Proverbs 10:9,  He that walketh uprightly walketh surely: but he that perverteth his ways shall be known.

Again we find in this proverb a contrast.

In this case it is a contrast between that which is straight and that which is crooked.

And the straight that we are talking about is a perpendicular.

When we build a wall we place our studs perpendicular.

Columns are always perpendicular, for only the perpendicular can support the greatest load.

All perpendiculars, that is verticals or uprights, on the earth, intersect at a common point, the center point of the earth.

Upright, vertical, and perpendicular positions are always stronger than any other position.

Not trusting our eye, we use instruments called levels with which to find the perpendicular.

A stud that is not placed perpendicular is not in its strongest position.

The perpendicular is at only one position.

All other positions are crooked.

Anyone can find a crooked position for they are legend, but there is only one perpendicular position.

God has so made us to walk upright.

And that upright is best walked in the perpendicular.

A drunken man cannot walk in this position and because of this he easily falls.

We are designed to walk in the perpendicular otherwise we too will fall.

Our proverb tells us that when we walk uprightly we walketh surely.

We can be reminded of this proverb every time we walk.

This proverb also tells us that he that perverteth his way shall be known.

Now a man who is drunk perverteth his way for he can not stand uprightly.

His frame, not being perpendicular, is crooked, and his ways are soon known as he staggers and falls down.

It is easy to know if a man is drunk or not for his lack of uprightness will reveal him to all who observe.

Now God has given to us the perpendicular, for He is the great perpendicular.

All things are measured against Him.

Jesus Christ said,   I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

Jesus Christ who is God, is the perpendicular against which you are to be measured.

He is the One by whom you can walk uprightly and if you walk in Jesus Christ you will walk surely.

He that walketh uprightly walketh surely because he regulates his walk by Jesus Christ, who is the Word of God.

His rule for his walk is the Word of God.

He constantly measures his walk by the level of the Word of God.

This is what Paul told Timothy in II Timothy 2:15 when he said,  Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

Study is to stand next to the level of the Word of God and see where you do not measure up.

Then by the light of the Word of God, you, in conjunction with God’s Holy Spirit, make adjustments, you grow toward the level.

You study some more, that is you check your level, and then make further adjustments.

This is what a workmen does who does not want his work to out of level.

This is what a workman does who does not want to be ashamed.

This workman walks in integrity which is another word for uprightness.

What you see in the outward reflects what is in the inward.

He is without dissimulation, without pretense.

In other words he does not live a simulated life, a make believe life, a life of image, but speaks as he thinks, acts as he speaks, and constantly sees Christ as his pattern for life.

He is on the level!

He is not like most who compare themselves with others and find themselves not wanting for in this process, for some reason or other, they always find themselves to compare quite favorably.

Often you hear this said, Well I’m not as bad as most people!

Paul cautioned of this in II Corinthians 10:12 where he wrote,  For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.

Why are they not wise?

Because they are comparing the crooked with the crooked.

They are the workmen whose level has fallen to the floor too many times and the bubble does not show them to be on the level.

The workman who desires to walk uprightly and surely, depends on God’s word to go before him, that he not stumble, for God’s word, as we are told in Psalm 119:105, is a lamp unto his feet and a light unto his path.

Proverbs 10:9,  He that walketh uprightly walketh surely: but he that perverteth his ways shall be known.