Psalms 119:39

39 Avert the disgrace which I dread, for your rulings are good.

Psalms 119:39 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 119:39

Turn away my reproach which I fear
Either for the sake of religion, which was disagreeable to him; and he might be afraid it would be too heavy for him to bear, and be a temptation to him to forsake the good ways of God: or rather by reason of sin, which brings a reproach on good men; and causes the enemy to speak reproachfully, and is therefore dreaded by them who desire to be kept from sin, for that reason as well as others; see ( Psalms 39:8 ) . Jarchi and Kimchi think that David has some reference to his sins, in the case of Uriah and Bathsheba; lest they should be a perpetual reproach on his name and family, which he greatly feared;

for thy judgments [are] good;
the laws of God, and punishment of sin according to them; the Scriptures, and the doctrines contained in them; the ways of God, and true religion; which are evil spoken of, through the sins of the professors of them.

Psalms 119:39 In-Context

37 Turn my eyes away from worthless things; with your ways, give me life.
38 Fulfill your promise, which you made to your servant, which you made to those who fear you.
39 Avert the disgrace which I dread, for your rulings are good.
40 See how I long for your precepts; in your righteousness, give me life!
41 May your grace come to me, ADONAI, your salvation, as you promised;
Complete Jewish Bible Copyright 1998 by David H. Stern. Published by Jewish New Testament Publications, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.