Daniel (Greek) 13:60-64: a reflection

60With that, all the assembly cried out with a loud voice, and blessed God, who saves those who hope in him. 61Then they arose against the two elders, for Daniel had convicted them of false testimony out of their own mouth. 62According to the law of Moses they did to them what they maliciously intended to do to their neighbor. They put them to death, and the innocent blood was saved the same day. 63Therefore Helkias and his wife praised God for their daughter Susanna, with Joakim her husband, and all the kindred, because there was no dishonesty found in her. 64And from that day forth, Daniel had a great reputation in the sight of the people.

The story of Susanna reaches its resolution: falsely accused by two corrupt elders and nearly put to death, she had cried out to God in her innocence, and God, through young Daniel, exposed the lie and vindicated her. And when the truth came out, the assembly cried out and blessed God, the text says, who saves those who hope in him. The innocent woman who had trusted God in the face of a deadly false accusation was rescued, and God was praised as the one who saves those who hope in him.

Notice the line the people bless God with: he saves those who hope in him. Susanna's whole hope, in the moment of false accusation with death looming and no human defender in sight, had been in God. She did not take matters into her own hands or despair; she hoped in God, and God saved her, in his way and time, through an unlikely deliverer. Her vindication became a testimony to God's faithfulness to those who hope in him.

That is an encouragement for anyone facing false accusation, injustice, or a situation where you are innocent but powerless to defend yourself. The temptation is to despair or to grasp at your own defense. Susanna's story points another way: to hope in God, who saves those who hope in him. Vindication may not come as fast or as we plan, but the God who rescued Susanna is faithful to those who trust him. When you are wronged and cannot defend yourself, put your hope in God, and trust the one who saves those who hope in him.

Lord, falsely accused and facing death, Susanna hoped in you, and you saved her and were praised as the one who saves those who hope in him. When I face false accusation or injustice I cannot defend myself against, keep me from despair and from grasping at my own defense. Help me hope in you, who are faithful to those who trust you. You save those who hope in you; I put my hope in you.