Job 16 & 17 - We Have An Advocate on High

LINK: Job 16 & 17

BACKGROUND

Job reacts to Eliphaz by calling all his friends "miserable (sorry) comforters" which literally means "comforters of trouble."

From Job 16:15 through the end of Job 17, he pleads for justice (16:15-22) and his own death (Job 17).

REFLECTION 

The Scarlet Thread of Redemption

When I read Job's cries for his "advocate on high" (16:19), my heart skipped a leaping beat toward Jesus! He is our "Advocate" on high!

Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary defines an advocate as "one that pleads the cause of another; specifically: one that pleads the cause of another before a tribunal or judicial court."

This is the only use of this word (borrowed from the Aramaic) in the Old Testament. We see Jesus as our Advocate in the New Testament in 1 John 2:1-2:

My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world.

Because Jesus was the propitiating sacrifice for our sins, He pleads our case before a righteous Judge and averts God's wrath and the due punishment for our sin.

Can you say Hallelujah?


APPLICATION

Praise God for sending us an Advocate, Jesus Christ!

Also, The Life Application Bible summarized Job's words to his "sorry comforters" in a list about how to become a better comforter to those in pain:

1) Don't talk just for the sake of talking 

2) Don't sermonize by giving pat answers 

3) Don't accuse or criticize 

4) Put yourself in the other person's place 

5) Offer help and encouragement

I would add one more: Listen.  Listening is one of the most comforting things you can do! Try this next time you are with someone in pain!

PRAYER

Praise You God for sending our Advocate! Lord, continue to make us comforters of hope and not of trouble. We ask this in Jesus' name. Amen.