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THE LORD WILL VINDICATE HIS PEOPLE (NAHUM 2:1-13)

REFLECTION

“The Lord will vindicate His people” is the theme for our reflection. In the context of our reflection, to vindicate means to protect from attack or encroachment. We shall reflect on the fact that we must not derive joy or feel comfortable when oppressing the weak or defenceless because the Lord will vindicate His people.

Dear friend in the Lord, one of the Biblical facts we must not gloss over is that God is the Lord and protector of the oppressed, therefore He will vindicate His people. In other words, God is faithful to a covenant relationship with us, therefore in times of distress and oppression we must prayerfully and hopefully expect His vindication. It is for this reason the Lord’s judgement and wrath came upon Nineveh or the Assyrians who oppressed the Israelites. Nahum 2:1-13 gives us a vivid description of how God will destroy the Assyrians and vindicate Israel. An attacker advances against you, Nineveh. Guard the fortress, watch the road, brace yourselves, marshal all your strength! 2 The LORD will restore the splendour of Jacob like the splendour of Israel, though destroyers have laid them waste and have ruined their vines. (Nahum 2:1-2) In other words, although Nineveh had oppressed God’s people, Israel was delivered and vindicated by His mighty hand no matter how strong the army of the Assyrians was.

Beloved in the Lord, the Lord will vindicate his people, which is a message of hope to the oppressed, the weak, and the feeble who put their trust in the Lord. Psalmist truly confirmed that the Lord was the vindicator of the oppressed when he wrote, “Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve my life; you stretch out your hand against the wrath of my enemies, and your right hand delivers me. 8 The LORD will fulfil his purpose for me; your steadfast love, O LORD, endures forever. Do not forsake the work of your hands. (Psalms 138:7-8). Dear friend, sometimes we become vulnerable because people conspire against us. They may fabricate false claims meant to destroy your image and reputation at work, in your church or community. The enemies may plot all manner of impediments just to suppress us or cause us to fall and become an object of mockery. We may go through difficult times and may sometimes ask the question, “Where is our God?” Job went through a similar experience however regardless of his anxiety and distress, he boldly believed the Lord would vindicate him when He said “For I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last he will stand upon the earth. 26 And after my skin has been thus destroyed, yet in my flesh I shall see God, 27 whom I shall see for myself, and my eyes shall behold, and not another. (Job 19:25-27) When life’s journey becomes tough and rough and we feel weak and hopeless, let us always remember Isaiah’s great encouragement to the Israelites, “but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint. (Isaiah 40:31). Above all, it is for our vindication that Jesus assured us “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me

to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, 19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.” (Luke 4:18-19)

Remember that as children of the Lord, we are never alone. The glory of the Lord abides with us and we shall be vindicated at His own appointed time and according to His purpose, therefore let us “pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17) and always have faith that  “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” (Romans 10:13)

In summary, we have discovered that we must not be happy or feel comfortable when oppressing the weak or defenceless because the Lord will vindicate His people. Shalom.

PRAYER

We thank You, Lord, for being our protector and vindicator. We completely surrender our lives into Your hands. May the Holy Spirit strengthen our faith to always put our trust in the Lord’s Salvation. Amen.