What does the Psalmist mean by experiencing reproach?

In Psalm 119:22, the psalmist expresses a desire for God to remove reproach and contempt, which he associates with the trials believers face for their faithfulness to God's commandments. The reality of reproach highlights the cost of discipleship, as stated by Jesus in Matthew 16:24 where He calls His followers to take up their cross. The reproach Christians bear ultimately stems from a world that opposes God's truth. By enduring such contempt, believers hope to inherit the eternal city, emphasizing the transient nature of worldly disdain against the eternal glory to come.