Psalm 119:22
Take away from me scorn and contempt, for I have kept your testimonies. Psalm 119:22
Charles Spurgeon wrote about this verse in his book “The Golden Alphabet.” Regarding the beginning phase he had this to say, “To be slandered and then despised as a result of a vile accusation is an awful affliction. No one wants to be misrepresented or despised.”
He goes on to quote Ecclesiastes 7:1, “A good name is better than precious ointment.”
Spurgeon continues, “The best way to deal with slander is to pray about it. God will either remove the slander or remove its sting. Our own attempts at clearing ourselves usually result in failure. We are like the boy who wanted to remove the blot from a picture, but by his clumsy attempts made it ten times worse. When someone lies about us, it is better to pray about it than to take them to court or even confront them and demand an apology. You who are reproached, take your matters before the highest court, and leave them with the Judge of all the earth. God will rebuke your proud accuser. You be quiet and let your Advocate plead your case.”
The reason I go to these lengths to quote Spurgeon is because I personally know a pastor who has had to walk under the scorn and contempt of others. It is a painful, unjust thing to watch.
In those heart-wrenching moments, what does the gospel say? Love your enemy. Forgive, seek unity, absorb the offense, count it all joy, do not take it personally, forgive them Father for they know not what they do.
As bad as the scorn and contempt is we must remember Jesus “who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame… Hebrews 12:2 ESV.”
My friend had kept the testimonies of God. His greatest fault was that he was too “priestly.” He is a righteous man unjustly accused. He would also humbly confess that when he tried to plead his own case (which he has tried) he was met with more scorn and contempt. He has experienced the reality of Spurgeon’s illustration of the boy wanting to remove the blot only to make it ten times worse. He knows this truth all too well.
So, whether in the day of the Psalmist or in Spurgeon’s day or today, God’s truth does not change. Scorn and contempt will come our way. There is no stopping that from occurring in the fallen, broken world of Genesis 3. But there are ways we can deal with this so that it does not multiply our grief.
God instructs us to take it to Him.
If you are a righteous person who is unjustly accused, you are in good company. So was Moses, David, Jeremiah, and Jesus. Hold tight and bring your hurt, lose, unmet dreams and hopes to Jesus, your Justification. There is no need to try to be your own justification. It will not work. Let Jesus be your Justification.
Burke Care would love to meet with you where you are and speak the gospel into your circumstances through the power of the Holy Spirit our perfect Counselor.
