Vindicate:

          Clear of blame

          Clear of suspicion

 

          Prove me right

          Prove me reasonable

          Prove me justified

 

          Claim avenged

.

You know it all. You see it all.

You know the root of my mind

and you know my intent – 

                     I fear you, so I act with fear & trembling

                     knowing you’re watching & will vindicate others

if I have done harm 

you surely will protect them

.

test me – try me

examine my heart – examine my mind

.

is that all life is?

a test? an examination?

.

yet your love.

.

Your steadfast love – like a warrior on the cliffs –

I see your robe blowing in the wind.

You wait outside the camp

and when I come to you & when I fall at your feet

and when I ask 

You do not acknowledge my misconstrued ideas.

But you state the facts.

You have come.

.

and you ask me to give my inheritance to you.

while I am on the ground 

you command me to stand.

and because you guide me 

I have not left the path.

Because you are always at my right hand I have not strayed or agreed with deceit.

 

the wicked call me to their tables – 

but I refuse to leave this overflow,

this anointing.

 

How can I be tempted?

because of your goodness to me, I have not strayed.

 

because of your goodness my song is gratitude –

around the sacrifice I walk – 

I dance – I sing

and they cannot help but hear the testimony of who you are!

I love the body you have given me –

because you dwell within it.

.

They surround me

but I am not with them

You know – I fully trust you

because you know who I am.

.

my hands are empty

all my schemes lie on the altar.

in my right hand is the cup you have filled for me.

the life I lead

is the life led by you

redeemed

followed by mercy

.

I stand on the path

they in the rocky places,

hiding in the shadows of the broken mountains,

yet I, in the dark feel the ground firm beneath my feet

and as I sing

the shackles fall.

the walls break open.

the jailor falls –

and is saved.