Because the Sovereign Lord helps me, I will not be disgraced. Therefore, I have set my face like flint, and I know I will not be put to shame.
Disgraced: having fallen from favor or from a position of honor or power; the losing of respect, honor, or esteem;
I’ve been thinking about this word for a couple weeks, in preparation for this post. I suppose I need to preface this post with “These are my thoughts and what I think the Lord has shown me. However, if it’s not what you think, that’s ok.” Gives us all something to think about, and I welcome gentle interaction from my readers.
As I pondered this word, I looked up a few others, for points of reference.
- Grace: favor, mercy, peace
- dis-: (prefix) apart, asunder, away from, negative/reversing force
- shame: (verb) to bring guilt upon someone
- ashamed (adj.): humiliation; guilt for a choice/behavior; feeling distress because of a wrong choice
And, of course, I looked up some verses…
Day by day, the Lord takes care of the innocent…they will not be disgraced in hard times (Psalm 37:18-19). He will send help from heaven to rescue me, disgracing those who hound me (Psalm 57:3, paraphrase). God will bring disgrace upon those who delight in my afflictions (Psalm 70:2). Do not be afraid; you will not be put to shame. Do not fear disgrace; you will not be humiliated (Isaiah 54:4). When we come to Him for protection, we can ask that He prevent us from being disgraced (Psalm 71:1, paraphrase).
So, what are the take-aways, here?
- We need to walk lives that are blameless and holy, so that God is free to protect us from disgrace
- When we walk carefully with Jesus, we will not be disgraced when life is hard.
- If grace is favor and mercy, then disgrace is a removal of favor and mercy…which God doesn’t do to those who honestly seek Him!
- He will bring disgrace upon those who enjoy watching our pain and those who seek to harm us.
- Disgrace isn’t the same as shame and guilt! Shame and guilt are feelings. We can allow or not allow them to take hold of us. Sometimes, shame is the result of a bad decision…which we need to ask God to forgive us for, so we can move on. And sometimes shame is the enemy trying to keep us captive! As a friend of mine says, we need to “test the messenger” when we feel these things, to know what God wants us to do with them!
So, we see that God is faithful. We see that, by walking with Him, He will protect us from disgrace (a removal of His favor on our lives), AND He will bring disgrace upon those who dishonor His precious, devoted, faithful children.
Here is something else God showed me this week about “disgrace.” We have friends in deep, dark, painful places right now! We have friends and loved ones who are dealing with the death of loved ones before their time (or at least “their time” in the eyes of their loved ones…for our God knows the end, from the beginning) or without adequate farewell, illnesses that are life-threatening and/or at least life altering. We cry out to God to remove these mountains, these barriers, these valleys of death…and sometimes, He doesn’t. And, as always, the enemy of our hearts moves in and whispers in our ear, “See? Would a loving God allow this? Why doesn’t your God heal or change this situation? God really did turn His back on you, leave you, and forsake you!” BUT GOD! You see, the painful valleys that we walk through are NOT God forsaking us…but refining us to be more like His Son and the working of HIS power and HIS plans, which are ALWAYS for our greater good, no matter how it looks to us! His Word says we WILL face trials, but that He promises to walk through them with us! So, my friends, do NOT allow your mind (or your enemy) to equate trials and tribulations with God removing His favor from (disgracing) you!
Lord, Jesus, thank you again for your grace, your truth, your faithfulness, and your protection for us! Thank you for showing us that you will not disgrace your faithful children and that you will disgrace those who dishonor us! Thank you for showing us the difference between shame and disgrace! And thank you for showing us the difference between painful valleys and the removal of your favor! Help us walk faithfully with you and learn the lessons you are showing us! Help us remain faithful and open our eyes more and more to your Presence and provision! In Jesus’ name, Amen!
Then, God showed me this song that embodies the truths He showed me!