Micah 7:7-9 Therefore I will look unto the LORD; I will wait for the God of my salvation: my God will hear me. (v8) Rejoice not against me, O mine enemy: when I fall, I shall arise; when I sit in darkness, the LORD shall be a light unto me. (v9) I will bear the indignation of the LORD, because I have sinned against him, until he plead my cause, and execute judgment for me: he will bring me forth to the light, and I shall behold his righteousness.
When I think that we must all give an account to the Lord Jesus Christ in judgment (Romans 14:12), a demand to answer for my life, I take immeasurably great comfort in this promise, “Until He plead my cause.”
By nature and by birth I am a Gentile, a stranger to all Old Testament promises. By nature, by birth and by practice, I can claim no OT promise as mine. But in Christ, all of the promises of God are “yea and amen” (2 Corinthians 1:20). Christ has brought me nigh by His blood (Ephesians 2:13). And this is the inheritance of every believer in the Lord Jesus Christ. “For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:26) “And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise” (Galatians 3:29).
God’s indignation against sin is real. Those who sense it seek relief from it. I cannot plead innocence. I am guilty. There remains but one hope. Either God must plead for me, or He must appoint an Advocate for me. In Christ, He has done both! Christ is both God and man. God appointed Him to the task. It was God’s love that moved Him to do so. And my Advocate joyfully accepted the appointment because His own love engaged His heart to approach the throne on behalf of His sheep (Jeremiah 30:21). God hears the plea of my Advocate because He pleads the Father’s love; He pleads His Father’s eternal will; He pleads His own substitution; and He pleads His own accomplishment of that will in His own blood, offered up to God in love. (John 17:4; Eph 5:1-2; Hebrews 10:1-23). But He does not stop even at these! He continues even now to plead. And bless God, He will yet plead my cause in the Day of Judgment. The Spirit of God teaches me with this gift of faith to believe and rest so (Hebrews 10:15-23; 4:14-16).
But not only does my Advocate plead, but God Himself pleads for me. “I will bear the indignation of the LORD because I have sinned against Him until He plead my cause.” Justice joins mercy, rising in defense for my case with the voice of Christ’s blood (Romans 8:31-33). His blood speaks better things than Abel’s blood (Hebrews 12:24). Abel’s blood called for vengeance; Christ’s blood calls for justification (Romans 5:9).
Nothing gives me greater peace than knowing that Christ is my Answer. I can almost now hear His call to me to give an account of myself to God: “What is your answer?!” I draw from this promise in reply, “Lord, if you do not answer for me -- if the answer you gave with your own blood and righteousness and intercessions are not enough for me -- then I have no answer.” Romans 8:30-39 provides my answer: “It is God that justifieth.” Thus He pleads for me: “It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.” "I need no other argument, I need no other plea..." I have no other and I want no other plea than Christ’s answer to God, and God’s answer to Christ. My account in the Day of Judgment will be the same that God now gives me through faith in His word: “It is Christ that died!” Lord, be my Answer! You answered when you were delivered up for my offenses. You answer now in heaven. You answer now in my conscience with your blood and righteousness. You, O blessed Advocate, are my only Answer. Lord, remember me, answer for me; plead my cause!
When I think that we must all give an account to the Lord Jesus Christ in judgment (Romans 14:12), a demand to answer for my life, I take immeasurably great comfort in this promise, “Until He plead my cause.”
By nature and by birth I am a Gentile, a stranger to all Old Testament promises. By nature, by birth and by practice, I can claim no OT promise as mine. But in Christ, all of the promises of God are “yea and amen” (2 Corinthians 1:20). Christ has brought me nigh by His blood (Ephesians 2:13). And this is the inheritance of every believer in the Lord Jesus Christ. “For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:26) “And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise” (Galatians 3:29).
God’s indignation against sin is real. Those who sense it seek relief from it. I cannot plead innocence. I am guilty. There remains but one hope. Either God must plead for me, or He must appoint an Advocate for me. In Christ, He has done both! Christ is both God and man. God appointed Him to the task. It was God’s love that moved Him to do so. And my Advocate joyfully accepted the appointment because His own love engaged His heart to approach the throne on behalf of His sheep (Jeremiah 30:21). God hears the plea of my Advocate because He pleads the Father’s love; He pleads His Father’s eternal will; He pleads His own substitution; and He pleads His own accomplishment of that will in His own blood, offered up to God in love. (John 17:4; Eph 5:1-2; Hebrews 10:1-23). But He does not stop even at these! He continues even now to plead. And bless God, He will yet plead my cause in the Day of Judgment. The Spirit of God teaches me with this gift of faith to believe and rest so (Hebrews 10:15-23; 4:14-16).
But not only does my Advocate plead, but God Himself pleads for me. “I will bear the indignation of the LORD because I have sinned against Him until He plead my cause.” Justice joins mercy, rising in defense for my case with the voice of Christ’s blood (Romans 8:31-33). His blood speaks better things than Abel’s blood (Hebrews 12:24). Abel’s blood called for vengeance; Christ’s blood calls for justification (Romans 5:9).
Nothing gives me greater peace than knowing that Christ is my Answer. I can almost now hear His call to me to give an account of myself to God: “What is your answer?!” I draw from this promise in reply, “Lord, if you do not answer for me -- if the answer you gave with your own blood and righteousness and intercessions are not enough for me -- then I have no answer.” Romans 8:30-39 provides my answer: “It is God that justifieth.” Thus He pleads for me: “It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.” "I need no other argument, I need no other plea..." I have no other and I want no other plea than Christ’s answer to God, and God’s answer to Christ. My account in the Day of Judgment will be the same that God now gives me through faith in His word: “It is Christ that died!” Lord, be my Answer! You answered when you were delivered up for my offenses. You answer now in heaven. You answer now in my conscience with your blood and righteousness. You, O blessed Advocate, are my only Answer. Lord, remember me, answer for me; plead my cause!
Rick Warta
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