MARKS OF THE UPRIGHT

For the LORD God is a Sun and Shield: the LORD will give Grace and Glory: no Good Thing will He withhold from them that WALK UPRIGHTLY – Psalm 84:1

Scriptures abound on the marks, qualities or characteristics of the upright person, seven of which we’ll meditate upon:

The Upright Fears the Lord: He who walks in his uprightness fears the LORD, but he who is perverse in his ways despises Him” (Pro.14:2). Such biblical fear is not synonymous with terror-like fear; it is more akin to deep respect, reverence, awe and obedience. The upright person has a great respect for God, and reverence for His Word and His commandments.

The Upright Walks in Wisdom: Folly is joy to him who is destitute of discernment, but a man of understanding walks uprightly (Pro.15:21). That is, understanding causes the upright to value Wisdom and to walk accordingly. This complements the earlier quality: “…‘Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to depart from evil is understanding.’”

The Upright is Truthful: he is one “who walks uprightly, and works righteousness, and speaks the truth in his heart” (Psa.15:2). The upright person possesses and demonstrates the courage to speak the truth, from his innermost being. No deceit, dishonesty, duplicity, fraudulence, hypocrisy, insincerity or pretence is found in and with the upright.

The Upright has a Sure Walk and Secure Lifestyle: “He who walks with integrity walks securely, but he who perverts his ways will become known” (Pro.10:9). The upright is guided by Integrity: “The integrity of the upright will guide them, but the perversity of the unfaithful will destroy them” (Pro.11:3). Integrity is not just doing the right thing; it means having the right heart and allowing the person you are on the inside match who you are on the outside.

The Upright Avoids Evil: The highway of the upright is to depart from evil; he who keeps his way preserves his soul” (Pro.16:17a). The upright person avoids the crooked paths of corruption and dishonesty: he shines as light “…blameless and harmless…without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation…” (Phil.2:15). The implication is that such a person will always be an abomination to and target of evil workers: “An unjust man is an abomination to the righteous, and he who is upright in the way is an abomination to the wicked” (Pro.29:27). Yet, the LORD will defend the upright in heart.

The Upright is Praise-full: “Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, you righteous; and shout for joy, all you upright in heart!” (Psa.32:11). Uprightness triggers unhindered flow of Praise because the heart of the upright is free from the friction of sin, guilt or condemnation. “Rejoice in the LORD, O you righteous! For praise from the upright is beautiful (Psa.33:1).

The Upright is Blessed and a Blessing: “By the blessing of the upright the city is exalted, but it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked” (Pro.11:11). The upright person is approved of God and becomes a blessing to other people (Psa.112:2).