Righteous 

by Rocky Fleming

Day Four

Scripture: “The LORD judges the peoples; Vindicate me, O LORD, according to my righteousness and my integrity that is in me.” (Psalms 7:8 NASB)

Thought:  Cush, a Benjamite, was harassing David with slanderous accusations.  As with most slander, it is inspired by jealousy, or bitterness, or pride in one’s self if we slander.  The problem is that most slander has enough of a semblance of truth that it becomes believable.  David appealed to God and asked Him to vindicate him, which means defend him.  He asked God to look at the facts of his integrity, and his right ways concerning the slander.  He mentioned God’s judgment over the people.  It sounds like David went to a court of appeals, and asked the Judge to give him justice.  We do have that invitation by God, you know?

Application:  If you were to ask this same request of God that David made, would you be able to take God’s scrutiny of your life to vindicate you based on your integrity, and according to your righteousness?  I might be OK the last part of my life, but I would be a loser on that question in my previous life, for it is tattered with many past regrets because of a lack of integrity, and personal righteousness.  I don’t think I would be able to handle God’s scrutiny of my past.  But thank God, He doesn’t remember it.  The only way He remembers it is if we bring it up, or we do not forgive because we think of our self without our own failures.  If this happens our guilty conscience and His Spirit reminds us of our failures, and that our prayers will remain hindered until we connect our guilt and His forgiveness to the forgiveness we give to those who have sinned against us. I have to admit that I have a particular sensitive area when it comes to slander.  I hate it!  But, I cannot allow this act to make me hate the slanderer.  I must separate these two things.  Like God, I must try really hard to hate the sin, without hating the sinner.  

But what can we do when we are under the attack of a slanderer?  It hurts.  We are angered.  We want justification.  We want revenge. However, we are cautioned to not take revenge, for God has said that vengeance is His.  So what can we do in this situation?  Like David, we go to Heaven’s Court of Appeals, and plead our case before the Most Righteous Judge.  We ask Him to vindicate us based on our innocence, if we are innocent.  If we are not innocent, then forget the appeal to God and go directly to correcting our wrong.  Then God will give us His help.  Take some time and think, then pray about any past offenses and if you need to give forgiveness or ask for forgiveness.  Allow the Spirit to lead you with what He wants you to understand, and what you might need to do.  The outcome of this will be rest for your soul.

Q:  After you prayed, did you feel God gave you an answer?  Is there something you need to do?

Response:  Make a determination right now to act on what God has led you to understand, or what you need to do in obedience to Him.  Allow Him to do a mighty work in you, by rooting out any hindrance between you and Him.  Break that wall down.