Psalm 119:46

(This is an entry from a devotional commentary I am working on from Psalm 119 entitled God and His Word.  The introduction can be found here, successive entries have covered the 22 sections of the Psalm, and following entries verse by verse.)

 

"I will also speak of Your testimonies before kings

And shall not be ashamed."

 

Here the Psalmist has moved from fear of abandonment (Psalm 119:43) to confidence to stand before kings without shame.  So is the confidence of the word of God.  May I boldly and rightly speak of Your testimonies before all people regardless of position in life, the confidence being in Your word and the motivation being the fear of You.  Isaiah 2:22, Isaiah 40:17, Matthew 10:18-20.  What an unspeakable joy it is to live without the fear of man but in the fear of You.  ‘“If God spare my life, ere many years I will cause a boy who drives a plough to know more of the scriptures than you do.” - William Tyndale to a credentialed priest.  Surely shame should come to those who are in debt to Your word, regardless of station in life (Proverbs 13:13, Jeremiah 8:9, 1 Corinthians 1:27 context). 

 

‘He would speak of God's testimonies, and profess to build his hope upon them and make them his council, his guards, his crown, his all. We must never be afraid to own our religion, though it should expose us to the wrath of kings, but speak of it as that which we will live and die by, like the three children before Nebuchadnezzar, Dan 3:16; Act 4:20… God's testimonies shall be the principal subject of his discourse with the kings, not only to show that he was not ashamed of his religion, but to instruct them in it and bring them over to it.’[1]

 

‘This is part of his liberty; he is free from fear of the greatest, proudest, and most tyrannical of men… He says, “I will speak”: prudence might have suggested that his life and conduct would be enough, and that it would be better not to touch upon religion in the presence of royal personages who worshipped other gods, and claimed to be right in so doing. He had already most fittingly preceded this resolve by the declaration, “I will walk,” but he does not make his personal conduct an excuse for sinful silence, for he adds, “I will speak.”… The great hindrance to our speaking upon holy topics in all companies is shame, but the Psalmist will “not be ashamed”; there is nothing to be ashamed of, and there is no excuse for being ashamed, and yet many are as quiet as the dead for fear some creature like themselves should be offended. When God gives grace, cowardice soon vanishes.’[2]


[1] Henry, Matthew, Commentary on the Whole Bible, on Psalm 119:46, e-Sword edition

[2] Spurgeon, Charles Haddon, Treasury of David, on Psalm 119:46, e-Sword edition


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