | cleaned
Now, I want you to notice what he said. He's walked in God's truth. Therefore, he's not sat with vain persons. He's not going to sit with the wicked. He's not going to associate with evildoers. He's going to compass God's altar. He loves the habitation of God's house. He does not want to be with wicked, ungodly men. He does not want to be around mischief and men who take bribes.
#13 | 9:32 to 10:01 | cleaned
And then he says, because of this biblical integrity, my foot standeth in an even place. So let me just tell you this. Biblical integrity will enable you to stand in an even place in an uneven world and in an uneven life. So he says, my integrity has enabled me to do this. Now, I want you to understand that biblical integrity is more than an attribute. It is more than a characteristic. It is a way of life. Moreover, it is a way of life that leads us, guides us and directs us in our choices.
#14 | 10:02 to 10:47 | cleaned
It has implications and applications not only in our lives, but in the lives of our family and friends as well. Biblical integrity will enable us to minister to others. Listen carefully. One cannot give out that which he does not possess. You know what was said about David in Psalm 78 and verse 72. Listen to this. So he fed them, that is the people of Israel. So he fed them according to the integrity of his heart and he guided them with the skillfulness of his hands. He fed them with the integrity of his heart. The Bible says in Proverbs 11 verse 3, The integrity of the upright shall guide them: but the perverseness of transgressors shall destroy them. So it's integrity then that guides us. And God said in Proverbs 19 verse 1, Better is the poor that walketh in his integrity, than he that is perverse in his lips, and is a fool. So God said you'd rather be poor and have integrity, than be perverse and be rich and be a fool. And then in Proverbs 20, verse 7, I want you to listen to this.
#15 | 10:48 to 12:18 | cleaned
The just man walketh in his integrity: his children are blessed after him. You not only cannot dish out that which you do not possess, you cannot pass on to your children that which you do not possess. I'm trying to emphasize that biblical integrity in reality is a life of obedience to God and his word. Each one in this room knows that David was called a man after God's own heart.
#16 | 12:19 to 12:57 | cleaned
I want you to hold Job 2, but I want you to turn to First Kings chapter nine. First Kings chapter nine, and I want you to see what God told Solomon. David's son who ascended to the throne after David's death. So look in 1 Kings 9 and begin with verses 4 and 5, just showing you and demonstrating again that biblical integrity equals obedience. Notice 1 Kings 9, verse 4. Look what God tells Solomon. And if thou wilt walk before me, as David thy father walked, in integrity of heart and in uprightness, to do according to all that I have commanded thee, and wilt keep my statutes and my judgments: then I will establish the throne of thy kingdom upon Israel for ever, as I promised to David thy father, saying, There shall not fail thee a man upon the throne of Israel. Notice what he told Solomon. If you will walk in the integrity of the heart, the way David did, and you keep my commandments, and my statutes and my judgments, then I'm going to honor you and I'm going to bless you.
#17 | 12:58 to 14:15 | cleaned
Now, when you understand that biblical integrity is obedience to God, you can now understand David's statement in Psalm 41 in verse 12 when he says, And as for me, thou upholdest me in mine integrity, and settest me before thy face for ever. So what is God doing? God is upholding those that obey him. David said, you uphold me in my integrity.
#18 | 14:15 to 14:49 | cleaned
Now, when we talk about Job, one of the characteristics or attributes that Job is known for is his patience. You remember, it was James, the apostle who spoke in James 5 and verse 11, and he said this, Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy. You've heard of the patience of Job. Now, it should be evident that Job's patience was in reality a manifestation and a demonstration of his integrity. He had biblical integrity.
#19 | 14:49 to 15:34 | cleaned
and therefore he was patient in his sufferings. Now I want you to look in Job 2 and verse 3 at the question that God asks Satan. Job 2 verse 3. Job 2 verse 3. Watch carefully. And the Lord said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect or mature and an upright man, one that feareth God and escheweth evil? and still, that is, in light of all that Satan hath afflicted him with, and still he holdeth fast his integrity, although thou movedst me against him, to destroy him without cause. Without me reading and going over all of chapter one, most of you know that Job lost his ten children.
#20 | 15:36 to 16:38 | cleaned
He had seven sons, I believe, and three daughters. He had a multitude of possessions. He lost all of his possessions. And I might add, he lost all of his children, ten of them. And he lost all of his thousands of cattle in one day. In one day. In one day. And in light of all of that, Job still did not act defiantly or transgress against God. The Bible says in all this, Job sinned not with his lips.
#21 | 16:38 to 17:19 | cleaned
Now, I want you to underline something in your heart. I want you to understand my emphasis upon this point. Biblical integrity will enable you to give God honor and glory, worship and praise, even in the direst situations. What did Job do when he lost all ten children? What did Job do when he lost all of his possessions in one day? I will tell you what he did not do.
#22 | 17:19 to 17:54 | cleaned
He did not fall apart. He did not go into an emotional frenzy. He did not whine, complain, or bellyache, or attack God as being unfair and unkind. If you look in Job 1 and verse 20, you will see what he did do. Job 1 verse 20, after he's lost his ten children, all of his possessions, then Job arose and rent his mantle and shaved his head and fell down upon the ground and worshipped and said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither.
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The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord. And in all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly. Isn't that amazing? Just lost ten children. Lost everything he had. And yet he's still blessing and praising God. Did you know that David did exactly the same thing when his child died? In 2 Samuel, chapter 12 and verse 20, the Bible says, Then David arose from the earth, and washed, and anointed himself, and changed his apparel, and came into the house of the Lord, and worshipped: then he came to his own house; and when he required, they set bread before him, and he did eat. What did David do? He went to the house of the Lord and worshipped. Now, I want you to look back at Job 2 and verse 9. Because Job 2 verse 9 is a further elucidation of Job's integrity. Because in verse 9, Job's wife is giving him an admonition. She says in verse 9, Then said his wife unto him, Dost thou still retain thine integrity?
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Curse God, and die! Wow! For your information, Job's wife is referred to only twice in the book of Job. Each time and not so good a light. If you would turn to Job 19, and you might ought to mark this passage, we will come back there momentarily. Look in Job 19 and verse 17. Job says this, this is the second allusion to his wife in the entire book. He said, My breath is strange to my wife, though I intreated for the children's sake of mine own body. Now, a few scholars have tried to be kind to Job's wife by suggesting that her admonition in Job 2 and verse 9 was born out of her love for Job. She just did not want to see him suffer, and therefore, out of her great love for Job, she says, curse God and die.
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Well, personally, I don't believe that is the case. I will show you why. If you go back to Job 19, and let's begin reading at verse 13. And I want you to see how everyone forsook Job, including his wife. Notice Job 19 and verse 13. Job says this concerning what God has done in his sufferings. He says, He hath put my brethren far from me, and mine acquaintance are verily estranged from me.
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My kinfolk have failed, and my familiar friends have forgotten me. They that dwell in mine house, and my maids, count me for a stranger: I am an alien in their sight. They won't even speak to him. They avoid him. Watch what he says. I called my servant, and he gave me no answer; I intreated him with my mouth. My breath is strange to my wife, though I intreated for the children's sake of mine own body. In other words, his wife wouldn't have anything to do with him either. If his breath is strange to his wife, she's not near him, she's not around him, and he has to beg for her attendance for the children's sake, very obviously, she has forsaken him as well. If you look back at Job 2 and verse 9, one scholar has rendered what his wife says like this.
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And yet dost thou hold fast on integrity, blessing God and dying? In other words, his wife would have been absolutely baffled at Job. How could he continue to bless and praise God even while he was suffering and dying? If that is a correct interpretation, then obviously Job's wife was a stranger to the grace of God, or at least completely and totally ignorant of truth. Another scholar that I read said this, I could not help but smile. He said, it is incredible that an angry woman could be content with saying so little as is ascribed in the Hebrew to the wife of Job.
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Well, she may not have said much, but what she did say certainly revealed not only her character, but her lack of faith as well. I want you to understand that Job has not only lost everything at this point, he is sitting in a pile of ashes with boils all over his body and worms eating his body. And he's sitting in that pile of ashes with a potsherd that is a broken piece of pottery and he's scraping his boils and scraping the worms off as well. Look in Job 2 verse 7. So went Satan forth from the presence of the Lord, and smote Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot unto his crown. And he took him a potsherd to scrape himself withal; and he sat down among the ashes. You say, well, that doesn't say anything about worms there. No, but in Job 17 verse 14, Job said, I have said to corruption, Thou art my father: to the worm, Thou art my mother, and my sister. So the worms then were eating him as well.
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And here's Job suffering immensely. And you've got to remember, when his three friends come, they do not give him any comfort. They falsely accuse him and falsely condemn him. I want to read to you what one commentator said on this verse 9. Here it seems to be a strong irony. Job was exceedingly afflicted and apparently dying through sore disease, yet his soul was filled with gratitude to God. His wife, destitute of the salvation which her husband possessed, gave him this ironical reproof, bless God and die. What? Bless him for his goodness while he is destroying all that thou hast. Bless him for his support while he is casting thee down and destroying thee. Bless on and die. And die, probably, she regarded God as a stern and severe being. And suppose that by indulging in blasphemy, Job would provoke him to cut him off at once.
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She did not expect him to lay wicked hands upon himself. She expected that God would at once interpose and destroy him. The sense is that nothing but death was expected, and the sooner he provoked God to cut him off from the land of the living, the better. Wow. Who needs a wife like that? With enmity toward God, with uncharitableness towards her husband, is there in her words more than mockery.
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Would she be counseling him to commit suicide? Would she be counseling him just to take God on and rebel and let God kill him? But I want you to understand that Job repels her in a godly manner. I came across in my studies this little poem. Concerning Job, listen carefully. And by the way, the author is not given. It just simply says this. When the devil engaged with Job's patience in battle, tooth and nail strove to weary him out of his life.
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He robbed him of children, slaves, house and castle, but mark me, he ne'er thought of taking his wife. But heaven at length, Job's forbearance rewards. At length, double wealth, double honor arrives. Heaven doubles his children, slaves, house and herds. But we don't hear a word of a couple of wives. Well, who would want two wives like that? No man needs a wife like Job's wife, much less a couple of them. Her counsel was wicked. Her agitation was vile.
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And let me tell you something, folks. I don't care how much you suffer. I don't care how much pain you are in. Death is never an easy way out if you're going to take it in rebellion to God. Job was indeed quite a man. Job was a man who was filled with biblical graces and biblical attitudes.
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Now, men, I want to ask you a question. If you're suffering. And if you're destitute. And your wife of a lifetime comes to you and mocks you and counsels you to curse God and die. How would you respond to such counsel? I am almost positive that most of us would have yelled, screamed, and become incensed at such atrocious advice. I am sure that most of us would not and could not have contained ourselves.
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Job was different because of his integrity. Job not only kept his cool, but he gave forth a biblical answer. Look in verse 10. After she admonishes him to curse God and die. But he said unto her, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? Shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? In all this did not Job sin with his lips. Job gave a biblical answer.
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He bravely resisted and he overcame the temptation. He not only gave her an answer, he gave her a right, a good and godly answer. I want you to think for a moment. Satan had smitten him from the top of his head to the bottom of his foot. And the only limitation Satan had was this. God said, you may touch his body, but you must spare his life. Could it be that Satan spared the use of his tongue in hopes that he would curse God with it? And yet he uses his tongue.
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To give a blessed truth. And he retains his integrity. I want you to notice. Although Job's wife spoke foolishly. Job did not call his wife foolish, nor did he call her a fool. He simply states in verse 10 that she is speaking as one of the foolish women speaks. The word foolish in the Hebrew refers to one that is stupid or foolish. It also refers to one that is wicked and impious as well as ungodly. I want you to note that the word sin and the word folly are closely connected in scripture because in the scripture sin is regarded as the supreme folly. And so he tells his wife, you're speaking as one of the stupid women speaks, as one of the foolish women, as one of the wicked women, as a woman who's impious.
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She may not or she may have been mocking him as well as upbraiding him for his continual trust in the Lord and holding fast to biblical principles. Yet Job did not attack her. I want to remind you of something. Do you remember when David brought the ark to Jerusalem? Michal saw David dancing before the Lord, and she despised him in her heart. And she mocked him. And consequently, the Bible says God cursed her and she bore no children. She died childless. So here, Job's wife is basically mocking him. And so she comes to him and says, Dost thou still retain thine integrity? Curse God and die.
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And he said, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? Shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? Listen very carefully. If you truly and genuinely understand the sovereignty of God. Then you must understand. That in his divine providence. Whatever God allows to come to pass in our lives, he allows to come to pass for our good and his glory.
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We just lost two friends. Our brother Joe died of cancer in four months. Brother Lowry just died of cancer after fighting it for four years. Brother Lowry was in far more pain and agony than our brother Joe was. But have you ever stopped to think about this? When God allows us to suffer greatly, His comfort is also greatly increased as well. So Job says, What? Shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? What is the understanding? He understands God's sovereignty. He understands God's providence.
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He understood Romans 8:28, though it was never written. And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. I want to read to you what Albert Barnes said, one of the commentators. Listen. He's commentating on verse 10, shall we receive good at the hand of God and not evil? He says this, Shall we not expect it?
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Shall we not be willing to bear it when it comes? Shall we not have sufficient confidence in him to believe that his dealings are ordered in goodness and equity? Shall we at once lose all of our confidence in our great benefactor the moment he takes away our comforts and visits us with pain? This is the true expression of piety. It submits to all the arrangements of God without complaint.
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It receives blessings with gratitude. It is resigned when calamities are sent in their place. It esteems it as a mere favor to be permitted to breathe the air which God has made, to look upon the light of his sun, to tread upon his earth, to inhale the fragrance of his flowers, and to enjoy the society of friends whom he gives. And when he takes one or all away, it feels that he is not only that he has taken only that which belongs to him, and withdraws a privilege to which we had no claim. In addition to that, true piety feels that all claim to any blessing, if it had ever existed, has been forfeited by sin. What right has a sinner to complain when God withdraws his favor and subjects him to suffering? What claim has he on God that he should make it wrong for him to visit him with a calamity?
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Wherefore doth a living man complain, a man for the punishment of his sins? Lamentations 3:39. Stop and think about that. What right do we have to any of God's blessings? The answer is none. Why in the world should we complain when God brings suffering or calamity upon us? I must hasten to point this out. Job had far more blessings than he had curses. He had far more good days than he had bad days.
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And it is true with us. Listen, folks. No matter how sick we become, no matter how destitute we become, no matter how much we suffer, we still must confess that God has not dealt with us according to our sins, nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. We've had far more blessed days than we've had cursed days. We've had far more days that we've been healthy than when we've been sick. The truth is, we've had mercy upon mercy, grace upon grace, and blessing upon blessing.
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So why in the world should we complain when we're smitten with some calamity or some evil? Are we not willing to suffer for our sins? Are we not willing to suffer for our own stupidity and our own acts of rebellion against God? Are we not willing to suffer for His glory? Are we not willing to learn by chastisement? You've got to remember, we can either learn by instruction of the Word or instruction of the rod.
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You know what the Bible says in Philippians 1 in verse 29? Listen carefully. For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake. Do you realize that just like faith is the gift of God, suffering is a gift of God? And God does not give that gift of faith to every individual, nor does He give the gift of suffering to every individual. But to those to whom He gives the gift of suffering, He also gives them greater consolation and greater grace and greater mercy.
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Do you remember the song, Am I a Soldier of the Cross? I want you to listen just a few stanzas. Am I a soldier of the cross, a follower of the Lamb? And shall I fear to own his cause or blush to speak his name? Here it is. Must I be carried to the skies on flowery beds of ease while others fought to win the prize and sailed through bloody seas?
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Are there no foes for me to face? Must I not stem the flood? Is this vile world a friend of grace to help me unto God? And the answer, of course, is no. Sure, I must fight if I would reign, increase my courage, Lord. I'll bear the toil, endure the pain, supported by thy word. Yeah, we suffer at times. What did Job say? What? What? Shall we receive good at the hand of God and not evil? In Proverbs 24 and verse 10, the Bible says this, If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small. If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small.
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You can also change that a little bit. If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy faith is small. Or thy integrity is small.
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Now, don't you listen to what Solomon said in Ecclesiastes 7 in verse 14. Here's what he said. In the day of prosperity be joyful, but in the day of adversity consider: God also hath set the one over against the other, to the end that man should find nothing after him. So what is he saying? In the day of adversity, be joyful in the day of prosperity. Be joyful. But in the day of adversity, consider, because what God is doing is setting one against the other, that we may find out that there is nothing under the sun worth living or dying for, except Him. Our hope, our trust, our faith, our comfort should be in God alone.
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Now, I want to spend the rest of my time making some applications. And I want you to listen carefully to these. First of all, Job is applauded by the Lord himself for holding fast his integrity. The sovereign God of heaven and earth looked at Satan and said, Hast thou considered my servant Job? There's none like him. He's a mature, upright man. He holdeth fast his integrity, even though you moved me against him without cause.
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Let me tell you something. Obviously, biblical integrity pleases the Lord. It glorifies the Lord. It is an acknowledgement and worship of the Lord when you and I stand true in desperate situations and hold fast to the faith and hold fast to biblical obedience. If you want to honor and glorify God, if you want to please Him, you need to develop biblical integrity in your life. OK. Here's my second application. This would be.
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For all men and women, especially the younger men. I want you to understand the importance of having a good and godly wife. You've heard me say this before, and it is the absolute truth. A woman can make or break a man. And that's the truth. She can support him and stand by him and be a real blessing. Or she can whine and complain and bellyache and attack him and be a curse. Each one of you know that God counsels and commands wives to be like godly Sarah.
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In first Peter chapter three. And everyone in here knows the description of the good, godly and energetic wife of Proverbs 31. I want to read to you what one author said about Job's wife. Would you listen? What experience of life and insight the writer manifests in introducing Job's wife as the mocking opposer of his constant piety. Job had lost his children, but this wife he has retained, for he needed not to be tried by losing her. He was tried and proven sufficiently by having her.
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She is further on, once referred to, but even then not to her advantage. Why, asked Chrysostom, did the devil leave him his wife? Because he thought her a good scourge by which to plague him more acutely than by any other means. Moreover, the thought is not for distance, that distant that God left her to him in order that when in the glorious issue of his sufferings, he receives everything doubled, he might not have this thorn in the flesh also doubled. Wow.
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Now, I want you to listen, I told you that a good godly woman can make a man. An ungodly woman and an unkind woman can break a man. In First Kings 21 and verse 25, every one of you in here know. Each one knows that Ahab was the most wicked king in Israel. Now listen, First Kings 21, 25. But there was none like unto Ahab, which did sell himself to work wickedness in the sight of the Lord, whom Jezebel his wife stirred up. Ahab was wicked enough in and of himself, but he had a wicked wife who constantly stirred him up. It was Jezebel that caused the murder of Naboth and his sons.
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Do you remember Solomon and all of his wisdom? In his old age, he kind of lost some of that wisdom. Because the Bible says in Nehemiah 13 in verse 26, Did not Solomon king of Israel sin by these things? yet among many nations was there no king like him, who was beloved of his God, and God made him king over Israel: nevertheless even him did outlandish women cause to sin. And you go back to 1 Kings and you'll find that Solomon built all of those altars to these false, wicked gods for his wives. Here's the third application. Biblical integrity only comes with age, experience and application. May I remind you. When we talk about Job's integrity. Job was an older man with grown children. Notice, Brother Wayne, I didn't say old man, he's just an older man with grown children. Now.
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I realize that the scripture tells us that old men are not always wise. I understand that. But I want you to understand this. When we are converted, we do not instantly and miraculously become wise, holy and full of wisdom and integrity. We don't. No, integrity comes as we grow in grace and apply God's Word to our lives and develop biblical convictions. Let me prove this. How many of you would really want and desire to live your life all over again knowing what you know now? Wouldn't you?
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Look at all the sins we would avoid. Look at all the stupid mistakes that we would not repeat. If we could start out being a young man and knowing what we know now.
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Now, the point I'm trying to make is this. We will never mature. And we will never possess biblical integrity unless we study and apply God's Word to our lives. Do you remember that passage in Psalm 119, verses 9-11, where David asked, Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed thereto according to thy word. With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments. Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. So as a young man, you have to study the Word of God. You have to make applications in order that you might have biblical convictions and mature in biblical integrity. If you do not have a desire to study and a desire to learn and a desire to apply God's Word in your life, then very obviously you're not going to end up with biblical integrity. You can't. It's impossible. The point I'm trying to make is this. I might have done some things stupidly when I was 20 years old that I would never do now.
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Because I did not have the integrity then that I hope by God's grace, I have now. So we're going to be like Job. We have to study the word of God, we have to make application in our lives and conform our lives to that word in order to develop a biblical integrity. Number four, listen carefully. Temptations to curse God, sin against Him, defy Him, and distrust Him should be rejected with the greatest of horrors.
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We must refuse to identify with anyone or anything that mocks or reproaches our Heavenly Father. I've got news for you. I am not going to listen to music that mocks God or is unbiblical. I'm not going to watch a TV program that mocks God. And I'm not just talking about making fun of God, but I'm talking about pushing those things which God condemns. I'm not going to sit there and watch a program that's got a bunch of queers or homos in it. I'm not. I'm not going to watch something that's got abortion and adultery. I'm not. I'm just simply saying, I'm not even going to read things that intimates that somehow that God is unkind or unfaithful or untrue. No, I'm not going to do that. And you and I have to understand that we cannot put those things in our mind. What we must put on our mind is His Word. And by the way. Past mercies.
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should make present afflictions light and easy to endure. Why? Because of our faith in Him. And we know that since He has blessed us and been merciful to us in times past, we have hope then for those future mercies and future blessings. When I'm sick, I have hope that God's going to heal me. Because he healed me in times past. When I need a blessing, I have hope that God is going to bless me because he's blessed me so bountifully in times past. So past mercies should make present afflictions more easily endured. One last.
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Application, I love the way verse 10 ends. Look at Job 2 and verse 10. Here's the ending of it. In all this. Job did not sin with his lips. Do you know it's our mouth that gets us in trouble most of the time? Every one of us has said things we wish we had never said. And you know, the computer is the same way. When you hit that little send button, you can't take back a word that you've written. It's there for anybody and everybody to see. David said it like this in Psalm 34 and verse 13, Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile. I love Psalm 39, verse one, where David said, I said, I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue: I will keep my mouth with a bridle, while the wicked is before me. And one of my favorite verses is Proverbs 21:23. Let me quote it. Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles. Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles.
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I want you to know Job said what needed to be said. But he left out that which was not needed to be said. We need wisdom. And this is where biblical integrity comes in. We need wisdom to say what needs to be said. And we need the same biblical wisdom to refrain from saying what does not need to be said. Curse God and die, said his wife. What?
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You're speaking as one of the foolish women speaks. What? Shall we receive good at the hand of God and not evil? And all this Job sinned not with his lips. Each of us need to seek biblical integrity and apply it in every area of our lives. Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, we bow before Thee. We honor Thee. We glorify Thee. And Lord, we marvel at Job and the integrity that he had and the grace that You gave him and the mercy. And Lord, we do ask today for that biblical integrity in our lives.
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Make us what we should be. Give us grace to serve Thee acceptably with reverence and godly fear. In Thy name we pray, Amen. This program was produced by Dominion Ministry. For more information about Pastor Weaver's sermons, you may contact Dominion Ministry by mail at 7400 Abercorn, that's A-B-E-R-C-O-R-N Street, Suite 705, PMB 175, Savannah, Georgia, 31406. Or give us a call at 912-925-0995.
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You can also visit our website at www.dominionministry.com
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deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | clean_readable_transcript | 2026-06-05T12:47:00Z

Biblical Integrity

John Weaver | Freedom Ministries

John Weaver preaches on biblical integrity from Job 2:9–10, defining it as uprightness, obedience to God, and holding fast to truth regardless of circumstances. He contrasts Job’s godly response to suffering with his wife’s foolish counsel to curse God and die, emphasizing that integrity preserves, guides, and blesses believers. Applications include the importance of a godly spouse, the need for maturity through Scripture, and guarding one’s speech.

Introduction and Definition of Integrity

Integrity as Obedience and Preservation

Integrity consists of walking uprightly and eschewing evil. It preserves and enables perseverance in unethical situations, as seen in David’s psalms.

Integrity Guides and Blesses

Biblical integrity guides choices, feeds others, and blesses one’s children. It is a life of obedience to God’s word, as God told Solomon about David.

Job’s Integrity in Suffering

Job’s patience was a manifestation of his integrity. Despite losing children and possessions, he worshipped God and did not sin with his lips.

Job’s Wife’s Foolish Counsel

Job’s wife told him to curse God and die. Job responded biblically, not calling her a fool but saying she spoke as foolish women do, and he did not sin.

Job’s Godly Response and Sovereignty

Job understood God’s sovereignty, asking whether we should receive good but not evil from God. True piety submits to God’s arrangements without complaint.

Applications of Biblical Integrity

Applications include pleasing God, the importance of a godly wife, maturity through Scripture, rejecting temptations to curse God, and guarding one’s speech.

Biblical Integrity

John Weaver | SermonAudio

Lecture Metadata	Details
Speaker	John Weaver
Source	SermonAudio
Media ID	123113150349
Subject	Old Testament Studies
Course	Proverbs: The Fear of the Lord and Wisdom: The Doctrine of Election
Genre	Sermon
Date	2013-09-08
Dictation Name
Book	Book 081: Proverbs: The Fear of the Lord and Wisdom - Volume 1 — Chapter 12
Source Timed Segments	70

Lecture Guide

Outline

Introduction and Definition of Integrity: Integrity is a missing attribute in most lives; the Hebrew word means uprightness, perfection, completeness, simplicity. The first biblical use (Genesis 20) shows it as simplicity or unintentional sin.
Integrity as Obedience and Preservation: Integrity consists of walking uprightly and eschewing evil. It preserves and enables perseverance in unethical situations, as seen in David’s psalms.
Integrity Guides and Blesses: Biblical integrity guides choices, feeds others, and blesses one’s children. It is a life of obedience to God’s word, as God told Solomon about David.
Job’s Integrity in Suffering: Job’s patience was a manifestation of his integrity. Despite losing children and possessions, he worshipped God and did not sin with his lips.
Job’s Wife’s Foolish Counsel: Job’s wife told him to curse God and die. Job responded biblically, not calling her a fool but saying she spoke as foolish women do, and he did not sin.
Job’s Godly Response and Sovereignty: Job understood God’s sovereignty, asking whether we should receive good but not evil from God. True piety submits to God’s arrangements without complaint.
Applications of Biblical Integrity: Applications include pleasing God, the importance of a godly wife, maturity through Scripture, rejecting temptations to curse God, and guarding one’s speech.

Major Themes

Key Arguments

Integrity is obedience to God’s commands

Biblical integrity equals walking in obedience to God’s statutes and judgments, as seen in God’s words to Solomon about David.

If thou wilt walk before me, as David thy father walked, in integrity of heart... to do according to all that I have commanded thee.

Integrity enables worship in suffering

Job’s integrity allowed him to worship and bless God even after losing his children and possessions, demonstrating that integrity sustains faith in dire situations.

Then Job arose... and fell down upon the ground and worshipped... blessed be the name of the Lord.

A godly response to foolish counsel

Job responded to his wife’s wicked advice with a biblical answer, not sinning with his lips, showing that integrity controls the tongue.

But he said unto her, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh... In all this did not Job sin with his lips.

Suffering is a gift from God

Suffering is given by God for believers’ good and His glory, and it brings greater consolation and grace.

For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ... to suffer for his sake... suffering is a gift of God.

Past mercies ease present afflictions

Remembering God’s past blessings and healings gives hope and makes current trials easier to endure.

Past mercies should make present afflictions light and easy to endure... because he healed me in times past.

Guarding the tongue is essential to integrity

Job sinned not with his lips; believers must keep their mouths from evil to avoid troubles and maintain integrity.

Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles.

Scripture References

Job 2:9-10: The main text: Job’s wife tells him to curse God and die; Job rebukes her and does not sin with his lips.
Psalm 7:8: David asks God to judge him according to his righteousness and integrity.
Psalm 26:1: David asks God to judge him because he has walked in integrity.
Genesis 20:5-6: Abimelech claims integrity of heart in taking Sarah, and God acknowledges his simplicity.
Job 1:1: Job is described as perfect, upright, fearing God, and eschewing evil.
Psalm 25:21: David prays for integrity and uprightness to preserve him.
Psalm 26:11: David declares he will walk in integrity and asks for redemption and mercy.
Psalm 26:1-12: David describes walking in integrity, avoiding evildoers, and standing in an even place.
Psalm 78:72: David fed Israel according to the integrity of his heart.
Proverbs 11:3: The integrity of the upright guides them.
Proverbs 19:1: Better is the poor who walks in integrity than a perverse fool.
Proverbs 20:7: The just man walks in integrity; his children are blessed after him.
1 Kings 9:4-5: God tells Solomon to walk in integrity as David did, keeping God’s commandments.
Psalm 41:12: David says God upholds him in his integrity.
James 5:11: Reference to the patience of Job and the Lord’s mercy.
Job 2:3: God tells Satan that Job still holds fast his integrity despite being afflicted without cause.
Job 1:20-22: Job worships after losing everything, saying the Lord gave and has taken away; he does not sin or charge God foolishly.
2 Samuel 12:20: David worships after his child dies, similar to Job’s response.
Job 19:13-17: Job describes how his wife and others have forsaken him.
Job 2:7-8: Satan smites Job with boils; Job sits in ashes scraping himself.

Historical References

Abimelech in Genesis 20: Abimelech took Sarah in integrity of heart, not knowing she was Abraham’s wife; God protected him from sinning.
David’s worship after his child’s death (2 Samuel 12): David arose, washed, and worshipped after his child died, paralleling Job’s response to loss.
Michal’s mockery of David: Michal despised David for dancing before the Lord and was cursed with childlessness.
Ahab and Jezebel: Jezebel stirred up Ahab to wickedness, illustrating how an ungodly wife can destroy a man.
Solomon’s foreign wives: Solomon’s outlandish women caused him to sin by building altars to false gods.

Important Quotes

Dost thou still retain thine integrity? Curse God and die.

Job’s wife’s foolish and wicked counsel, which tests Job’s integrity.

Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? Shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil?

Job’s godly response, demonstrating his understanding of God’s sovereignty and his refusal to sin with his lips.

In all this did not Job sin with his lips.

Highlights Job’s self-control and integrity even under extreme provocation.

The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.

Job’s worshipful response to devastating loss, exemplifying integrity in suffering.

Biblical integrity will enable you to stand in an even place in an uneven world and in an uneven life.

Summarizes the preserving and stabilizing effect of integrity.

The just man walketh in his integrity: his children are blessed after him.

Shows the generational blessing of a life of integrity.

Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles.

Emphasizes the importance of guarding speech as part of integrity.

Discussion Questions

[Question]

How does the Hebrew meaning of integrity (uprightness, perfection, simplicity) challenge or expand your current understanding of the word?

[Context]

The sermon defines integrity from the Hebrew and its first use in Genesis 20.

[Question]

In what ways does integrity preserve and guide a believer according to Psalm 26 and Proverbs 11:3?

[Context]

The sermon explains that integrity enables standing in an even place and guides choices.

[Question]

Why is Job’s response to his wife’s counsel considered a model of biblical integrity, and how can we apply it when facing foolish advice?

[Context]

Job did not sin with his lips but gave a godly answer rooted in God’s sovereignty.

[Question]

How does understanding God’s sovereignty help believers accept both good and adversity without complaint?

[Context]

Job’s question, ‘Shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil?’ is discussed.

[Question]

What role does a spouse play in either strengthening or undermining a believer’s integrity, based on the examples of Job’s wife, Jezebel, and Solomon’s wives?

[Context]

The sermon applies the importance of a godly spouse and warns against ungodly influences.

[Question]

Why is maturity and the study of God’s Word essential for developing biblical integrity, and how does Psalm 119:9-11 support this?

[Context]

Integrity comes with age, experience, and application of Scripture.

[Question]

What practical steps can we take to guard our tongues and avoid sinning with our lips, as Job did?

[Context]

The sermon ends with an application on keeping the mouth from evil.

Applications

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deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | weaver_study | 2026-06-05T22:36:07Z