“Turn away my reproach which I dread, for Your judgments are good. Behold, I long for Your precepts; revive me in Your righteousness” (Ps 119:39-40).
In the wonderful economy of words that the Spirit uses, the psalmist pleads for God’s undeserved righteousness rather than the dreaded reproach of others, the consequence of his own past (but still unknown) failure. Here is another anonymous author’s paraphrase of verse 39: “I have done a secret evil; my soul is sorry for it: if it becomes public, it will be a heavy reproach to me. O God, turn it away, and let it never meet the eye of man!”
How thankful we are that, often when we sow a bad crop, God in His good judgment gives us a meager harvest. And how often it is true in a believer’s life that “the goodness of God leads you to repentance” (Rom 2:4). But notice how balanced the Word is! God in His goodness may withhold what I deserve, but solid footing is gained when we are revived in His righteousness.