Psalm 26:1

New Living Translation (NLT)

Declare me innocent, O Lord,
for I have acted with integrity;
I have trusted in the Lord without wavering.

For Meditation

Imagine this situation. You sit through the vituperation of Allan, your boss, for about ten minutes without speaking back. A lot is said that cut through the heart and begs your reaction, but you just listen and smile. Accusations and insinuations fly around with no resistance. Finally, Allan walks back to his office, and all eyes return to their computers as he passes by.

At the end of the week, you go for your pay check and Allan is at it again.

“Can’t you do anything right for once? What is that?” Allan said.

“My signature, of course,” is all you can say.

As you stretch your hand for the check, Allan tosses it to the floor. You calmly pick it up and walk away, again, without a word. A colleague is incensed and comes after you.

“How long will you allow that man to insult you that way?”

You calmly show the check to him.

“What’s the figure on this paper? Has it changed with Allan’s insulting action?”

1. Is it something you can do?
2. How do you react to provocation or extreme verbal attack on your integrity? How long can you hold your tongue from firing back  (Prov. 26:4)?
3. Do you rush to the defensive line with feet dug in and hands ready to push back any further attack?
4. Do you go on the offensive immediately with guns blazing? Can you deal with any misguided statement that comes through the flurry of words?
5. Can you defend yourself against a malicious accuser? Is it not God who vindicates and helps you (Is. 50:8-9)? Why don’t you remain calm then, and stick to the truth at all times?

I pray you will always remember that only “Fools show their annoyance at once, but the prudent overlook an insult” (Prov. 12:16).

So: May you stay calm when you come under any form of verbal attack or slander, remembering that it is God who vindicates His own (Ps. 57:2); and He will eventually vindicate you if you firmly keep everything in your life together with the belt of truth (Ps. 26:1; Eph. 6:14).

Truth always vindicates.

Shalom