The Accuser Vindicate Me, Oh God

The Accuser

Vindicate Me, Oh God 

The point is this God must judge you because He is a righteous judge

If He finds us righteous He will vindicate us

If He finds us guilty, God is a judge full of mercy and grace

So if we confess our sin He is faithful and just to forgive

our sin and to cleans us from all unrighteousness 1 John 1:9 

If you have ever had someone accuse you of something

you probably felt like you were guilty until proven innocent.

Clearing your name from a false accusation

can be very hard and in some cases there will

be those who always look at you as guilty.

It is painful and can hurt you emotionally and physically.

Isaiah says… “He who vindicates me is near.

Who then will bring charges against me?”

The word vindicate here means justify,

cleanse, clear self, righteous.

Isaiah is confident God will clear him of the accuser’s charges.

What I find interesting is the English word

vindicate in the Bible does not always mean to justify.

In Psalms 26:1; 35:24; 54:1 and 145:14

The English word vindicate is the word for

“judge me” in the Hebrew in many cases.

  

The Psalmist is confident he has walked a blameless

life and asked the Lord to judge him so the Lord

might rule between him and his accuser.

Yes, the sacrificial blood of Jesus

cleanses us but God must judge sin.

The Psalmist is not saying vindicate me

without judging my actions.

In 1 Peter 3 we are told…

 “It is better, if it is God's will, to suffer

for doing good than for doing evil.”

Whether we are guilty or innocent of the

accusations God has to judge the matter.

He is not going to strike your

accuser because you ask Him to.

God is a fair judge and must judge all

things according to His righteousness.

If the accusation has some truth and we are found guilty…

Verse 18 says… “For Christ died for sins once for all,

the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God.”

1 John 1:9

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will

forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

If the accusation has truth God will judge it

and vindicate you on His righteousness.

If the accusations are false God will judge

it and vindicate your righteousness.

 

Either way we find some instruction here in 1 Peter 3…

Always be eager to do good. v13

Consider yourself blessed if you suffer

for doing the right thing. v14

Don’t fear the judgment of God. v14

With Christ in your heart be ready to answer your accuser. v15

Don’t let the accuser rattle you; give your

answer with gentleness and respect. v15

Keep a clear conscience. v16

If we do these things the accuser will become

ashamed of their slander because of their

malicious talk of your good behavior.

Accusers will try to destroy you in two ways.

They will try to get others to believe the

accusation and secondly they will try to

get you upset and act improperly.

The point is this… God must judge you

because He is a righteous judge.

If He finds us righteous he will vindicate us.

If He finds us guilty God is a judge full of mercy and grace.

So if we confess our sin He is faithful

and just to forgive our sin and to cleanse

us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9 

Hebrews 10:30-39 NIV

30 For we know him who said, "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," and again, "The Lord will judge his people."  31 It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

32 Remember those earlier days after you had received the light, when you stood your ground in a great contest in the face of suffering. 33 Sometimes you were publicly exposed to insult and persecution; at other times you stood side by side with those who were so treated. 34 You sympathized with those in prison and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property, because you knew that you yourselves had better and lasting possessions.

35 So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. 36 You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. 37 For in just a very little while,

"He who is coming will come and will not delay.

38 But my righteous one will live by faith.

And if he shrinks back,

I will not be pleased with him."

39 But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who believe and are saved.

Scripture Reading

Isaiah 50:8 NIV

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!

1 Peter 3:13-18 NIV

13 Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? 14 But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. "Do not fear what they fear; do not be frightened."  15 But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, 16 keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.   17 It is better, if it is God's will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil. 18 For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit