I cling to your testimonies, O LORD; let me not be put to shame! - Psalm 119:31

As before, the Psalmist is “clinging” to something. Only here, it is to the testimonies of the Lord, whereas before (v25) he was clinging to the dust. We do not see a man who is no longer in despair or trial, but rather, a man who despite those conditions, is gripping even more firmly to the word of the living God. We are shown that it is the choosing Christian who is the steady Christian. This is not a haphazard decision, or an up and down kind of faith - this is a faith that is unshaken and resolved to do carefully just as the Lord has said (Deuteronomy 11:22). It is always surprising, when we are able to look to see the past providence of the Lord and realize that he continues to keep us in his hand (Isaiah 41:13; John 10:28) which enables us to have an expectation of grace just as steadfast in the future.

But observe also, that the Psalmist petitions the Lord that he would not be put to shame. And of course, this would happen if the Lord’s promises were not true. If they were but a lie, or only good for this life, we would be a people to be pitied (1 Corinthians 15:19). But we know that this is not true, for the Lord's words are always faithful! But notice how else we may encounter shame: by our inconsistency in the Christian life. We may neglect the means by which we are preserved for God and fall into grievous sins. And by not living according to our confession, this too will bring about the acrimonious thing called “shame!” The Christian, therefore, must live in the face of Christ, among the world's inhabitants, having nothing to be ashamed of by believing in Jesus Christ. By asking the Lord to not put us to shame, we must not ourselves be ashamed of the God who has saved us (Romans 1:16).

But see very clearly, beloved, the one who was put to shame on our behalf. Our Savior, Jesus Christ was lifted up upon an instrument of death, designed for criminals of the highest order. He was mocked, and scorned, and derided (Mark 15:29-32) having received a most shameful form of execution. But he “despised the shame” on account of the joy that awaited him afterward. Now, he died shamefully so that the Psalmist and you may not be put to shame. He received not just the penalty and the pain, but also the shame and humiliation we deserve for our sins. Praise be to God that we are welcomed, because of the immensity of his Son’s selfless sacrifice.

S.D.G.