“‘Come now, let us reason together,’ says the Lord.” – Isaiah 1:18
God IS accused
“And the Serpent said to Eve, “Did God really say you must not eat from any tree in the garden?” The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, but God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.’ “You will not certainly die,” the Serpent said to the woman. “For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”” – Genesis 3:1-4
“Why, O Lord, do you stand far away? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?” – Psalm 10:1
“O Lord, how long shall I cry,
And You will not hear?
Even cry out to You, “Violence!”
And You will not save…” – Habakkuk 1:1
Why do You look on those who deal treacherously,
And hold Your tongue when the wicked devours
A person more righteous than he?
Why do You make men like fish of the sea,
Like creeping things that have no ruler over them? – Habbakuk 1:13
“LORD, if I argued my case with you, you would prove to be right. Yet I must question you about matters of justice. Why are the wicked so prosperous? Why do dishonest people succeed? – Jeremiah 12:1
“But I desire to speak to the Almighty and to argue my case with God.” – Job 13:3
Law on correct witnessing
“A single witness shall not rise up against a man on account of any iniquity or any sin which he has committed; on the evidence of two or three witnesses a matter shall be confirmed. If a malicious witness rises up against a man to accuse him of wrongdoing, then both the men who have the dispute shall stand before the Lord, before the priests and the judges who will be in office in those days. The judges shall investigate thoroughly, and if the witness is a false witness and he has accused his brother falsely, then you shall do to him just as he had intended to do to his brother. Thus you shall purge the evil from among you. The rest will hear and be afraid, and will never again do such an evil thing among you.” – Deuteronomy 19:15-20
God on trial
“Tearing his clothes, the high priest said, “What further need do we have of witnesses? You have heard the blasphemy; how does it seem to you?” And they all condemned Him to be deserving of death.” – Mark 14:63-64
“If I said something wrong,” Jesus replied, “testify as to what is wrong.” – John 18:23
Pilate called together the leading priests and other religious leaders, along with the people, and he announced his verdict. “You brought this man to me, accusing him of leading a revolt. I have examined him thoroughly on this point in your presence and find him innocent. Herod came to the same conclusion and sent him back to us. Nothing this man has done calls for the death penalty. So I will have him flogged, and then I will release him.” – Luke 23:13-16
“Then a mighty roar rose from the crowd, and with one voice they shouted, “Kill him, and release Barabbas to us!” Barabbas was in prison for taking part in an insurrection in Jerusalem against the government, and for murder. Pilate argued with them, because he wanted to release Jesus. But they kept shouting, “Crucify him! Crucify him!” – Luke 23:17-21
“For the third time he demanded, “Why? What crime has he committed? I have found no reason to sentence him to death. So I will have him flogged, and then I will release him.” But the mob shouted louder and louder, demanding that Jesus be crucified, and their voices prevailed. So Pilate sentenced Jesus to die as they demanded.” – Luke 23:21-24
“He ordered Jesus flogged with a lead-tipped whip, then turned him over to the Roman soldiers to be crucified. The soldiers took Jesus into the courtyard of the governor’s headquarters and called out the entire regiment. They dressed him in a purple robe, and they wove thorn branches into a crown and put it on his head. Then they saluted him and taunted, “Hail! King of the Jews!” And they struck him on the head with a reed stick, spit on him, and dropped to their knees in mock worship.” – Mark 15:15-19
“Carrying the cross by himself, he went to the place called Place of the Skull. There they nailed him to the cross.” – John 18-17-18