Job 9 - The Umpire is Jesus

LINK: Job 9 

BACKGROUND

Job 9 begins with an emphasis on God's justice and the visual picture in Job's mind is a legal court. He wants to prove before God his own integrity! Warren Wiersbe points out some of the legal terms used in Job in his commentary Be Patient:

• Contend (Job 9:3, 10:2) = bring court litigation against Him (as Eliphaz suggested in 5:8)
• Answer (9:30, 16) = testify in court
• Judge (v. 15) = an opponent at law, accuser
• Set a time (v. 19) = summon to court
• Daysman (v. 33) = an umpire, an arbiter
• Reason (13:3) = argue a case
• Order my cause (v. 18) = prepare my case
• Plead (v. 19, 23:6) = dispute in court
• Hear me (31:35) = give me a legal hearing
• Adversary (v. 35) = accuser in court (p.38)

Wiersbe goes on to say that Job asks three fundamental questions in Job 9 and 10:

1) "How can I be righteous (declared innocent) before God?" (9:1-13) 

2) "How can I meet God in court?" (9:14-35) 

3) "Why was I born?" (10:1-22; see v. 18 - we'll talk about that tomorrow)

REFLECTION 

The Scarlet Thread of Redemption

Who is that umpire (the arbitrator) that Job speaks of in 9:33?

"There is no umpire between us,
Who may lay his hand upon us both."

Eli said to his sons in 1 Samuel 2:25:

"If one man sins against another, God will mediate for him; but if a man sins against the LORD, who can intercede for him?"

Who is that umpire? Who is the mediator?

For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus. (1 Timothy 2:5)

It is JESUS.

Therefore He is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them. (Hebrews 9:25) 

APPLICATION/PRAYER 

Meditate on the grandeur of our God as you pray through Job 9:1-13 today! If you have a clear night, look up at the stars and marvel (9:9).