Chivalry was the moral law developed in the Middle Ages in Western Europe. It mostly referred to the noble or gentle classes and their behaviors toward religion, war and womankind. The knights were the ideals of service to God, King and country, and their ladies. The most important part of the Code of Chivalry centered around the first Commandment, to love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind and strength. To defend the Holy Church, the Church Universal, was part of a knight's vow of initiation.

Many of the tenets of the Code were drawn from scripture:
"Endow the king with Your justice, O God, the royal son with Your righteousness. He will judge Your people in righteousness, Your afflicted ones with justice. He will defend the afflicted among the people and save the children of the needy; he will crush the oppressor. All kings will bow down to him and all nations will serve him. For he will deliver the needy who cry out, the afflicted who have no one to help. He will take pity on the weak and the needy and save them from death. He will rescue them from oppression and violence, for precious is their blood in his sight" (Psalm 72:2, 4, 11-14); "Defend the cause of the weak and fatherless; maintain the rights of the poor and oppressed. Rescue the weak and needy; deliver them from the land of the wicked" (Psalm 82:3-4); "Speak up for those who can not speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy" (Proverbs 31:8-9); "This is what the Lord says: Do what is right and just. Rescue from the hand of his oppressor the one who has been robbed. Do no wrong or violence to the alien, the fatherless or the widow, and do not shed innocent blood" (Jer. 22:3); "'He defended the cause of the poor and needy, and so all went well. Is that not what it means to know me?' declares the Lord" (Jer. 22:16); "Therefore I urge you brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any more to the patterns of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--His good, pleasing and perfect will" (Romans 12:1-2); "Religion that God our Father accepts as pure is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world" (James 1:27).

The Ten Commandments of the Code of Chivalry (Leon Gautier) were:

1.  Thou shalt believe all that the Church teaches, and observe all its directions.
2.  Thou shalt defend the Church.
3.  Thou shalt respect all weaknesses, and shalt constitute thyself the defender of them.
4.  Thou shalt love the country in which thou wast born.
5.  Thou shalt not recoil before thy enemy.
6.  Thou shalt make war against the Infidel without cessation, and without mercy.
7.  Thou shalt perform scrupulously thy feudal duties, if they be not contrary to the laws of God.
8.  Thou shalt never lie, and remain faithful to thy pledged word.
9.  Thou shalt be generous and give largess to everyone.
10. Thou shalt be everywhere and always the champion of the Right and the Good against Injustice and Evil.

Further bylaws of the Code included: "Live one's life so that it is worthy of respect and honor"; "Never attack an unarmed foe"; "Avoid cheating"; "Avoid torture"; "Exhibit self-control"; "Show respect to authority"; "Respect women"; "Never abandon a friend, ally, or noble cause"; "Exhibit manners"; "Be polite and attentive."

Although these laws are not word-for-word from the Scriptures, and we know that certain cultures have abused them along the way, I think we could do well with a little more chivalry in this world.

Lord Jesus, dub me a knight for Your cause. I want to serve You, My Lord and King. Amen