Power of Shame - Psalms 3-5

Psalms 4:2 (ESV)

O men, how long shall my honor be turned into shame?

How long will you love vain words and seek after lies? Selah

The opening verse of this psalm reads as follows:

Psalms 4:1 (ESV)

Answer Me When I Call

TO THE CHOIRMASTER: WITH STRINGED INSTRUMENTS. A PSALM OF DAVID.

Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness!

You have given me relief when I was in distress.

Be gracious to me and hear my prayer!

David is writing and crying out to God for help against those who are causing him distress.  They are taking whatever honor he has and trying to shame him.  They are using untruth to do this shaming.   The tactics today have not changed much from back then.   People are using untruth, or half-truths, to shame those who disagree with them.   The power of shaming is an unmatched weapon in many ways.   God has created us to despise being put to shame.  When we do something bad we often drop our heads or turn our face away from others.   Athletes, making a mistake in a competitive context, will often cover their face after missing an opportunity for triumph.   The power of shaming is one of the tactics Satan employs, frequently.   Jesus told Peter that Satan desired to have him. To sift him.   When Peter did deny Jesus, three times, he went out and cried.  His shame was overwhelming to him.   

Notice that David’s solution to being shamed is to turn to confront the shamming with the power of God. This entire prayer is David reaching out to God to engage His power over those who are doing the shamming.  David knows he is in an honorable place.  They are turning his honor into shame with false information.   His prayer, later in the song is:

Psalms 4:6 (ESV)

There are many who say, “Who will show us some good?

Lift up the light of your face upon us, O LORD!”

David knows that in the light of the LORD, there is no shame.   The solution David gives us when others shame us, is to have the light of the countenance of God show upon us.  Shaming is a form of judgement.  Even though Paul would not write this until centuries later, David seemed to know this truth:

Romans 8:1 (ESV)

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.