Discouraged
by his condition, Job seemed to lose control and gave up on any hope of being
restored. Yet he wished for vindication in the life to come. Job was insistent that
even in death his blood would not stop crying out his innocence. And he pleaded
with the earth not to cover his innocent blood. But in the midst of all his
despair, verse 19 reveals that inwardly, he still had a little glimmer of remaining
faith. He expressed his faith that he had an advocate in heaven who would testify
on his behalf to ensure that he be justly dealt with.
Who is this advocate before God? He couldn’t be talking about God, as he
had earlier felt that the Almighty was opposing him. Could Job have caught a
glimpse of Christ the redeemer at this point? He could have caught a glimpse of
Christ in His pre-incarnation. We know that Christ was there in the beginning, in
the eternal council of God. Speaking prophetically, Job could be talking about Jesus
Christ. We can only postulate concerning his situation. But for us, we are sure
that Jesus our advocate is at the right hand of God. He is always speaking on our
behalf against all of Satan’s accusations. This is what the apostle John in his
letter tells us. He said we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus the
righteous, who is the propitiation for our sin.
In
Job’s estimate his friends were mockers. He could not expect any sympathy from
them. Hence, Job took the right course. He pleaded with God and wept before Him
and yearned for someone to speak out on his behalf. In his horrendous suffering
and the incessant criticism of his friends, Job felt the imminence and inevitability
of death. Job then conclude his appeal here by describing his plight. His
spirit was broken and was existing like a little flickering flame about to be
extinguished. Yet his friends did not stop mocking him and he had to endure their
provocation. Job was amazed by his friends’ impudence.
Reading these verses leads us to the
conclusion that our faith must rest in God alone. The source of true faith is God.
When we come to Him, we have a faithful friend. He always hears us for His ears
are not dull that He cannot hear us. And we truly have an advocate in the eternal
council of God, Jesus The Righteous. He is always pleading to God on our
behalf. That’s why nothing can ever separate us from the love of God in Christ
Jesus. What a comforting thought!
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