Psalms 69:5-7 KJV
O God, thou knowest my foolishness; and my sins are not hid from thee.
Let not them that wait on thee, O Lord GOD of hosts, be ashamed for my sake: let not those that seek thee be confounded for my sake, O God of Israel.
Because for thy sake I have borne reproach; shame hath covered my face.
We may suffer reproach as believers for two reasons;
Because of our sin
For Christ's sake
The Psalmist is keenly aware that he is a sinner. He knows that God knows his sin and his great concern is that his sin not be a stumblingblock and a cause of shame and confusion for others. Especially when the believer is in a position of leadership as David was, he understands that his sins have the capacity to bring great spiritual as well as even physical harm to those in his kingdom. While I do not have the influence David had, my sin still has the potential to bring harm to others. The sensitive believer considers that.
But then there is another kind of reproach and shame a believer faces because of his stands for Christ. David suffered reproach and apparent failure in the wilderness as he ran from Saul. There were times when he could have in the flesh, slain Saul personally and ended his flight. David's men encouraged him to do it. But David chose to remain a fugitive rather than to lay a hand on the anointed. It meant years more suffering and shame. And he ran the risk of losing some of his followers who just did not understand his convictions.
Paul faced the same issue as a prisoner for Christ's sake.[1]
He gave Timothy this admonition
2 Tim 1:8
Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God; (KJV)
And he made mention of another who was not ashamed
2 Tim 1:16
The Lord give mercy unto the house of Onesiphorus; for he oft refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chain: (KJV)
In this case all we can do is take our stands for Christ and pray that those we lead and love will understand. Some will; some won't. But Christ will be glorified our obedience to Him regardless.
O God, thou knowest my foolishness; and my sins are not hid from thee.
Let not them that wait on thee, O Lord GOD of hosts, be ashamed for my sake: let not those that seek thee be confounded for my sake, O God of Israel.
Because for thy sake I have borne reproach; shame hath covered my face.
We may suffer reproach as believers for two reasons;
Because of our sin
For Christ's sake
The Psalmist is keenly aware that he is a sinner. He knows that God knows his sin and his great concern is that his sin not be a stumblingblock and a cause of shame and confusion for others. Especially when the believer is in a position of leadership as David was, he understands that his sins have the capacity to bring great spiritual as well as even physical harm to those in his kingdom. While I do not have the influence David had, my sin still has the potential to bring harm to others. The sensitive believer considers that.
But then there is another kind of reproach and shame a believer faces because of his stands for Christ. David suffered reproach and apparent failure in the wilderness as he ran from Saul. There were times when he could have in the flesh, slain Saul personally and ended his flight. David's men encouraged him to do it. But David chose to remain a fugitive rather than to lay a hand on the anointed. It meant years more suffering and shame. And he ran the risk of losing some of his followers who just did not understand his convictions.
Paul faced the same issue as a prisoner for Christ's sake.[1]
He gave Timothy this admonition
2 Tim 1:8
Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God; (KJV)
And he made mention of another who was not ashamed
2 Tim 1:16
The Lord give mercy unto the house of Onesiphorus; for he oft refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chain: (KJV)
In this case all we can do is take our stands for Christ and pray that those we lead and love will understand. Some will; some won't. But Christ will be glorified our obedience to Him regardless.
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