YOUR VINDICATION COMES FROM GOD

Vindication is the action of clearing someone of blame or suspicion. It is to prove that someone or something is right, reasonable, or justified. To vindicate is the Greek word, 'ekdikéō' – which is to dispense justice, to grant appropriate equity of treatment to someone, and to defend someone.

Reference: Isaiah 54:17 New Living Translation (NLT) 'But in that coming day no weapon turned against you will succeed. You will silence every voice raised up to accuse you. These benefits are enjoyed by the servants of the LORD; their vindication will come from me. I, the LORD, have spoken!'

The original text of this chapter (Isaiah 54) was written in Hebrew language. In Hebrew, 'vindicate' plainly means: to clear from an accusation, imputation, suspicion, or the like. Its to reinforce someone's honour. Vindication is precious because it's a kind of freedom that restores a peaceful state of mind. Accusation is inevitable especially for God's children. This is because they have an enemy and this enemy is called the 'accuser of our brethren'. Revelation 12:10 (KJV) says, 'for the accuser of our brethren...which accused them before our God day and night.' As long as you're a child of God, the accuser will accuse you before God.

When you are committed to doing God's will, the enemy will show up to accuse and attack you. He does not necessarily show up as the devil with two big horns in real life. He does that through people. But your Father in heaven says, 'He's not in support of his accusation and attack'. How do I know this? The verse before our referenced Scripture reveals it. And that is Isaiah 54:15. It reads, 'If anyone does attack you, it will not be my doing; whoever attacks you will surrender to you.' This is God Himself speaking.

You may have people who come against you in life and even make negative comments about you. The problem is that sometimes, you spend too much time worrying about what they think, instead of meditating on this kind of Scripture above. Trying to defend yourself and prove to people about who you are robs you of the time and focus you could direct towards the right goals and great things ahead of you. Why not place your reputation in God's hands? He said it clearly: your vindication will come from me. Isaiah 54:17 (NLT) says, 'No weapon turned against you will succeed. You will silence every voice raised up to accuse you. These benefits are enjoyed by the servants of the LORD; their vindication will come from me. I, the LORD, have spoken!'

I know the verse also includes this: You will silence every voice raised up to accuse you. Yes it's true, but it doesn't mean you should engage in word to word challenge. Remember if you keep responding to every dog that barks on your pathway, you may never get to your destination in life. You can silence those contrary voices in your closet or in God's presence because the Bible says, 'We use God's mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ (2 Corinthians 10:4-5 NLT).

When your reputability is based on God's approval, you'll never have to worry about your adversaries or those who oppose you. This is because they are doing their job. Didn't you notice that in the same Isaiah chapter 54, God says, 'Behold, they shall surely gather together, but not by me: whosoever shall gather together against thee shall fall for thy sake '(verse 15). So they must assemble to fulfil their script description - which is to gather to accuse and attack. Its inevitable, but you don't have to retaliate, get even with them, prove that you're righteous, or convince them to change their minds about you. God has already allowed it to be so. If you insist on retaliating, God will back off and leave you to it. But when you put your situation into His hands, the challenge will be turned to a testimony of His goodness and grace upon your life.

Depend on God completely and remember that its not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God (2 Corinthians 3:5 NIV). In other words, you don't have to waste your time and energy trying to prove yourself or change what others think because God can defend and vindicate you better than you can.

Scripture Reading - Psalm 17:2; Isaiah 50:8; Jeremiah 51:10; Luke 18:7; Romans 8:33-34.

Guided Prayer: Precious heavenly Father, I trust your defence, vindication and protection. Your mercy towards me endures forever and in the shadow of your wings, I take refuge. In Christ Jesus, you've clear me from all accusations and have justified me as your righteousness through faith in the truth. By the strength of this knowledge, I function from a position of rest always, knowing that no kind and no level of weapon formed against me shall prosper, in Jesus' Name, Amen!