The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in Psalm 26:1,
"Vindicate me, Lord, for I have led a blameless life; I have trusted in the Lord and have not faltered."
In Merriam-Webster's online dictionary we learn that to vindicate means to "free from allegation or blame", "to provide justification or defense for". Synonyms include "absolve", "acquit", "clear", "exculpate", "exonerate". It is the perfect word to define the need we have from the fix we find ourselves in.
In the book of Psalms, the term "vindicate" is used in the NIV nine times. Each time it is the Lord who performs the vindication and it is the psalmist who either calls out to the Lord for vindication or claims that his vindication is from the Lord:
"Vindicate me, Lord..." Psalm 7:8.
"As for me, I will be vindicated and will see your [the Lord's] face..." Psalm 17:15.
"Vindicate me, Lord..." Psalm 26:1 (this passage).
"Vindicate me in your righteousness, Lord my God..." Psalm 35:24.
"Vindicate me, my God..." Psalm 43:1.
"Save me, O God, by your name; vindicate me by your might.." Psalm 54:1.
"I cry out to God Most High, to God, who vindicates me." Psalm 57:2.
"For the Lord will vindicate his people and have compassion on his servants." Psalm 135:14.
"The Lord will vindicate me..." Psalm 138:8.
It is the Lord's disposition to provide vindication to all who seek him out, to all who place their faith and trust in him, to all who cast themselves on the Lord's love and willingness to vindicate. It really is an expression of God's love for those who look to him.
"Vindicate me, Lord, for I have led a blameless life; I have trusted in the Lord and have not faltered."
In Merriam-Webster's online dictionary we learn that to vindicate means to "free from allegation or blame", "to provide justification or defense for". Synonyms include "absolve", "acquit", "clear", "exculpate", "exonerate". It is the perfect word to define the need we have from the fix we find ourselves in.
In the book of Psalms, the term "vindicate" is used in the NIV nine times. Each time it is the Lord who performs the vindication and it is the psalmist who either calls out to the Lord for vindication or claims that his vindication is from the Lord:
"Vindicate me, Lord..." Psalm 7:8.
"As for me, I will be vindicated and will see your [the Lord's] face..." Psalm 17:15.
"Vindicate me, Lord..." Psalm 26:1 (this passage).
"Vindicate me in your righteousness, Lord my God..." Psalm 35:24.
"Vindicate me, my God..." Psalm 43:1.
"Save me, O God, by your name; vindicate me by your might.." Psalm 54:1.
"I cry out to God Most High, to God, who vindicates me." Psalm 57:2.
"For the Lord will vindicate his people and have compassion on his servants." Psalm 135:14.
"The Lord will vindicate me..." Psalm 138:8.
It is the Lord's disposition to provide vindication to all who seek him out, to all who place their faith and trust in him, to all who cast themselves on the Lord's love and willingness to vindicate. It really is an expression of God's love for those who look to him.
It behooves us all to recognize that in the coming judgment of God, the only vindication that counts in his courtroom is the vindication he, as our judge, provides.
A blog with my ruminations over the years can be found here: http://worshipfortoday.blogspot.com/
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know..
A blog with my ruminations over the years can be found here: http://worshipfortoday.blogspot.com/
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know..
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