Thursday, May 23, 2013

Day 143: Job 7, 8 and 9


If only there were someone to arbitrate between us, to lay his hand upon us both (NIV 1984, Job 9:33).

Some critical scholars see Job as an amalgam of writings. There is the original account of a good man beset by horrible misfortune – 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. Here’s the thing: 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 man and God. While I in no way want to imply that the writer of Job had any Messianic thoughts going on in his head; from this side of the cross I cannot help but see this cry fulfilled in Jesus as our High Priest, our arbitrator, our mediator 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 (NIV 1984, 1 John 2:1).

TODAY’S MEDITATION
What would you want Jesus to say to the Father on your behalf?

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