What is the meaning of Psalm 119:39?

Turn away

The psalmist begins with a direct call for divine intervention. He is not asking for mere relief but for God Himself to act: “Turn away…”

• This request acknowledges that only the LORD has the authority and power to remove what burdens us (Psalm 25:20, “Guard my soul and deliver me; let me not be put to shame, for I take refuge in You,”).

• It is a faith–filled appeal, much like Peter’s cry, “Lord, save me!” when sinking (Matthew 14:30).

• At its core, the phrase models humble dependence on God rather than self-effort (Proverbs 3:5–6).

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the disgrace

“Disgrace” points to shame or reproach that threatens the believer’s testimony.

• Scripture shows that disgrace may come from personal failure (Psalm 51:1), from enemies’ mockery (Psalm 69:7), or from life circumstances that appear to contradict God’s favor (Job 19:2-3).

• Whatever its source, disgrace is intolerable to the one who loves God’s name because it clouds His glory.

• God promises vindication: “Those who hope in Me will not be put to shame” (Isaiah 49:23).

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I dread

The psalmist admits he “dreads” this disgrace—he feels real fear.

• Fear in itself is not sin; it is the launching point for trust (Psalm 56:3, “When I am afraid, I put my trust in You,”).

• He openly names the dread rather than hiding it, reflecting the honesty God invites (Psalm 62:8).

• By confessing fear, he shifts the weight onto God’s shoulders, echoing 1 Peter 5:7.

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for Your judgments are good

Here is the anchor of his plea: God’s “judgments,” His decisions, decrees, and Word, “are good.”

• The psalmist reminds himself—and God—of the unchanging goodness of divine verdicts (Psalm 19:9, “The judgments of the LORD are true, being altogether righteous,”).

• Because God’s rulings are good, any disgrace ultimately cannot stand; His verdict of grace overrules all condemnation (Romans 8:1).

• Trust in God’s judgments fuels endurance under pressure (James 1:12) and breeds confidence that righteousness will prevail (Romans 7:12).

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summary

The verse traces a simple yet powerful movement: a cry for rescue (“Turn away”), a naming of the burden (“the disgrace”), an honest admission of fear (“I dread”), and a firm grounding in God’s character (“for Your judgments are good”). The believer who clings to the goodness of God’s Word need not live under shame; the Lord Himself turns away every reproach and replaces dread with confident hope.