Upright

Upright

God dearly loves this word and He rejoices to see it in front of every virtue. God hates all kinds of hypocrisy that hides under a virtuous cloak. Every virtue must come from an upright heart if it is to be acceptable to God.

In Proverbs 14:9, 11 we read, “God’s pleasure rules among the upright.” “The tent of the upright will flourish.” How good and safe it is to live in this evil world which is filled with unrighteousness and hypocrisy, in fellowship with those who are upright, those who have God’s pleasure over their lives. Having God’s pleasure over your life is the greatest thing in the world.

In Matthew 17:5 we read about Jesus: “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!” The voice of the Shepherd drew those who were upright to Him, to an eternally exalted and glorious fellowship. There is joy in their tents and praise is becoming to the upright. Ps. 33:1. “Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, you righteous; and shout for joy, all you upright in heart!” Ps. 32:11. All of heaven rejoices together in fellowship with the upright.

Many smiles, handshakes, and other gestures that are supposed to express so-called love are only hypocrisy. In 2 Corinthians 9:11-13 we read of some who were enriched in everything for all liberality (sincere, upright love), which produced thanksgiving to God. They felt the uprightness of their fellowship.

“If you would earnestly seek God and make your supplication to the Almighty, if you were pure and upright, surely now He would awake for you, and prosper your rightful habitation. Though your beginning was small, yet your latter end would increase abundantly.” Job 8:5-7.

We can be ever so wretched, but if we seek God in our need, in purity and in uprightness, He will meet us with all His grace and His goodness and take care that all good things come our way both here and in eternity. He alone can give true happiness that will “increase abundantly.”

Men of war came in battle formation to Hebron with loyal (upright) hearts to make David king over all Israel. 1 Chron. 12:38. A strong and glorious power supported him, with God Himself also standing at their side.

Jesus, who is the King of kings, is also followed by a glorious host in purity and uprightness. We read in Revelation 19 about this victorious host following Christ on white horses, dressed in white and pure linen. White horses are a symbol of purity and strength. Everything is upright.

The upright will dwell in the presence of the Lord. Ps. 140:13. He loves them, and that is where He wants them. “His countenance beholds the upright.” Ps. 11:7. “My defense is of God, who saves the upright in heart.” Ps. 7:10. The Lord is the defender of the upright; He is their buckler and shield. “Do good, O Lord, to those who are good, and to those who are upright in their hearts.” Ps. 125:4. When God shows His goodness, He shows it richly and in abundance.

“Unto the upright there arises light in the darkness; He is gracious, and full of compassion, and righteous.” Ps. 112:4. God kindles a light for the upright and not for anyone else. They are gracious, compassionate, and upright toward others in the same way as God has been to them.

“I will praise the Lord with my whole heart, in the assembly of the upright and in the congregation.” Ps. 111:1. The right place to shout “Hallelujah!” and to praise the Lord is in the midst of the church, which is the assembly of the upright. The Corinthians did not seek upright counsel from Paul; they sought it from the periphery instead—from the false apostles who counseled them according to their own selfish desires. The counsel of the upright always leads in the direction of godly fear and faithfulness, doing God’s will, and denying oneself. The upright of heart will always agree with God’s judgment. Ps. 94:15.

“For look! The wicked bend their bow, they make ready their arrow on the string, that they may shoot secretly at the upright in heart.” Ps. 11:2. All those who aim their arrows at the upright are in darkness. Jesus endured great hostility from sinners. Heb. 12:3. They shot all their arrows out of the darkness of evil, but the shield of faith quenches all the arrows of the evil one. Eph. 6:16.

The opposers of the upright have always been in darkness, and such is also the case in our days when it concerns the church. They are trying to shoot their flaming arrows of envy into a glorious oneness that exists behind the walls of salvation. All their arrows have fallen to the ground and have accomplished nothing except to further God’s work among us. No one can scare off the upright, because an eternal light has been kindled in their hearts.

When we read what Paul writes in Philippians 2:20-21, we can see how easy it is to slide into darkness by seeking one’s own. “For I have no one like-minded, who will sincerely care for your state. For all seek their own, not the things which are of Christ Jesus.” Paul was not satisfied if they only showed that they cared; he wanted them to show sincere, upright care, as Timothy did.

Let there be sincere, upright care, upright and unfeigned brotherly love, upright hospitality without murmuring, and upright faith and faithfulness in every way.

“Mark the blameless man, and observe the upright; for the future of that man is peace.” Ps. 37:37. “But as for the upright, he establishes his way.” Prov. 21:29.