We may understand better what the psalmist is going through if we remember examples of biblical figures who suffered in similar ways at the hands of “deceitful and wicked” people (1b). For instance, remember Joseph and his brothers. They did evil to him but justified themselves by thinking their father Jacob unfairly favored Joseph, and they thought Joseph was arrogant because he told them dreams that infuriated them (Gen. 37:5-11). He had also brought their father bad reports about them.

When Joseph had been sold as a slave in Egypt, he might have blamed himself for his sufferings and hardships, at least partially. It’s the temptation of the devil, who is called “the accuser” (Rev. 12:10). But Joseph must have done what the psalmist is doing in this passage: He prayed to God, “Vindicate me, my God…” Then Joseph saw that the Lord was

with him and gave him success in whatever he did (Gen. 39:3,23).

God vindicates us believers when we are right and even when we may not be perfectly right, if we are in Christ (Rom. 8:1). We have been redeemed from our past sinful life, and yet we are still being sanctified. We live by God’s grace, not by our own righteousness.

Prayer: Father, help me always remain in Christ and do what is right but not condemn myself when I am weak.
One Word: “Vindicate me, my God”