I will ponder the way that is blameless. Oh when will you come to me? I will walk with integrity of heart within my house. Psalm 101:2 (ESV)
Oh when will you come to me? Perhaps this would be better rendered, “When thou dost come unto me;” that is, When then dost visit me and my dwelling, thou shalt find that these are the principles which regulate and govern me in my house. The idea is that God would come to visit his habitation, and inspect his conduct; and that whenever this should occur, however often it might be, or however unexpectedly he might come, he should “always” find these principles governing him in his family. A man should so live that “whenever” God comes into his dwelling, or when anyone comes, or however narrow and searching may be the inspection, these principles shall be found to regulate his conduct. (Barnes’ Notes on the Old Testament.)
What does integrity of heart (“these principles” Barnes calls them) at home look like? Maybe David gives us a close up view in the next two verses of Psalms 101. He wrote, I will not set before my eyes anything that is worthless. I hate the work of those who fall away; it shall not cling to me. A perverse heart shall be far from me; I will know nothing of evil. (Psalm 101:3-4 ESV)
David’s list for our home inspection includes: 1. Set nothing worthless before our eyes. 2. Have nothing to do with motives and plans of those who turn away from honesty and strong moral principles. 3. Keep away from a perverse heart (acting in a way that is unreasonable and unacceptable, distorting the truth). 4. Know nothing of evil, which means never invite into our homes people with a perverse heart; people who will act unreasonable or unacceptable in the presence of our families. David wrote, No one who practices deceit shall dwell in my house; no one who utters lies shall continue before my eyes. (Psalm 101:7 ESV) Whether it is “real” people we invite in our homes or the people we invite in via television or computer, we should carefully consider if they impugn the integrity of our heart or subject our families to perverseness.
We need God’s wisdom in governing our homes. Solomon wrote, Unless the LORD builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. (Psalm 127:1 ESV) And he gave us insight as to how to build it. By wisdom a house is built, and by understanding it is established. (Proverbs 24:3 ESV) God will reward us with blessing if we govern our homes with wisdom and righteousness (Proverbs 3:33).
So, if God came to inspect how we live at home, how we would stack up? Would we be found to be living with integrity within our homes? Let’s face it, we are more prone to feed our sinful habits in our homes than we are in public. In public we are expected to act a certain way if we answer to the name Christian. But at home, where no one sees, we can let our hair down. The deal is this: If we have integrity of heart, the same moral principles that govern our behavior in public will govern our behavior at home.
Who is building your house? Are you prepared for a God inspection?
Scriptures for meditation:
Psalm 128:1-4
Proverbs 15:6