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We are not under the law, but under grace, yet are we not lawless, since we have become servants of God. Nay, but we are under another law, which works upon us after another fashion. The child may be quite clear of the police court, but there is a rod at home. There is a father's smile; there is a father's frown.

I. THE UNIVERSALITY OF BELIEVING OBEDIENCE. The esteem in which we hold, and the tribute we pay to, all God's commandments is spoken of. Not picking and choosing — paying attention to this, because it pleases me, and omitting that, because it is not equally pleasurable. What do we mean by having respect to all God's commandment I reply that, whatever there is that the Lord has spoken in any part of His Word we desire to hold in devout esteem, and to have respect to every utterance of His will. "Then shall I not be ashamed, when I have respect unto all Thy commandments" — to the foundation commandments, striving to dig deep; to the high soaring commandments, seeking to rise into the utmost fellowship with God; to those commandments that need stern labour, like the rugged walls upon which much toil must be spent, and upon those which are a delight and a beauty, like the golden aureole windows that require fine taste and delicate skill. Oh that we were enamoured of this perfection, and were seeking after it!

II. THE EXCELLENCY OF ITS RESULT. "Then shall I not be ashamed." That means, first, that as sin is removed, shame is removed. Sin and shame came into this world together. Unless sin gets to a high head, which it will not do in the believer, shame is sure always to go with sin. Excessive sin or habitual transgression at last kills shame, so that the hardened culprit knows not how to blush. It is an awful thing when a man is no longer conscious of shame, but a more awful thing still when he comes to glory in his shame; for then his damnation is not far off. But as sin is cast out of the believer, shame is cast out of him in proportion, and it thence comes to pass that courage rises with a consciousness of rectitude. The man that has respect unto God's commands is no longer ashamed of men. He is not abashed by their scorn, or disconcerted by their ridicule. There is nothing to be ashamed of in keeping God's commands. Then, again, before men we shall not be ashamed of our profession. "I am a Christian. Look me up and down and examine my conduct. I do not boast of it, but I know that I have sought honestly and sincerely to walk before God in righteousness." Or, when an accusation is brought against you falsely, meet it in the same spirit.

( C. H. Spurgeon.)

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KJV: Then shall I not be ashamed, when I have respect unto all thy commandments.

WEB: Then I wouldn't be disappointed, when I consider all of your commandments.