The Devil is known by various names, including “the Accuser of the brethren.” We often think this title means Satan whispers accusations in our own ears – which he does. However, even more alarmingly, Satan breaths accusations about us in God’s ear as well. How do we know Satan accuses us before God? And, most importantly, what is God’s response to Satan’s accusations about us?
Let’s begin with a closer look at the name “Accuser of the Brethren”. You may know the title comes directly from Revelation 12:10, but it’s also baked into the Greek word for “the devil” itself. Diabolos (διάβολος) is a noun derived from the verb διαβάλλω, which literally means “to throw across” or “to slander/accuse/defame.” When the New Testament speaks of the Devil (ὁ διάβολος) it is literally speaking of “the Accuser.”
In Revelation 12:10 Satan is described as “the accuser of our brothers…who accuses them day and night before our God.” We see this play out in the story of Job. Twice Satan comes before God and tells him “(Job) will curse you to your face” if he (God) were to stretch out his hand against Job’s belongings and flesh (Job 1:11, 2:5). This accusation proves untrue, as the rest of the book reveals. Although Job is brought so low as to curse the day he was born (Job 3:1), he does not curse God.
Another vivid scenario of Satan’s accusation before God is recorded in Zechariah’s vision. The prophet says:
Then (the angel) showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right hand to accuse him. And the LORD said to Satan, “The LORD rebuke you, O Satan! The LORD who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you! Is not this a brand plucked from the fire?” Now Joshua was standing before the angel, clothed with filthy garments. And the angel said to those who were standing before him, “Remove the filthy garments from him.” And to him he said, “Behold, I have taken your iniquity away from you, and I will clothe you with pure vestments.” And I said, “Let them put a clean turban on his head.” So they put a clean turban on his head and clothed him with garments. And the angel of the LORD was standing by.
(Zechariah 3:1-5)
Note the sharp contrast between the Accuser and the LORD. While Satan stands by to condemn, God defends Joshua. Joshua was the first High Priest appointed after the Israelites returned from exile in Babylon. In Zechariah’s vision, as the High Priest Joshua is representative of the people of Israel. When Satan accuses Joshua (i.e. God’s people) God does not respond by accepting the Accuser’s words. Instead, he rebukes Satan in his own name, Yahweh. (“Since there was no one greater for him to swear by he swore by himself” See Hebrews 6:13).
God does not defend Joshua because he stands innocent before the Lord – Joshua is clothed in “filthy garments” representative of iniquity. Satan has more than enough material to form legitimate accusations against the people of God. So why doesn’t our Father accept Satan’s accusation? The answer lies in his rebuke: “the LORD (Yahweh) who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you.” This is the foundation for God’s favor toward us, not our own worthiness but his grace to choose us as his own.
This is the foundation for God’s favor toward us, not our own worthiness but his grace to choose us as his own.
Let’s take a closer look at Jesus’ contrasting role as our advocate before the Father. In the verses that follow the passage quoted above, the angel prophesies a day when God “will remove the iniquity of this land in a single day” through his servant – Jesus Christ. The book of Hebrews speaks extensively of Jesus’ role as our advocate before God. He is described as a perfect High Priest – that is, a representative for us before God. The author says “Christ has entered, not into holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true things, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf” (Hebrews 9:24). Paul speaks of the Spirit of Christ bearing witness that we are children of God (Romans 8:16). The apostle John wrote in his first letter “I write these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but for the sins of the whole world…” (1 John 2:1-2). And earlier in the same letter: “the blood of Jesus (God’s) son cleanses us from all sin. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sin he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:7b-9).
Yes, we have a great enemy in the Accuser of the brethren. But we have a greater Advocate in the Son of God, our savior Jesus. Do not be discouraged, Christian! The Lord God does not listen to the accusations of Satan, but he has washed you clean in his own precious blood. Only fear God, who holds power over your soul (Matt. 10:28). We can stand with the words of Paul:
If God is for us, who can be against us? …Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died – more than that, who was raised – who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?…I am sure that neither death, nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor death, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
(Romans 8:33-39)
Excellent analysis and tie ins Abby— especially the contrast between Zjesus as advocate and ideal high priest for us verses Satan the accuser. Nice work!