Commit everything you do to the Lord.

    Trust him, and he will help you.

6 He will make your innocence radiate like the dawn,

    and the justice of your cause will shine like the noonday sun. (‘New Living Translation’)

This psalm seems to paint a picture of a world in which the powerful oppress the weak, and the innocent often find themselves wrongfully accused. But there is a simple message running through the psalm that if they trust in God He will “help”, and one way or another, sooner or later, He will vindicate them. They can take their case to the Highest Court of all and will find no injustice there. As we saw recently, Jesus knew this and acted accordingly:

“Slaves, in reverent fear of God submit yourselves to your masters, not only to those who are good and considerate, but also to those who are harsh. 19 For it is commendable if someone bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because they are conscious of God. 20 But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. 21 To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.

22 “He committed no sin,

    and no deceit was found in his mouth.”

23 When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly” (1 Peter 2:18-23)

‘In the matter of personal reputation we may especially be content to be quiet, and leave our vindication with the Judge of all the earth. The more we fret in this case the worse for us. Our strength is to sit still. The Lord will clear the slandered. If we look to his honour, he will see to ours. It is wonderful how, when faith learns to endure calumny with composure, the filth does not defile her, but falls off like snowballs from a wall of granite. Even in the worst cases, where a good name is for awhile darkened, Providence will send a clearing like the dawning light, which shall increase until the man once censured shall be universally admired. “And thy judgment as the noonday.” No shade of reproach shall remain. The man shall be in his meridian of splendour. The darkness of his sorrow and his ill repute shall both flee away.’ C.H.Spurgeon.