The Lord GOD is my help,
therefore I am not disgraced;
I have set my face like flint,
knowing that I shall not be put to shame.
B eginning with the first appearance in the Bible -- "they were not ashamed" -- words of shame, (285x) disgrace (94x), or humiliation (17x) appears frequently in the Old and New Testaments. It is in fact, a constant concern of human life, despite those who insist they're above that sort of thing.
When Deutero-Isaiah described a coming Messiah who would not be disgraced, who would set his face like flint, he addressed the humiliation of the Jews in Babylonian exile.
These patriots had taken great pride in Jerusalem, their impregnable fortress city; and the God who protected it. They supposed they could always sneer at any threatening army, whether they were Egyptian, Assyrian, or Babylonian. Never a powerful nation they believed their patrimonial holiness must protect them from infidels and idolaters.
Oh lawdy, did you sure deliver Daniel from the lion’s den.Also deliver Jonah from the belly of the whale, and then,The Hebrew children from the fiery furnace, so the good book do declare.Lawd, if you can’t help me, put a muzzle on the big black bear.”
But there was a precedent for their defeat and humiliation when they had "militarized" the Ark of the Covenant against the Philistines -- and were soundly defeated. The enemy captured their precious ark, but it was returned by an unlikely team of mooing milk cows. Perhaps they remembered only the humor of the story and ignored its lesson. Their LORD will not be used, abused, or taken for granted.
We were recently reminded of this story by the humiliation and terror of the woman caught in adultery, and the Lord who stood by her against the scribes and Pharisees. He would not be shamefaced but by word and deed he almost habitually shamed opponents sneering critics and the synagogue leaders.
He also encouraged his disciples to abash those who opposed the Gospel. I think of the disciples Peter and John before the temple authorities in Acts 4; and of the brash young man in John's gospel who challenged the religious authorities:
The man answered and said to them, “This is what is so amazing, that you do not know where he is from, yet he opened my eyes. We know that God does not listen to sinners, but if one is devout and does his will, he listens to him. It is unheard of that anyone ever opened the eyes of a person born blind. If this man were not from God, he would not be able to do anything.”
Shame, for many people, is a very deep psychological illness, learned in situations of unspeakable abuse. With counseling, time, and patience, they find healing in the Good Shepherd who stands with them against cowardly bullies who control, dominate, and terrify by shaming others.
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I love to write. This blog helps me to meditate on the Word of God, and I hope to make some contribution to our contemplations of God's Mighty Works.
Ordinarily, I write these reflections two or three weeks in advance of their publication. I do not intend to comment on current events.
I understand many people prefer gender-neutral references to "God." I don't disagree with them but find that language impersonal, unappealing and tasteless. When I refer to "God" I think of the One whom Jesus called "Abba" and "Father", and I would not attempt to improve on Jesus' language.
You're welcome to add a thought or raise a question.