Psalm 119:46

In this octave the psalmist has besought God: “take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth” (verse 43). Having the law of God at his disposal, the psalmist will keep it forever and thus walk at liberty (verses 44-45). Now by means of the word also the psalmist adds the following resolution:

Psalms 119:46 I will speak of thy testimonies also before kings, and will not be ashamed.

Having the word of God in his heart, mouth, and life, the psalmist resolves that he will unashamedly speak of it, even before kings. Now this is significant when you remember that princes “did sit and speak against” him (verse 23). But the psalmist would not be intimidated by this. He will stand before kings themselves and boldly speak of God’s testimonies. He will be ashamed of neither his Lord nor of His words. Connecting this verse to the one that precedes it, Charles Spurgeon wrote:

“This is part of his liberty; he is free from fear of the greatest, proudest, and most tyrannical of men.”

No power in this earth no matter how great it was would cause the psalmist to shrink from speaking of God’s testimonies. A man like this is walking at liberty. He is truly a free man! Today’s verse reminds us of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego who would not bow to King Nebuchadnezzar’s image of gold even under threat of a painful death. God’s testimonies forbad them to worship any other god but Jehovah and to bow down before any graven image. They were not ashamed to own those testimonies before the king. We also think of the apostle Paul who spoke of God’s testimonies before the governor Felix (Acts 24), before the governor Festus (Acts 25), and before king Agrippa (Acts 26). And then Paul appealed to be heard by Caesar Augustus himself. Indeed, he would speak of God’s testimonies also before kings, and would not be ashamed. Paul was not ashamed to speak God’s truth before kings because he was empowered by the Spirit of God.

2 Timothy 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. 8 Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God; 9 Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began, 10 But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel....

How could any believer in his right mind be ashamed of the One Who saved his soul and conquered death! It is sad to see a professing Christian cower before an angry relative, or a scornful professor in the classroom, or unbelieving friends. Showing such cowardice before these of lesser stature, it is almost certain he would never stand up for his faith before judges, governors, and kings. And being thus ashamed to own his Lord and His words, the Lord will be ashamed of him at His coming. Hear the words of our Lord Jesus Christ:

Mark 8:38 Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.

Now that is a frightful prospect! More frightening than anything we might suffer for boldly speaking of the testimonies of our Lord before the most powerful kings of this earth.