DEFEND BULLYING VICTIMS. Zechariah 3:2-4.

Posted bySteven WalesPosted inbullying/abuse/defend the helplessTags:, , , ,

There is something infuriating about watching someone powerless endure bullying by someone stronger. Bullying is not harmless or funny or a case of “boys will be boys.” It can be abusive. But you need situational awareness—the context, the age, and the personalities are important considerations. I don’t believe in the application of black-and-white “zero-tolerance” rules or a one-size-fits-all approach. (What happens in college baseball with coaches looking on, for example, is different than what happens in a middle-school locker room with no adults present.) You have to consider the people and context.

God zealously defends His children. Zechariah paints an interesting picture. Joshua the High Priest is standing before the Angel of the Lord. He is wearing filthy clothes and Satan is standing next to Joshua to accuse him and abuse him before the Lord. (How often are people bullied because of their clothing or appearance?)

First, the Lord rebukes Satan. Then He deals with Joshua’s filthy clothes.

“The Lord rebuke you, Satan! May the Lord who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you!… The Angel of the Lord spoke to those standing before Him, ‘Take off Joshua’s filthy clothes.’ Then He said to Joshua, ‘See, I have REMOVED YOUR GUILT FROM YOU, and I will clothe you will SPLENDID ROBES.’” Zechariah 3:2-4.

Think of that. God will remove the thing that gets you bullied—the unfashionable clothes, the filth, the sin, the shameful secrets in your deepest heart—and He will CLOTHE YOU IN SPLENDID ROBES! (Somehow that means a lot to me at Back to School Time.)

And God is passionate about defending you!

“Anyone who touches you, touches the pupil of His eye!” Zechariah 2:8.

So anyone bullying you is poking God in the eye. And God loves you. He will defend you. He will remove your filth, your shame, your embarrassment, and whatever gets you bullied. And then He will CLOTHE YOU IN SPLENDID ROBES!

God, thank you for rescuing us from bullies, removing our shame, and giving us splendid clothes! May we bless others and rescue them the same way.

ΑΩ

Published by Steven Wales

Dad's Daily Devotional began as text messages to my family. I wanted my teenagers to know their father was reading the Bible. But they were at school by then. Initially, I sent them a favorite verse or an insight based on what I read each day. That grew into drafting a devotional readng which I would send them via text. I work as an attorney and an adjunct professor, and recently wrote a book called HOW TO MAKE A'S.

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