Psalm 43
Vindication & Victory
In contemporary Britain, it feels as though there is increasing antagonism towards the church. And it feels like we are on the wrong side of history on hot button cultural issues.
But we worship the Lord of history and Author of creation. And only he has the final say. Therefore it is to him we must turn and this Psalm has just the words we need for our prayers.
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 Saviour and my God.
When we say ‘yes’ to God, we say ‘no’ to the world as it is. That is repentance. It is pledging our allegiance to the Triune Lord, the true and living God. Yet it means renouncing the world, the flesh and the devil. Therefore, the world stands against the church.
This is a prayer where the Psalmist pleads to God for vindication against his opposition and foes. When we make a public stand, we desire to be shown and known as being in the right. To be vindicated is to be proven true.
In the court of public opinion of his day, the Psalmist is pilloried and slandered. His enemies have cast his name in the dirt and his reputation in the garbage. But his concern is not with the court of public opinion. He knows that God alone is the true arbiter and righteous Judge. It is his decision and declaration from the throne room that counts into eternity. So he pleads to God to vindicate him and rescue him from the lies of the wicked.
Jesus was the subject of half-truths, deceit and emotional manipulation. They misrepresented his claims before the Sanhedrin. Their whispers whipped up the crowds. They played politics to get Pilate on side. They played the game in the court of public opinion and had Jesus flogged, crucified and killed.
Yet Jesus was vindicated. At the resurrection. He was proved to be the Son of God. The Messiah. The beloved of the Father. The Prince of Peace and Lord of lords. His resurrection did not just substantiate his claims but authenticated his identity as the one who would rule as King and crush his enemies under his feet.
And all those that are are united to him by faith will be vindicated with him. All those who have believed that Jesus is risen are justified. They will not be raised to condemnation but to new and everlasting life (John 5.29).
God will answer our prayer for vindication with resurrection and our prayer for rescue with redemption.
But we live in that in-between. We know that Jesus is risen. But we have not experienced all the fullness of the new creation. So we sometimes wonder with the Psalmist, has God forgotten us or neglected us or even rejected us? We still live under the cosh of the Deceiver. Many Christians still live under cruel and oppressive regimes. We pray “Come Lord Jesus” but wonder when that will be. When will evil finally be purged? When will swords be beat into ploughshares? When will the wolf lie down with the lamb? When will the Lamb who was slain be the Lion who roars and reigns here on earth as in heaven?
And so with the Psalmist, we do two things.
First we continue to pray. We pray for the light of God to pierce the darkness and chase away the shadow of death. We pray for the light of the world to invade our lives and lead us into new life. A life where God dwells. Right in the midst of us. In us each individually by his Holy Spirit. And we praise that God who has achieved that and inaugurated that in Jesus. For Christ is the Light of the World, the one who could not be put out by darkness, but has overcome death.
Second, we preach to ourselves. This Psalm closes with the same refrain as 42.5&11. The direction of this song changes once more, from speaking to God to addressing our souls. The Psalmist was beset by enemies who questioned the the authenticity and faithfulness and power of his God. He heard voices which caused him to question. He listened day by day to the lies of the evil one and his followers.
And the Psalmist knows that the way to combat and counteract that was to speak the truth to ourselves. It was to exhort and encourage and prod and push our souls. Not with empty hope but with substantial truth. God’s love is incorruptible and it will never let me go. My sin is great but God’s grace is greater still. The world is against me but Jesus has overcome it. We will yet praise him, for his salvation is sure and he is my God, both right now and forevermore!
Glory be to God the Father, who vindicates Jesus and all those united to him.
Glory be to God the Son, who is the light of the world.
Glory be to God the Spirit, who leads us into the presence of God.
Ever three and ever One.
*No Home Groups This Week*
Due to the forecast of Storm Babet tomorrow and the accompanying Yellow and Red warnings, we have thought it best to cancel Home Groups this week. Stay safe and we will see you on Sunday, God willing.