GOD’S WILL: THE LAND OF UPRIGHTNESS

For the UPRIGHT shall dwell in the land, and the perfect shall remain in it – Proverbs 2:21

Accessing and dwelling in the Land of Uprightness are crucial goals of this month’s meditations. The word ‘uprightness’ in scripture derives from two Hebrew words, “yashar”and “tam.”  “Yashar” refers to straightness, that which is vertically erect or horizontally level; while “tam” relates to perfection or completion. God used both words to describe Job: “…that man was PERFECT and UPRIGHT, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil” (Job 1:1). Upright means straight: “…prepare the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God” (Isa.40:3). When an Israeli offers direction to a wayfarer, he or she will often include the word “yashar” in the description, meaning “go straight…”

Uprightness conveys the notions of unchanging standards, correctness, faithfulness, forthrightness, and genuineness. An apt portrayal is the palm tree with its outstanding quality of straightness. Even at great heights, palm trees in Israel remain remarkably erect. Perhaps that’s why the righteous is likened to the palm tree: “The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree…” (Psa.92:12). In Song of Songs 7:7, the lover compares his beloved’s stature to that of a palm tree; while Ezekiel’s description of the future Temple contains pictures of palm trees carved on the posts of the courts (Eze.40:31).

What then is the Land of Uprightness, Heaven? Yes, ultimately; but first, “Heaven on Earth”! God wants us to live in the land of uprightness even in the here and now. In His Agenda, there is always a Land of Uprightness that is immune from the pervading perversion, corruption or contamination in the world. This may be represented by an upright heart, uprightness of character, uprightness in diverse aspects of life – marriage, home, family, business, career, and ministry, in the church, or in the society. You can partake of an upright heart, sound character, and divine decency in diverse dimensions of your destiny.

As you learn to know, understand and do His Will, God’s Good Spirit – Holy Spirit – will lead you in the land of uprightness (Psa.143:10). He will nurture, mature, teach, train, and transform you in Uprightness: in character, dignity, honesty, holiness, humility, integrity, maturity, order, responsibility, and excellence. Unfortunately, it appears that upright persons are pretty rare in today’s world: “The godly have been swept from the land; not one upright man remains. All men lie in wait to shed blood; each hunts his brother with a net” (Mic.7:2). But we will not lose hope; the Land of Uprightness is our portion!