Thoughts on Psalm 119:6

6 Then I would not be ashamed,
When I look into all Your commandments.

It is easy to read that and think, “If I could just do what God says, what the Bible says, then I wouldn’t be ashamed when I read it.” But again, that is the voice of religion. It is viewing it through the lens of self-effort, which is actually one of the reasons for the Old Covenant: to identify our inability and thus our need for a Savior (see Rom 3:19-20).

But we have a New Covenant. Jesus is the “Mediator of a better covenant, which was established on better promises.” Hebrews 8:6

Isaiah prophesied about this New Covenant. In Isaiah 53, he foretold the suffering of the Messiah. The passage ends with “And He bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.” Isaiah 53:12 (Thank you Jesus)

Once sin had been paid for, the prophet proceeds in Isaiah 54 to describe the blessing that results. He writes one of the most glorious passages of Scripture in the entire Bible. Every word of it reaches deep into the heart of man to remove brokenness, to comfort, to reveal God’s heart. It is one of those “this seems too good to be true” truths. It’s worth reading at least ten thousand times.

And the entire chapter is written in the second person singular. It’s not written to a nation, or a group of people. It’s written to a single person: “You.” The Lord said it this way: “Have you not read what was spoken to you by God?” Matt 22:31 And here is what is spoken to you by God:

Do not fear, for you will not be ashamed; Neither be disgraced, for you will not be put to shame; For you will forget the shame of your youth, and will not remember the reproach... Isaiah 54:4

Six affirmations in one sentence. No fear, no shame, no disgrace, no reproach.

Could that really be true? To never be ashamed? To actually forget my shame? It seems impossible. But is it any more impossible than a virgin giving birth?

Maybe that’s why He says it six times in a row. To convince me. To persuade me that this is in fact a better covenant, established on better promises. Maybe that’s why the Gospel is called “Good News.”

I am the Lord your God, and there is no other. My people shall never be put to shame. Joel 2:27

Whoever believes on [Jesus] will not be put to shame. Romans 10:11

There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus Romans 8:1

Lord, let it be to me according to Your word. Amen.

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.