MARKS OF THE UPRIGHT HEART

“MARK the blameless man, and observe the UPRIGHT; for the future of that man is PEACE” – Psalm 37:37                    

The Psalms and other scriptures highlight the distinguishing MARKS of the UPRIGHT HEART: “MARK the blameless man, and observe the UPRIGHT; for the future of that man is PEACE” (Psa.37:37). The Hebrew word for UPRIGHT has two connotations. First, it signifies plainness of heart; the upright person is not plaited in folds; he is without complicity or double-dealing – "in whose spirit there is no deceit" (Psa.32:2). The upright person has no ploys or subterfuges; his tongue and his heart align. He is downright sincere. The Bible calls him blameless. Secondly, it denotes an approved person; one whom God thinks highly of. God's approbation is superior to human acclamation. The plainer the diamond is – the richer; the plainer the heart is – the more it shines in God's eyes. The upright person is approved of God, blessed, and a blessing: “the generation of the upright will be blessed” (Psa.112:2).

Here are four major marks of the Upright in heart: sincerity, focused devotion, truthfulness, and praise-fullness.

The Upright heart is Sincere. Sincerity is of universal importance to a Christian. It is the sauce which seasons spirituality and piety and makes it savoury. God is most delighted with the jewel of sincerity: “Behold you desire truth in the inward parts, and in the hidden part You will make me to know wisdom” (Psa.51:6). To speak plainly – all the haughty show of holiness, without this soul of sincerity to enliven it, is but 'pious folly'. It is but going to hell in a more devout manner than others! The upright man gives God his heart wholly, even in the midst of infirmities. His heart is kept whole for God; he does not have two hearts – a heart for God, and a heart for sin. God loves a broken heart, not a divided heart!

The Upright heart 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. They can be trusted.

The Upright heart is devoted to God: “The righteous shall the glad in the LORD, and trust in Him. And all the UPRIGHT in HEART shall glory” (Psa.64:10). This is the kind of heart that God calls for: “My son, give me your heart” (Pro.23:26a). The heart is like a virgin with many suitors; and, among the rest, God Himself becomes a suitor. If the heart is for God, then our tears, our alms, all is for God. The heart is the fort-royal that commands all the rest. When the high-priest was to cut up the animal for sacrifice, the first thing he looked upon was the heart, and if that had any blemish, it was rejected. God respects the heart more than the gift: “Inasmuch as these people draw near with their mouths and honor Me with their lips, but have removed their hearts from Me” (Isa.29:13). They are like statues with eyes and hands lifted up to heaven, but no heart to animate that devotion.

The Upright heart is Praise-full: “Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, you righteous; and shout for joy, all you upright in heart!” (Psa.32:11). The Upright heart always has a cause to be glad and to praise God profusely: “Rejoice in the LORD, O you righteous! For praise from the upright is beautiful (Psa.33:1). For the upright to engage in praise is always a thing of divine beauty! It is the heart that makes Music before God: “Making melody in your HEART to the Lord” (Eph.5:19). Uprightness triggers unhindered flow of Praise because the heart of the upright is free from the friction of sin, guilt or condemnation.

The character of the godly person is Uprightness – he or she is honest, just, conscientious, scrupulous, and principled. Ultimately, the end of the Upright Person is crowned with Peace that passes the understanding of worldly folks (v.37).