Josh Duggar defended by sister Jessa's father-in-law: "I'm rooting for you"

The father-in-law of one of Josh Duggar's younger sisters has come to the defense of the "19 Kids and Counting" star and his family.

After Duggar came under fire last week in the wake of accusations he molested five underage girls when he was a teenager, Michel Seewald -- whose son Ben is married to Josh's sister Jessa -- published a lengthy blog post Sunday throwing his support behind the reality TV clan.

"The Seewald family stands with the Duggar family in solidarity," he wrote in the post, titled "Grace Greater Than Our Sin." "We stand with the unnamed victims of these incidents. Our thoughts and prayers are for you. I want to say to Josh, hang in there, the shame you feel is legitimate, yet Jesus took your shame as he was punished in your place. Rest in his forgiveness and grace. Remember that he gives you his righteousness as a covering for your shame. Let this trial in your life build humility and grace. Don't be angry at the world for their hatred of you. Show them through your love for them that it is Jesus Christ that made all the difference in your life. I'm rooting for you."

Duggar, now 27 and married with three children, apologized for what he called "wrongdoing" after a report was published last Thursday detailing the allegations, and resigned his position at the Family Research Council in Washington. TLC has also pulled all episodes of "19 Kids and Counting" off its schedule, but the network has not yet said if it will cancel the series.

"There is blood in the water and the sharks are in a feeding frenzy. Finally, the Duggar family's opponents have found what they have been eagerly waiting for: shocking revelations of scandal by Jim Bob and Michelle's firstborn son, Josh," Seewald said.

Josh's parents "acted in a way that godly parents should," Seewald also wrote. "They did not turn a blind eye, but earnestly sought help from the church, counselors, and eventually the police. Maybe they didn't do it in a way that pleases everyone, but they acted decisively to confront the sin, to call a penitent son back from his errors, and to seek to aid the hurting victims. "

He added, "It pains me to see that [the Duggars] are now having to relive the nightmare that had been laid to rest well over a decade ago with Josh's repentance and reformation, but I feel compelled to bring some context and reason to the bloodletting that many are engaging in and to come to the aid of our dear friends and family."

Jessa Duggar, 22, and Ben Seewald, 20, married last November, and their courtship and wedding were both documented on "19 Kids and Counting." In April, they announced that they're expecting their first child.