The word vindicated means “to prove that someone is not guilty or is free from blame, after other people blamed them.” We talked last week about those who are malicious who try to destroy with their lies and deception. Proverbs 26:24 “ A malicious man disguises himself with his lips but in his heart he harbors deceit. His malice may be concealed by deception but their wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.” Simply said, they won’t get away with it, as God will vindicate His servants. The enemy uses these people to mock you in order to get you to back down from following God wholeheartedly. Knowing that God will vindicate his servants, we join with Job in saying Job 27:5 “I will never admit you are in the right; till I die, I will not deny my integrity.” The enemy wants you to fail by not trusting in God’s plan. These attacks by the enemy can be intense but with God's hand, we will be vindicated. We too pray Psalm 43:1 “Vindicate me, my God, and plead my cause against an unfaithful nation. Rescue me from those who are deceitful and wicked. 2 You are God my stronghold. Why have you rejected me? Why must I go about mourning, oppressed by the enemy? 3 Send me your light and your faithful care, let them lead me; let them bring me to your holy mountain, to the place where you dwell. 4 Then I will go to the altar of God, to God, my joy and my delight. I will praise you with the lyre, O God, my God. 5 Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.” We see the mocking that takes place, the constant questioning, “where is your God.” Psalm 42:2 “My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God? 3 My tears have been my food day and night, while people say to me all day long, “Where is your God?” Luke 4:23 “Jesus said to them, “Surely you will quote this proverb to me: ‘Physician, heal yourself!’ And you will tell me, ‘Do here in your hometown what we have heard that you did in Capernaum.’” Luke 23:36 “The soldiers also came up and mocked him. They offered him wine vinegar 37 and said, “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself.” Psalm 22:7 “All who see me mock me; they hurl insults, shaking their heads. 8 “He trusts in the Lord,” they say, “let the Lord rescue him. Let him deliver him, since he delights in him.”
As people mock, you stand firm on the word of God knowing that he has not rejected us. Psalm 22:22 “I will declare your name to my people; in the assembly I will praise you. 23 You who fear the Lord, praise him! All you descendants of Jacob, honor him! Revere him, all you descendants of Israel! 24 For he has not despised or scorned the suffering of the afflicted one; he has not hidden his face from him but has listened to his cry for help.” So we cry out Psalm 54:1 “Save me, O God, by your name; vindicate me by your might. 2 Hear my prayer, O God; listen to the words of my mouth. 3 Arrogant foes are attacking me; ruthless people are trying to kill me— people without regard for God. 4 Surely God is my help; the Lord is the one who sustains me. 5 Let evil recoil on those who slander me; in your faithfulness destroy them. 6 I will sacrifice a freewill offering to you; I will praise your name, LORD, for it is good. 7 You have delivered me from all my troubles, and my eyes have looked in triumph on my foes.” Psalm 57:1 “Have mercy on me, my God, have mercy on me, for in you I take refuge. I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings until the disaster has passed. 2 I cry out to God Most High, to God, who vindicates me. 3 He sends from heaven and saves me, rebuking those who hotly pursue me—God sends forth his love and his faithfulness.”
The good news is that God hears our cry. Psalm 135:13 “Your name, Lord, endures forever, your renown, Lord, through all generations. 14 For the Lord will vindicate his people and have compassion on his servants.” 1 Kings 8:23 “Lord, the God of Israel, there is no God like you in heaven above or on earth below—you who keep your covenant of love with your servants who continue wholeheartedly in your way.” Psalm 138:7 “Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve my life. You stretch out your hand against the anger of my foes; with your right hand you save me. 8 The Lord will vindicate me; your love, Lord, endures forever— do not abandon the works of your hands.” Because we know that God will vindicate His servants, we stand firm. Isaiah 50:7 “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 will condemn me? They will all wear out like a garment; the moths will eat them up.”
Even though Saul was constantly trying to kill David, God protected David from him. There were times where they were close enough to kill each other. While Saul was in a cave taking care of some business, David crept up and cut off the corner of His robe. He would not touch God’s anointed and was grief stricken for cutting off the robe. 1 Samuel 24:8 “Then David went out of the cave and called out to Saul, “My lord the king!” When Saul looked behind him, David bowed down and prostrated himself with his face to the ground. 9 He said to Saul, “Why do you listen when men say, ‘David is bent on harming you’? 10 This day you have seen with your own eyes how the Lord delivered you into my hands in the cave. Some urged me to kill you, but I spared you; I said, ‘I will not lay my hand on my lord, because he is the Lord’s anointed.’ 11 See, my father, look at this piece of your robe in my hand! I cut off the corner of your robe but did not kill you. See that there is nothing in my hand to indicate that I am guilty of wrongdoing or rebellion. I have not wronged you, but you are hunting me down to take my life. 12 May the Lord judge between you and me. And may the Lord avenge the wrongs you have done to me, but my hand will not touch you. 13 As the old saying goes, ‘From evildoers come evil deeds,’ so my hand will not touch you. 14 “Against whom has the king of Israel come out? Who are you pursuing? A dead dog? A flea? 15 May the Lord be our judge and decide between us. May he consider my cause and uphold it; may he vindicate me by delivering me from your hand.” Saul replied 20 “I know that you will surely be king and that the kingdom of Israel will be established in your hands.” Later Saul died. 1 Samuel 31:6 “Saul and his three sons and his armor-bearer and all his men died together that same day.” 1 Chronicles 10:13 “Saul died because he was unfaithful to the Lord; he did not keep the word of the Lord and even consulted a medium for guidance, 14 and did not inquire of the Lord. So the Lord put him to death and turned the kingdom over to David son of Jesse.” David then was vindicated by God who made Him king over Israel.
As you continue to serve God wholeheartedly, know that God will vindicate you and your enemies will be no more. Yes like Haman they will think they have gotten away with their deception but like Haman everything will be exposed. As Proverbs said “their wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.” Haman tried to kill Mordecai and the plan would have worked but Haman was not up against a man but God. Stand firm and see God do amazing things for you.
