Originally posted: 8/19/2020

“Behold now, I have prepared my case;
I know that I will be vindicated,” (13:18).

Vindication: “the act of vindicating: to clear, as from an accusation, imputation, suspicion, or the like: to afford justification for; justify.”

Job is confident; he will be vindicated; he will be cleared and justified. And his confidence was clearly illustrated in the preceding verses leading up to the bold declaration of his assurance of acquittal.

“Though He slay me,
I will hope in Him.
Nevertheless I will argue my ways before Him.
¹⁶ “This also will be my salvation,
For a godless man may not come before His presence.
¹⁷ “Listen carefully to my speech,
And let my declaration fill your ears.
¹⁸ “Behold now, I have prepared my case;
I know that I will be vindicated,” (13:15-18).

How was Job so convinced? Job knew. Job knew in Whom he had placed his faith; and it was not in his own works or strength. Job knew, so much so, that even if God were to take his life, his hope would not be taken.

Job was not claiming godliness in and of himself; he knew his Vindication could never come from himself, “…For a godless man may not come before His presence,” (13:16).

Job was claiming that no matter what, his trust was in God and God alone. And while his friends judged him through the circumstances that appeared to be bringing judgment on sin, Job knew. Job knew, that while his understanding of what was going on was shaky, his faith was not.

“Though He slay me,
I will hope in Him,” (13:15).

And Job was tired of laying his case out before these men. While his life was currently filled with unknowns, Job had no doubt that his Vindication would never be found in the worthless wisdom of man.

“But I would speak to the Almighty,
And I desire to argue with God.
⁴ “But you smear with lies;
You are all worthless physicians.
⁵ “O that you would be completely silent,
And that it would become your wisdom!
⁶ “Please hear my argument
And listen to the contentions of my lips,” (13:3-6).

And Job would not place his trust or hope in the skewed perceptions of man.

“Will you speak what is unjust for God,
And speak what is deceitful for Him?
⁸ “Will you show partiality for Him?
Will you contend for God?
⁹ “Will it be well when He examines you?
Or will you deceive Him as one deceives a man?“ (13:7-9).

So, in faith, Job made his appeal to the only One able to Vindicate; and boldly asked God to remove His terrifying wrath and to restore their broken fellowship.

“Only two things do not do to me,
Then I will not hide from Your face:
²¹ Remove Your hand from me,
And let not the dread of You terrify me.
²² “Then call, and I will answer;
Or let me speak, then reply to me,” (13:20-22).

And in Job’s two requests, we see Him, Our Vindication. Jesus Who gave Himself for our sins as our Substitute, taking the full brunt of the wrath of Holy God upon Himself and thereby removing it from us, that our fellowship with the Father would be restored.

Consider Him, Our Vindication

• Jesus, Our Vindication Who gave Himself for our sins.
  • Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, ⁴ who gave Himself for our sins so that He might rescue us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, (Galatians 1:3-4).

• Jesus, Our Vindication Who took the wrath of God as the propitiation for our sins.
  • …Jesus Christ the righteous; ² and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world, (1 John 2:2).

    • Propitiation: “2434. ἱλασμός hilasmós; gen. hilasmoú, masc. noun from hiláskomai (2433), to propitiate, expiate. Propitiation. It is the means of putting away sin and establishing righteousness. God is never presented as changing His mind toward the sinner or the sin that estranged the sinner from Him. Man is never said to be able to appease God with any of his offerings…” Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance

• Jesus, Our Vindication Who restored our fellowship with God, the Father.
  • Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, ² through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God, (Romans 5:1-2).

How do we respond to Him, Our Vindication?

Every one of us is guilty. Every one of us is in need of His Vindication for our justification. And justification by faith is not a New Testament idea.

Then he [Abraham] believed in the Lord; and He reckoned it to him as righteousness, (Genesis 15:6).

For all of us have become like one who is unclean,
And all our righteous deeds are like a filthy garment;
And all of us wither like a leaf,
And our iniquities, like the wind, take us away, (Isaiah 64:6).

“Behold, as for the proud one,
His soul is not right within him;
But the righteous will live by his faith,” (Habakkuk 2:4).

God has not changed; but He has so graciously and mercifully provided His provision for Vindication through faith in Jesus Christ.

Have we placed our faith in Jesus Christ, Our Vindication for salvation?

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life,” (John 3:16).

His gift of eternal life received through faith rescues us from His wrath, but it does not exempt us from the adversity and suffering of this life.

May we truly learn and be strengthened in our faith from Job’s story. God is always at work on behalf of His children. Oh, that we would so grow in our faith, that no matter the opinions or skewed perceptions thrust upon us, we would put our faith in Him, and Him alone. And when we don’t have the full picture and we don’t understand, may we never trust our own understanding or strength.

Oh, let us daily ask Him to encourage us in our faith, that we would see past the tribulations and disappointments of this life as He faithfully strengthens our character, our hope, and our love for Him, that we would live each day in the full assurance we have in knowing Him as Our Vindication.

And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; ⁴ and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; ⁵ and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us, (Romans 5:3-5).

The day is coming when we will be fully Vindicated for all of eternity. Oh, let us choose to look forward to that day, when our fellowship with Him is perfectly restored forever. And think of the blessed joy that will be ours, if we too can look back on our lives, like Paul, and confidently declare, “we have kept the faith.”

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; ⁸ in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing, (2 Timothy 4:7-8).

And as we choose to live always looking for His appearing, He will be faithful to grow us in our faith in Him, Our Vindication. Let us ask Him to enable us to view the tribulations of this life as His means to develop a perseverance that forges our character and strengthens our hope in Him, that we may, like Job, confidently declare, “Though He slay me, I will hope in Him.”

Let’s Grow Together!