How To Avoid Shame - Psalm 119:6

One of my goals for 2010 is to do a personal study through all 176 verses of Psalm 119. So far, I have already completed 5 verses, today will be verse 6. For a commentary on verses 1-5, look at the blog list.

Then I would not be put to shame when I consider all your commands – Psalm 119:6 NIV

Sin produces within the heart two things: Guilt and shame. Such things are not easily wiped out by putting something like a band aide over a wound. Guilt and shame go much deeper. People have lived with guilt and shame for years seemingly unable to shake it. God has His remedy for such things, but verse 6 is not it. Rather the writer is pointing us into the direction of how not to even get shame.

You see, a consequence of sin is shame. The writer knew what it was like to have shame dominate his life. He has done the wrong thing and the result was the feeling of shame. If the writer of this psalm is David, then we know what he is talking about. David sinned against God by sleeping with Bathsheba, another man’s wife (2 Sam. 11). Then as a way to try to cover his sin, David had the husband of Bathsheba (Uriah) murdered (cf. vv. 14-27).

You can read about David’s guilt and shame in Psalms 32 and 51. David was riddled with guilt and shame “day and night” (Ps. 32:4); physically he wasted away and he groaned all day long (v. 3); he understood that although he slept with another man’s wife, it was God he had sinned against (Ps. 51:4), which was the reason why it was God's hand that was “heavy upon David” (Ps. 32:4).

So the writer is saying that the best way to handle both guilt and shame (both seem to always be together) is to avoid getting them by “considering all God’s commands.”

The word “consider” used by the psalmist means “to pay attention to.” It has to do with taking serious God’s Word. When God had the bible written, He had you and I in mind. He knows what will bring to us joy and happiness. If we come across a bench in a park and it has a sign on it that says, “Wet paint,” if we ignore the sign and sit on the bench, we do so because we did not take seriously the words on the sign. The sign was written for a reason. Those who avoid sitting on the bench are the ones who take the words written on the sign seriously. So it is with God’s Word. The writer says, “consider,” or “pay close attention” to God’s Word. Take all of His commands seriously and you will avoid getting stained with guilt and shame.

Notice that the first word in verse 6 is “then.” In other words, the writer is making an on-going connection to verse 5. Verse 5 states that when our ways are established by God, it is because we “keep His statues” (laws). When I do, “Then I shall not be put to shame.”

Remember our first parents in the Garden? Once Adam and Eve partook of the forbidden fruit, and then when they heard God coming they “hid themselves” (Gen. 3:8). They just had sinned and now they both felt guilty and shameful. People who struggle with shame don’t like to go to church, attend bible studies or other fellowship groups. They feel so ashamed. Scores of excuses will rampage their minds. They hide from God and from others.

Now it is worth noting that there are two kinds of shame. One is negative and it “follows” sin. This form of shame occurs when we sin. The other kind of shame is positive and it “precedes” sin. It is the kind of shame that our conscience produces to enable us to avoid doing something that is wrong.

For example, most normal people would be ashamed to take their clothes off in public. This is a good thing. This form of shame is prohibitive and it stops us from committing acts that are wrong. You never want to lose this kind of shame. It is part of your conscience so keep nourishing it with God’s Word.

But the shame that occurs when we get caught in the act of doing something wrong or even getting caught down the road, whether it is the next day, months or years, the shame that follows is the result of the shame that was tucked away within our hearts and once we got caught it now is out there for everyone to see.

Again, the best way to avoid this type of shame, the shame that follows sin is to take seriously (“pay attention to,” “consider”) all of God’s commands. And when we do, like the writer says, “You will not be put to shame.”