Psalm 119:1-6 (NLT)
1 Joyful are people of integrity, who follow the instructions of the Lord. 2 Joyful are those who obey his laws and search for him with all their hearts. 3 They do not compromise with evil, and they walk only in his paths. 4 You have charged us to keep your commandments carefully. 5 Oh, that my actions would consistently reflect your decrees! 6 Then I will not be ashamed when I compare my life with your commands.

Psalm 119 is one of the longest Psalms David wrote. David put much of his heart into this psalm. In it are many pieces of wisdom just as David’s son Solomon provides many pieces of wisdom in Proverbs. These verses focus on the joy and consistency a person finds when they follow the Lord. Their life is not filled with duality, but is a single life living for God in which they find no shame.

In one episode of Everyone Loves Raymond, Ray’s older brother Robert pretends he is Ray after a woman he just met assumes him to be Ray Barone, the famous sports writer. She makes the assumption after hearing someone call Robert, “Mr. Barone”. Robert convinces Ray to play along with the deception. So Ray pretends to be Robert and Robert pretends to be Ray. Robert lies because he feels the woman will not like him as just being Robert, the brother of Ray Barone. He hopes the deception will buy him time where he can eventually tell her the truth after she comes to like him for who he is. All goes well until the woman shows up at Ray’s home looking for who she thinks is Robert, but instead meets Ray’s wife Deborah. After several moments of confusion it becomes evident Ray and Robert have been deceptive about their identities. Robert’s girlfriend storms off angry after learning about the lie and Deborah is angry with Ray for playing along with Robert’s deception. Robert was living two lives, his real life and his deceptive life. He gave up his integrity and in the end gave up his joy. Had he only been consistent in living the truth, Robert would not have been ashamed over his deception. David’s request to God was that his actions would be consistent with God’s desire and because of that consistency he could compare his life to God’s desires and not be ashame.