Day Sixteen – Chapter 16

“O earth, do not cover my blood, and let there be no resting place for my cry. Even now, behold, my witness is in heaven, and my advocate is on high. My friends are my scoffers; my eye weeps to God. O that a man might plead with God as a man with his neighbor! For when a few years are past, I shall go the way of no return” (16:18-22).

Eugene Peterson interprets these verses this way, “O Earth, don’t cover up the wrong done to me! Don’t muffle my cry! There must be Someone in heaven who knows the truth about me, in highest heaven, some Attorney who can clear my name—My Champion, my Friend, while I’m weeping my eyes out before God. I appeal to the One who represents mortals before God as a neighbor stands up for a neighbor. Only a few years are left before I set out on the road of no return.”

Wow! Aren’t you glad that we live in the port-resurrection era? Job pleads for an advocate, an attorney, someone that can plead his case before the Father in heaven. He needs someone because his friends have seemingly turned against him. It does not matter what he says, they have arrived at their own conclusions that all end in agreement; he is the problem. His cry, then, can be clearly understood. Who will defend his cause and who will clear his name.

John tells us “if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous . . .” (1 John 2:1b). We need an attorney because our enemy, the devil, stands before the Father to bring accusation against us much in the same way that Job’s so-called three friends bring accusation against him; and just like the devil they are ruthlessly aggressive in their attacks. When we find ourselves backed up against the wall we have the confidence that our elder brother will advocate for us. That is good news for all of us, but especially for those who find themselves laboring under the burden of trouble and trial. Your friends will fail you. They will misunderstand you and misinterpret your actions. They may even desert you at the most inopportune times in your life when you need your friends the most. Rest assured that your elder brother never will leave you defenseless. His promises are sure and you can count upon Him.

Dear Father, thank you for sending us Your one and only Son. Thank you for allowing Him to bear our sins in His body on the cross so that by His sacrifice we might be pronounced innocent. Thank you for the assurance that when we stand before You and the enemy of our souls, the accuser of the brethren, brings accusation against us you will be there to plead our case. Enable us to confidently walk in that assurance today. Amen.