Thou hast commanded us to keep thy precepts diligently. ⁵ O that my ways were directed to keep thy statutes! ⁶ Then shall I not be ashamed, when I have respect unto all thy commandments. ⁷ I will praise thee with uprightness of heart, when I shall have learned thy righteous judgments. (Psalm 119:4-7 KJV)

As a young man growing up in my parents’ house, I remember those moments when I was asked by my mother or father to complete some task of duty before they returned home from work.  My father may ask me to cut the grass, or weed the garden, or rake the yard, or sweep the basement and the garage.  My mother may ask me to bath and brush the dog, or take him for a walk, or hang the laundry out in the sunshine.  While I, most likely, would not have undertaken any of these tasks on my own initiative, I knew that once they were assigned to me they were my responsibility.  While my parents were firm on matters of responsibility, they were not overly strict or harsh.  Generally, my parents were patient, understanding and very encouraging.  I will confess that there were occasions when in my youth I became distracted from my duty and failed to complete the tasks assigned me.  Most often, when my parents came home from work and discovered that I had failed in my responsibility, they would reassign the task with a greater sense of urgency.  Rarely did I have to be yelled at or spanked for failing.  For me it was enough to realize that I disappointed my parents.  The feeling that I let my parents down, that I lost their respect, and that I violated their trust was enough of a devastating blow to me, no beating could have hurt worse.  I hated those moments when my “nakedness” was revealed.  I would feel a great sense of shame before the eyes of the ones who loved me most.  If I had failed in doing what I had promised to do, I would dread hearing my father’s car coming up the hill and heading toward home.  I dreaded hearing my father coming in the door and up the stairs.  I hated hearing him calling my name.  Why, because I was ashamed that I had failed. I was ashamed that I did not do what I was commanded.  On the contrary, when I had faithfully fulfilled all that I was assigned, I rejoiced to hear my father’s old Rambler chugging up the hill and heading toward home.  I was delighted to hear my father entering the house, climbing the stairs, opening the door and calling my name.  I was happy to stand in my father’s presence and assure him that I had faithfully completed all that he had counted on me for.  It was not my father’s response, but my obedience or disobedience that determined how I felt about my father’s presence.    

We never need to feel ashamed of doing what is right.  In the verses above the Psalmist reminds us that we have been commanded to keep the precepts, statutes, judgments, and commandments of YHWH.  Clearly it is the will of the Sovereign Creator of the Universe that we walk in his ways. When we keep the commandments, statutes, precepts,  judgments, ordinances and instructions of YHWH, we are happy to hear his voice in the cool of the garden, we rejoice in hearing the Father call us by name, we are overwhelmed by the Father’s desire to draw near to us.  But when we fail to keep our part of the covenant, we are ashamed of ourselves, we dread and fear the sound of YHWH’s voice, we fear his coming near to us.  The teaching is very simple.  If we desire to have an intimate relationship with the Father, then we must fulfill our obligation and responsibilities as described in the covenant.  Had Adam and Havah obeyed the Creator they would have had no need to hide from him in the Garden of Eden.  If we will but submit ourselves to the will of the Father and the leading of his Spirit we shall fulfill the covenant and rejoice in his presence.  If we do what is right we shall have no need to hide ourselves in shame from the ever present eyes of the Creator.  Our heavenly Father loves us and desires to draw near to us.  If we want to truly enjoy his presence without shame and fear then we would be wise to keep his commandments, statutes, ordinances, judgments, distinctions and instructions.  If we keep his word we will have no reason to be ashamed. We are never shamed by doing right.