If only there were someone to arbitrate between us, to lay his hand upon us both. (Job 9:33)Some critical scholars see the book of Job as an amalgam of writings. There is the original account of a good man beset by horrible misfortune, which is one of the oldest stories in the Bible; and then, there is the long poetic conversation between Job and his friends, which is of more recent vintage. (Wisdom literature – Job is classified among the wisdom writings – was the last part of the Old Testament to arrive at its present form and become canon, whereas the setting of Job is more congruent with the time of Abraham.)
Regardless of when it was written, this passage has always caught me off guard. It is a poignant cry for a bridge between a man and his God. And while I in no way want to imply that the writer of Job had any Messianic thoughts going here; from this side of the cross I cannot help but see this cry fulfilled by Jesus as our High Priest, our bridge between God and man.
Job, there is someone. Jesus Christ is our bridge – our connection to God. One hand on God – one hand on humanity.
My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense – Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. (1 John 2:1)
Until today (Tuesday), I have been reading the scriptures in the NIV version, but Job has been really difficult for me to understand. I decided to switch over to the Message today, and it was SO MUCH EASIER. I plan on reading the rest of Job in the Message version. Others might find it easier too, so I thought I would mention it.
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