Psalms 25 Reflection: To Be Ashamed or Not To Be Ashamed

Grantchester is a PBS Masterpiece Mystery series I have enjoyed in the past.  A new season started.  I enjoy the main character, Sydney: a church of England vicar who helps Jordy, a policeman solve mysteries.  Sydney is a study in neurosis and suffers with much shame over his lapses in moral uprightness.  He has a beautiful side that serves God and his fellow man, and an ugly side that is a beleaguered sinner.  Watching him struggle, while the other characters prop him up or enable his neurosis, was painful.  I wanted to smack him and tell him to grow up.  And I wanted to hug him and tell him everything would work out.  His character exhibited a marked bent to shame. I identify closely.

Shame has pursued me all my life; at times, I let it catch me and have its way. More times than I care to admit. At the root of shame is a lack of identity; not necessarily who you are but Whose you are. If I am God's child and serve His Son Jesus, then either I believe Who He says He is and Who He says I am...or not.

Psalms 25: 1-5

"To you, O LORD, I lift up my soul. 

 O my God, in you I trust; let me not be put to shame; let not my enemies exult over me.  

Indeed, none who wait for you shall be put to shame; they shall be ashamed who are wantonly treacherous. 

 Make me to know your ways, O LORD; teach me your paths.  

Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all the day long."

                 I lift up my soul
                                      I trust
                                            I wait
These are the qualities of the one who is not ashamed but stands confident in God’s love. 

In the courts of the kings of old, when you were called into the King's presence, you entered with head down, then dropped to prostrate yourself with nose on the floor. It was an unforgivable affront to the King’s authority and power to lift your head and look at him. If he extended his scepter and bid you to speak, presenting your requests or grievances, then and only then did you lift your head.
Reference Esther 4:11 ESV
“"All the king's servants and the people of the king's provinces know that if any man or woman goes to the king inside the inner court without being called, there is but one law—to be put to death, except the one to whom the king holds out the golden scepter so that he may live. But as for me, I have not been called to come in to the king these thirty days."”

Contrast that with this verse. 
“Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”
‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭4:16‬ ‭NASB

How can our Lord the King be so gracious to us?  When we approach His throne of grace with confidence, we don’t strut in, chest out, thinking that we come to Him on our own merits and goodness. And we don't come in crawling and begging like worms!  We come confident in the salvation that Jesus purchased for us; our sinful life exchanged for His sinless One. 

I know who I am inside with ‘no good thing’ to offer. As I approach His presence, my head is lifted to gaze upon my King Jesus standing beside the Father God. The Spirit is present to convey all the love and longing of the triune Godhead for me!  Even though this is an unfathomable mystery, I receive the gift of this lifting of my head. That is my only confidence. 

And as He speaks precious words of love into my life, I learn His truth and trust in Him.  I also wait for difficult times of shame and unworthiness to be revealed, so He can replace them with truth.  Will you lift your head, trust in Jesus and wait for His voice to tell you Whose you are?

Gratitude abounding,
Nancy B