This is the 100th post to this blog.
Jesus describes the Holy Spirit to His disciples as the Comforter.
"And I will pray the Father and He will give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you forever-the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him for He dwells with you and will be in you." Jn. 14:16-17
The word used for "Comforter" in Greek is "Parakletos". As much as this word means to give succor, comfort, and help, it also means one who pleads another's cause before a judge, a counsel for the defense, an advocate, an intercessor.
Jesus is our Advocate with the Father as well:
My little children, these things I write 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 our sins only, but also for the whole world." 1 Jn. 2:1-2
and
"But He, because He continues forever, has an unchangeable priesthood. Therefore, He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them." Heb. 7:24-25
While I had been familiar with the scriptures about Jesus being our Advocate with the Father, I had not thought much about the Holy Spirit being an Advocate, according to the meaning of the term "Comforter".
King Solomon wrote of those who had no "comforter", no one on their side:
"Then I returned and considered all the oppression that is done under the sun:
And look! The tears of the oppressed,
But they have no comforter-
On the side of the oppressors
there is power,
But they have no comforter." Eccl. 4:1
I considered that as a believer. I have received the Holy Spirit. However, I do not spend much time as an advocate, pleading the cause of one before a judge. I don't give much thought or spend time as a counsel for the defense. While I pray for my brothers and sisters in Christ, I can't say that I advocate for those who are not. I pray for their repentance, and salvation, but I do not "advocate" for their defense.
Defense counsels do not always have an innocent for a client. Sometimes they defend the undefendable. That is sometimes difficult for us to accept, because our hearts cry out for justice. However, Jesus said, "They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick." How can I advocate, or make a defense for the guilty?
At His own crucifixion, Jesus was an advocate for the guilty:
"Then Jesus said, Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do." Lk. 23:34
After He had said this they mocked and ridiculed Him.
Whether they had knowledge of who Jesus was, or not, they certainly knew they had railroaded an innocent man to death on false charges. It doesn't get more undefendable than that. Yet Jesus advocated for them before the Father. What possible fruit could come of such advocacy? Well, Christ's disciple, Joseph of Arimathea, sat upon the Sanhedrin, that Council of men who had falsely accused and judged Jesus (Mt. 27:57, Mk. 15:43). Jesus' secret disciple, Nicodemus, was also part of that Council (Jn. 3:1). The Centurion, partaking in the execution of Christ, ended up declaring, "Truly, this was the Son of God." (Mt. 27:54, Mk. 15:39). Many priests, who were the main accusers of Christ, would come to salvation after the resurrection (Acts 6:7). And we also, were just as guilty as they were, before we came to a saving knowledge of Jesus. When Jesus advocated for them, He was advocating for me. Shouldn't we advocate for others? Isn't that the very meaning of the Holy Spirit, Parakletos, in us?
When His disciples were clamoring for Him to judge those who had rejected Him, Jesus rebuked them and said, "You know not what manner of spirit you are of". (Lk. 9:55)
Before the time of the judgment, there is first the time for advocacy on behalf of the accused.
Moses advocated before God, pleaded with Him, on behalf of the rebellious children of Israel, when God was prepared to render judgment against them. Moses didn't defend them based upon their innocence, which was non-existent, but he defended them based upon upholding the glory of the name of the LORD before the other nations, and reminding the LORD of His promise to Abraham, Isaac, and Israel. The LORD relented from the harm He said He would do to His people. (Ex. 32:11-14).
The Spirit of Wisdom delights in the creation of God, including man:
"Then I was beside Him as a master craftsman;
And I was daily His delight.
Rejoicing always before Him,
Rejoicing n His inhabited world,
And My delight was with the sons of men." Prov. 8:30-31
After creating man, God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good. (Gen. 1:31). Shouldn't we advocate for what Elohim called "very good", and for what Wisdom delighted in?
Out of this very rejoicing and delight over the creation of man, comes the heart of advocacy and defense, which is the name and character of the Holy Spirit.
Our Father has given us the Spirit of the Advocate.
"Father Forgive Them"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HX5GyVOW2ws
"So Aaron shall bear the names of the sons of Israel on the breastplate of judgment over his heart, when he goes into the holy place, as a memorial before the LORD continually. And you shall put in the breastplate of judgment the Urim and the Thummim, and they shall be over Aaron's heart when he goes in before the LORD. So Aaron shall bear the judgment of the children of Israel over his heart before the LORD continually." Ex. 28:29-30
The Hebrew meaning of the word Urim is lights, light of fire, to become light, shine, to be made light, light of revelation.
The Hebrew meaning of Thummim is perfection, complete truth, innocence, integrity, uprightness wholeness, fullness, welfare, safety, prosperity, to be finished, completed, done, to be completely crossed over (as a river).
The Breastplate of Judgment, also known as the Breastplate of Decision, was worn by the High Priest. Inquiries made of God were brought to the High Priest by the king, or by another priest. Only these were permitted to make inquiries regarding God's will. The High Priest was the only one who could wear the breastplate, because, according to Jewish tradition, "it could only be read by the guidance of the Spirit of God, by one upon whom the Shekkinah (glory of God) rested. Only one question was allowed at a time."
In Psalm 27, David speaks of going to the House of God:
"One thing I have desired of the LORD, that will I seek;
That I may dwell in the house of the LORD
All the days of my life,
To behold the beauty of the LORD,
And to inquire in His temple." Ps. 27:4
This Psalm begins by David declaring:
"The LORD is my light and my salvation;
Whom shall I fear?
The LORD is the strength of my life;
Of whom shall I be afraid?"
Rabbinical teaching holds that this is a Psalm about David going to the House of God to inquire of the Urim and Thummim in the Priest's Breastplate of Judgment. He describes this experience as beautiful, and he expresses the desire that he could remain in the LORD's house this way forever. He describes the inquiry as seeking God's face. He describes God as "light" and "safety" ("Of whom shall I be afraid? The LORD will take care of me; He shall hide me"). He then encourages us to "Wait on the LORD. Wait, I say, on the LORD". David is saying to wait there in the House of the LORD before the Urim and Thummim, until you get your answer from God.
Jesus also told His disciples to "wait" for the baptism of the Holy Spirit which occurred on the Feast of Pentecost (Acts 1:4). He described it as the promise from the Father.
Believers may see the connection to Jesus, and also, to those who follow Him, in the meanings of Urim and Thummim noted above.
We have the Holy Spirit, and Jesus the Living Word, within our hearts. Jesus, our High Priest, described Himself as Light and Truth (Jn. 8:12, 9:5, 14:6), Urim and Thummim. Jesus declared that we, His followers, were also the light of the world. The Holy Spirit in us is described as the Spirit of Truth:
However, when He, the Spirit of truth has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come." Jn. 16:13
We, as His disciples, are also described as being, or having, light and truth:
"You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden...Let your light so shine before men..." Mt. 5:14,16
"You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness."
2 Thess. 5:5
"...proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light."
1 Peter 2:9
"...the truth of Christ is in me..." 2 Cor. 11:10
"For you were once darkness but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light. (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness and truth)." Eph. 5:8-9
"...the church of the living God, the pillar and mainstay of the truth." 1 Tim. 3:15
"Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of first- fruits of His creatures." James 1:18
"...that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son, Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life." 1 Jn. 5:20
Light and Truth, Urim and Thummim, are the nature of Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit, who both reside within us, as His living temples or tabernacles:
"Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? 1 Cor. 6:19
"...what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?....And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said:
I will dwell in them and walk among them.
I will be their God,
And they shall be My people." 2 Cor. 6:14-16
The breastplate of righteousness (Eph. 6:14), containing the Urim and Thummim, is worn by us, and within us, as witnesses of Christ's presence in the world, and the infilling of the Holy Spirit. We are also called "kings and priests", who, as noted above, are the only ones who can handle, and inquire of the Urim and Thummim:
".you also as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ...you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light." 1 Pet. 2:5,9
"To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, and has made us kings and priests to His God, and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever."
Rev. 1:5-6
"And have made us kings and priests to our God, and we shall reign on the earth."
Rev. 5:10
The world needs us to be that Urim and Thummim witness to them of Christ in us.
Our Father has called us, as priests and kings, to be living tabernacles of His oracles, Urim and Thummim, Christ and Spirit, in the world.
"Psalm 27:Adonai Ori-The L-RD is My Light"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wMZkqhZFVqc
