Scripture

I trust in You; do not let me be put to shame, nor let my enemies triumph over me.

~Psalm 25:2, NIV

Quote

Jesus endured what David feared.

~Ya’akov

I think I was in the seventh grade when I was forced to read Nathanael Hawthorn’s THE SCARLET LETTER. Hester Prynne was a young woman in a puritan community. She had sex with a man before they married. He left for some reason and while he was away, her pregnancy became apparent. Hester was publicly shamed. They hung a scarlet A around her neck that stood for Adultress and everywhere she went she was followed by a drummer announcing her presence and sin. This is what David feared most; public humiliation and shame. He knew he was only one defeat away from this very thing happening. Whether it was Saul or an opposing general; David knew defeat meant shame. In the ancient east, when one king defeated another, he put him to public shame and then he executed him. I think David feared the shame more than death. He had rather die undefeated as to live defeated. It is also true that David had enemies at home as well as abroad; not to mention his own pride and lust.

You may think, “This could never happen to me; I have no skeletons in my closet.” Or you positive? Although I am not a king by any stretch of the imagination, I can identify with David. I can tell you that the only thing standing between me and disgrace is the mercy of God. Gerald H. Wilson wrote the commentary for Psalms in the NIV commentary. He was promoted at the youthful age of sixty-one [1945-2006]. Although I never agree with any commentary verbatim, I like this man’s honesty. He said concerning Psalm 25, “The psalmist does not trust in personal integrity or sinless perfection, but grounds all his hopes in the mercy of God. I find I often identify most with those old testament characters who struggled honestly with their doubts, fears, and inward demons. I am thankful that God forgives our sin and releases us from the snare of Satan.”

What David feared most Jesus endured. He allowed Himself to be publicly humiliated. Jesus endured a far greater humiliation than Hester Prynne. Hester bore her shame of one sin; Jesus carried the shame of all sins. We are going to give an account to Jesus and there may be some shame involved but He has saved us from the shame of the enemy. Just imagine what Satan will do to those who are not in Christ.

I look forward each morning to getting into my daily Psalm and I say to myself often, “It cannot get any better.”  I muttered that to myself over and over yesterday as I walked to the house. Yet, it does get better. The depth of God’s word blows my feeble mind. Dive in, swim deep but do not expect to find the bottom.

Extra

Guess what? It is raining at 1120 Iron Man. Let it rain. I will take it any day over a dry spell. Hope you have a good day. Thanks for reading the blog.