The one who vindicates me is near; who will contend with me? Let us confront each other. Who has a case against me? Let him come near me! In truth, the Lord God will help me; who will condemn me? Indeed, all of them will wear out like a garment; a moth will devour them. Isaiah 50:8–9 (CSB)
As we approach the conclusion of this Servant Song, we see that God vindicates his servant. The servant first listened for the word to speak to the weary. He endured suffering from those who opposed him. The servant set his face like a stone and exhibited great determination, knowing that God was his helper.
The servant resists the temptation for self-vindication. Although he has suffered and endured affliction, he knows that God’s vindication is near. Throughout the ordeal, God has provided strength, comfort and understanding.
When we know that God is with us, there is a quiet confidence. Paul reminds us: What, then, are we to say about these things? If God is for us, who is against us? Romans 8:31 (CSB). In the middle of our conflict, we need to remember that the battle is God’s.
There will be times when we face darkness that is so thick that our faith and confidence will be put to the test. At these times, the servant must remember the faithfulness of God. As Moses reminded the people: The Lord is the one who will go before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or abandon you. Do not be afraid or discouraged.” Deuteronomy 31:8 (CSB)
The heart of the servant remains confident that his life is in the hands of a God whose promises are true.
It’s Not Our Battle
All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves; for the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give all of you into our hands.” 1 Samuel 17:47 (NIV)
How do we react when someone comes to contend against us? Do we cower in fear like the Israelites did at the threats of Goliath? Is there a false sense of bravado, or do we believe that we can fight the battle in our own strength?
The hard truth is this: God will put us into situations against opponents who have superior strength. God does not want us to rely on our own cunning or cleverness. We may not always evaluate the situation correctly and believe that we can manage something in our own strength. God wants to teach us that we must always depend upon him.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding; in all your ways know him, and he will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5–6 (CSB)
The conflicts and battles that we face in this life must serve to teach us that the battle belongs to God. It is all about trusting in God. It does not matter whether it is our own strength or someone else’s. God will not share his glory with anyone else. In fact: This is what the Lord says: “Cursed are those who put their trust in mere humans, who rely on human strength and turn their hearts away from the Lord. Jeremiah 17:5 (NLT)
The servant patiently awaits for God to intervene on his behalf. He has listened, faced suffering, boldly determined to follow God, but now he waits for deliverance.
Just Wait
“How foolish!” Samuel exclaimed. “You have not kept the command the Lord your God gave you. Had you kept it, the Lord would have established your kingdom over Israel forever. But now your kingdom must end, for the Lord has sought out a man after his own heart. The Lord has already appointed him to be the leader of his people, because you have not kept the Lord’s command.” 1 Samuel 13:13–14 (NLT)
Saul lost the kingdom because he did not wait. He took matters into his own hands because he panicked. After he disobeyed the command of the Lord, he did not repent, he tried to vindicate himself. He had an excuse. He even says that he felt compelled to disobey. Everyone sins, but how we respond makes all the difference in the world. Oswald Chambers gives us this insight:
If the Spirit of God detects anything in you that is wrong, He does not ask you to put it right; He asks you to accept the light, and He will put it right. A child of the light confesses instantly and stands bared before God; a child of the darkness says—‘Oh, I can explain that away.’ When once the light breaks and the conviction of wrong comes, be a child of the light, and confess, and God will deal with what is wrong; if you vindicate yourself, you prove yourself to be a child of the darkness.[1]
As servants, we may listen well, withstand persecution, and show great determination, but obedience will make or break us. Saul was a gifted individual, but he did not wait for the Lord’s vindication.
The Lesson of the Servant
No weapon formed against you will succeed, and you will refute any accusation raised against you in court. This is the heritage of the Lord’s servants, and their vindication is from me.” This is the Lord’s declaration. Isaiah 54:17 (CSB)
It is a great temptation to want to set the record straight. Turning the other cheek does not come naturally. When we are slandered, we want to protect our good name. Jesus is our example: He was oppressed and treated harshly, yet he never said a word. He was led like a lamb to the slaughter. And as a sheep is silent before the shearers, he did not open his mouth. Isaiah 53:7 (NLT)
The servant may endure many things, but he knows that ultimately the Lord will vindicate him. Jesus was unfairly treated, and he foretold that the same thing would happen to us. Oswald Chambers puts it this way: “Jesus Christ can afford to be misunderstood; we cannot. Our weakness lies in always wanting to vindicate ourselves.” We must wait for God to vindicate us.
Steve Ekeroth
[1] Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest: Selections for the Year (Grand Rapids, MI: Oswald Chambers Publications; Marshall Pickering, 1986).
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