The Cross Makes The Difference
- Justin Ray
- Jun 29, 2020
- 6 min read
Job 9
Job chapter 9 is a great chapter. There is so much that could be said. As I read back through it this morning, I kept thinking, "I will write on that. No I will write on this. Oh this is good stuff, I will write on this instead". Then I got to the end of the chapter and that settled it. Job expressed a felling that was true for him, but not for us. However, it is a feeling that we can be guilty of having as well.
If I be wicked,
Why then labour I in vain?
30 If I wash myself with snow water,
And make my hands never so clean;
31 Yet shalt thou plunge me in the ditch,
And mine own clothes shall abhor me.
32 For he is not a man, as I am, that I should answer him,
And we should come together in judgment.
33 Neither is there any daysman betwixt us,
That might lay his hand upon us both.
34 Let him take his rod away from me,
And let not his fear terrify me:
35 Then would I speak, and not fear him;
But it is not so with me.
Job 9:29-35
God is sovereign
A big part of this chapter deals with God's sovereignty over his creation. That was part of what I considered writing about from earlier in the chapter. Job never really departed from that idea, but he focused his intent as to why he was even talking about God's sovereignty. His idea basically boiled down to two things: 1.) God is in control of all his creation, and 2.) God will do what he wants to do.
Sometimes we talk about the sovereignty of God in a comforting way; as it should be. We say that no matter what is going on, God is in control. There is nothing that can happen that he does not do or allow to be done. Even those things that are contrary to his nature and will must be allowed. We will usually follow such a discussion with quoting, of misquoting, Romans 8:28.
And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
Romans 8:28
I don't want to get into a discussion about this verse because it is not the point of this text. I am merely mentioning it because it is a part of our pattern of thought when things are pretty much right in our lives. However, "pretty much right" does not describe Job's situation. For Job, everything seemed "pretty much wrong."
I Have No Voice
The King James uses a funny word in verse 33, "Daysman". I read this word within the context of what was written, and I knew what I wanted it to mean, but I looked it up to be sure. I was excited because it meant what I hoped it would. The word Daysman means advocate. Look at the verse again.
Neither is there any daysman betwixt us, That might lay his hand upon us both.
Job 9:33
In recognizing the sovereignty of God, Job realized that he was not worthy to approach the throne of God. No matter what he did, he was a mere man, and God was...well God. Job recognized the need for someone to bridge the gap between him (man) and Jehovah (God). However, Job also recognized that there was no such man.
THIS IS HUGE! Remember that Job was during the time of the patriarchs. He lived before Moses and Aaron. There were no priests. I know we read about Melchizedek with Abraham, but he is the only one we read about. We do not know that there were more priests or not. To say yea or nay is supposition. However, Job recognized that he needed an advocate. He needed someone to connect him and God; someone to "lay his hand upon us both."
I want to be careful and not lose the mood that this was written in. You see, I am looking at this issue from an AD mindset. Job was looking at it from a BC mindset. There is a big difference there. Job is seeing this issue and feels hopeless. He is not saying "there is a future daysman". No, he is saying "there is no daysman". He feels that he has no voice, no representation, no advocate to represent him to an unapproachable God. He feels that his situation truly is hopeless.
We Can Feel The Same Way
Lets be real. If we are not careful, we can be guilty of feeling and thinking the same thing as Job. We may know that we can talk to God through prayer, but that does not mean we always feel that when we are down and out. We may feel that our prayers do not go beyond the ceiling of the room we are in. We may cognitively know different, but feelings can override facts. Sometimes, we may not even know that our prayers go beyond our room. Different people are in different places with their knowledge of God's word.
This is where I want to either remind you, or inform you, of an amazing truth. You do have a daysman! That advocate is Jesus! He represents us to God. I don't want you to just take my word for it. I want to show you some scriptures quickly.
My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: 2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.
I John 2:1-2
Don't you love the tone of this verse. "My" is possessive and "little children" is endearing. John is writing by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. So not only is John saying that the reader is HIS little children, but so is God. Also, he tells us that we have an "advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous". Jesus is our advocate, our daysman. John goes on to say that Jesus "is the propitiation for our sins". That word propitiation means that he brought us back into a right relationship with God. He appeased the wrath of God that we earned for our sins. Jesus paid the price of the cross to be our propitiation and the ascended to heaven to be our advocate (daysman) to the Father.
It is not that God was so mean that Jesus had so soften him. That is not the case at all. The reality is that God was too holy (pure) to be in the presence of sinful men. That was our doing because sin was (is) our choice. Jesus was sent by the Father, to live as a man, but to live sinless, for the very purpose of being our propitiation and advocate. It was the plan of God the Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit all along. It was a demonstration of their live for humanity.
But He Is!
Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. 15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
Hebrews 4:14-16
Job said in verse 32, "For he is not a man, as I am, that I should answer him, And we should come together in judgment." That was true for Job, during his time. However, it is not true for us today. Jesus did become a man. As the verse in Hebrews says, he became a man and is our high priest. Verse 15, of Hebrews 4, tells us that he suffered temptations, trials, and suffering just like we do. That means he understands what we are going through. It is more than just a mental understanding for him. He can honestly say that he has been there and done that.
So when we go to God in prayer, we have a daysman, an advocate, who understands what we are going through and he can talk to God for us. He is both God and man, and can therefore "lay his hand upon us both" and be our advocate, our mediator, our high priest, or daysman. What changed? The Cross changed everything! THE CROSS MAKES THE DIFFERENCE!
Father thank you for your plan. Thank you that even when we severed our relationship with you by our sins, you carried our your plan to bring us back together. Thank you for Jesus and the work he did on the cross, and the work his is still doing today. Help me to always remember that and to remember that I can come before your throne and you will hear my prayers and my cries.
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