Job 31

“I wish I had someone who would listen to me! Here is my signature; let Shaddai answer me! I wish I had the indictment my adversary has written! I would carry it on my shoulder; I would bind it on me like a crown. I would declare every one of my steps; I would approach Him like a prince.” Job 31:35-37 (CJB)

In today’s chapter, every curse/judgment that Job calls upon himself (in the event he is found unrighteous) is found in the book of Isaiah. Isaiah was called to communicate God’s certain judgment if Israel remained unrepentant. Of course, Israel refused to repent, so many years later, Jeremiah reported how God fulfilled everything that was prophesied through Isaiah.  

Reading the opening lines of today’s passage, I am thankful that we have someone who will listen to us! Jesus is the advocate before God for all believers, defending us as the Adversary accuses us. In the days of the priesthood, the high priest wore two black stones on the shoulders of his garment. These black stones represented the sin of Israel and symbolized the priest’s duty to atone for them, literally “shouldering” the sin and guilt of the people.

“Take two onyx stones and engrave on them the names of the sons of Israel – six of their names on the one stone and the six remaining names on the other, in the order of their birth. An engraver should engrave the names of the sons of Israel on the two stones as he would engrave a seal. Mount the stones in gold settings and put the two stones on the shoulder pieces of the vest as stones calling to mind the sons of Israel. Aaron is to carry their names on his shoulders as a reminder.” Exodus 28:9-12 (CJB)

The inefficiency of the priesthood to provide lasting atonement for Israel was replaced by Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross.  Jesus “shouldered” the sin of the World.  

“Now every priest stands every day doing his service, offering over and over the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But this one (Jesus), after He had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, sat down at the right hand of God, from then on to wait until His enemies be made a footstool for His feet. For by a single offering He has brought to the goal for all time those who are being set apart for God and made holy.” Hebrews 10:11-14 (CJB)

Jesus paid the sin debt we owe, the same sin debt the Adversary accuses us of in his indictment against us before the Lord. But his accusation cannot stand because Messiah’s atonement has covered our sins, and God remembers it no more.

“But the Holy Spirit also witnesses to us; for after He had said before, ‘This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the Lord: I will put My laws into their hearts, and in their minds I will write them,’ then He adds, ‘Their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.’” Hebrews 10:15-17 (NKJV)