Psalm 119:31 | “I cling to your testimonies, O Lord; let me not be put to shame!”

The psalmist confesses that though his soul clings to the dust, he also clings to God’s word. His prayer, “let me not be put to shame,” is a plea for protection from sin and the disgrace it brings. Because God’s word never fails, the shame he fears is not that God will prove unfaithful, but that he himself might wander into folly and suffer the painful consequences of his own sin. As Spurgeon tenderly writes, “A brave heart is more wounded by shame than by any weapon which a soldier’s hand can wield.” May we likewise cling to God’s word, finding in it both strength to stand and shelter from shame. When you feel the pull of temptation or the weight of discouragement, tighten your grip on Scripture. Clinging is active. It is a conscious choice to hold fast when your thoughts, feelings, emotions, and even circumstances urge you to drift. When you are feeling weak, ask God to guard you from choices that would dishonor him and wound your soul. Those who hold fast to his testimonies will never be put to ultimate shame.