With God On Our Side
As I was reading proverbs 22 this morning, verses 22 and 23 really caught my attention, probably because they confirm and remind me of a lot of other verses I like, and justify what I posted yesterday about being still and resting in the Lord. They say Do not exploit the poor because they are poor and do not crush the needy in court, for the LORD will take up their case and will plunder those who plunder them. My first thought was what an awesome illustration that is of how God vindicates us! So I looked for verses that refer to God as our vindicator and the following were some of my favorites:
Psalm 135:14
For the LORD will vindicate his people and have compassion on his servants.
Psalm 43:1
Vindicate me, O God, and plead my cause against an ungodly nation; rescue me from deceitful and wicked men.
Isaiah 50:7-9
7 Because the Sovereign LORD helps me, I will not be disgraced. Therefore have I set my face like flint, and I know I will not be put to shame.
8 He who vindicates me is near. Who then will bring charges against me? Let us face each other! Who is my accuser? Let him confront me!
9 It is the Sovereign LORD who helps me. Who is he that will condemn me? They will all wear out like a garment; the moths will eat them up.
I’ve recently started taking the time to look up actual dictionary definitions, because it does help make a verse more meaningful. For instance, to “vindicate” means to clear (free) of accusation, allegations, blame, suspicion,
or doubt with supporting arguments or proof; to lay claim to, avenge, confirm, substantiate (to provide justification or defense for), justify (to protect from attack or encroachment), defend (to maintain a right to), to set free or deliver. And, PRAISE THE LORD, we KNOW God WILL do ALL of that for us as we stand in obedience to Him for the restoration of our marriages! Just in case someone needs one, a good online dictionary is Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary, which is where I found some of the above definitions.
When we’re standing for marriage restoration, there are times when our situations look totally hopeless and impossible, but that’s when we have to keep our eyes on the Lord and confess His AWESOME promise to vindicate us as the above verses say and we MUST believe what Psalm 37 6:6 says, which is He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun. And the following passages of scripture are two of my all time favorites that remind us that God is our vindicator and that we have NOTHING to worry about:
Isaiah 41 (NKJV)
10 Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’
11 “ Behold, all those who were incensed against you Shall be ashamed and disgraced; They shall be as nothing, And those who strive with you shall perish.
12 You shall seek them and not find them—Those who contended with you. Those who war against you Shall be as nothing, As a nonexistent thing.
13 For I, the LORD your God, will hold your right hand, Saying to you, ‘Fear not, I will help you.’
Romans 8
30 And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.
31 What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us?