O LORD, who may abide in Your tent? Who may dwell on Your holy hill? He who walks with integrity, and works righteousness.
Something that has integrity is something that is functioning in accordance with its purpose without some inner resistance against that purpose. If the engine of a car is running smoothly and efficiently, it's because it has integrity, but if anything begins to malfunction with the inner makings of that engine, it will quickly lose power and can bring everything to a sudden halt. God is looking for integrity in the soul that will cause it to function in accordance with its purpose--working righteousness (v2b). Integrity, or "blamelessness" (as some translate this word), has to do with our relationship with God. It has to do with holiness, or wholeness, if you will, in the inner man. Righteousness has to do with the outer man; it has to do with the way we treat others. In the original language it is, literally, the word for justice. These two, holiness and righteousness, are like two rails that run together and make one track. Anytime the church has failed to ride both of these rails well, it has gotten off track and derailed. So, as the Psalmist understands it, and he understands it well, if we would "dwell" with God, we must speak truth in our heart (v2c), but we must also speak righteousness with our neighbor. And the rest of the chapter has to do with some ways in which that righteousness treats others: it doesn't slander his neighbor, it doesn't do evil to his neighbor, it doesn't take up a reproach against his neighbor, it stands against injustice to his neighbor, it will not profit off his neighbor, and it will not take a bribe against his neighbor. The Psalmist says, "He who does these things will never be shaken," (v5). Why? Because this person is riding both rails. This person is well balanced. Find that kind of balance in life. It's a great ride! It will serve the LORD and others well.
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