Psalm 83:16 Fill their faces with shame; that they may seek your name, O LORD. I. UNGODLY MEN HAVE GOOD CAUSE TO BE ASHAMED — 1. Because of the wrong they are doing to their Maker. You pride yourself upon your uprightness and integrity; but must God alone, then, be made to Suffer through your injustice? Out of all beings, must He alone who made all other beings be the only one to be neglected? 2. There are many ungodly men who ought to be ashamed because they are acting in opposition to light and knowledge, contrary to their conscience, and against their better judgments. 3. Because of their postponements of what they know to be right. 4. Because of their violation of vows which they have made. 5. Because of their not loving the Lord Jesus Christ, and not trusting such a Saviour as He is. 6. A man ought to be ashamed who will not even think of these things. II. Now, concerning these ungodly people, let me show you that SHAME IS A VERY DESIRABLE THING IF IT DRIVES THEM TO GOD. Hence the prayer, "Fill their faces with shame, that they may seek thy name, O Lord." 1. Sometimes shame attends the breaking up of self-righteousness. 2. I have known this shame to operate in some when they have done wrong, and have lost the repute they enjoyed among their fellow-creatures. 3. So have I seen failure driving a man to the strong for strength. 4. I have also known men brought to Christ with shame of another sort, shame of mental error leading to a humble faith. III. THE LORD IS WILLING NOW TO RECEIVE THOSE WHO ARE ASHAMED OF THEMSELVES. 1. You are the sort of man to come to Christ, because, first, you have the greatest need of Him. In the time of famine, we give the meal away first to the most hungry family. 2. If you are ashamed of yourself, you are the man to come to Christ, because you will make no bargains with Him. You will say, "Save me, Lord, at any price, and in any way!" 3. And you are the man who will give Him all the glory if you are saved. ( C. H. Spurgeon.) Parallel Verses KJV: Fill their faces with shame; that they may seek thy name, O LORD.WEB: Fill their faces with confusion, that they may seek your name, Yahweh. |
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