Bible Study

*Just for your *thoughts*.

*The Book of Job
Expository Commentary on the Book of Job* .

Bible Study – 18
Job's Cry for a Mediator
In God's own assessment, Job was blameless and upright, one who feared God and turned away from evil (Job 1:1). Among all the people of his region, he was regarded as a man of great importance. He was also exceedingly wealthy.
Fearing that his children might have sinned and cursed God in their hearts, Job would call them together, consecrate them, and rise early in the morning to offer burnt offerings on behalf of each one of them (Job 1:5). Such was the life of this godly man. Yet, in a single day, he lost all his possessions and all his children.
After this, with God's permission, Satan afflicted Job with painful sores from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head (Job 2:7).
Although Job endured all these sufferings, there was one thing he could not understand: "Why has this happened to me?" He was convinced that he had not committed any wrongdoing deserving of such suffering. Yet, despite everything, he never denied God.
He declared, "There is no violence in my hands, and my prayer is pure" (Job 16:17). Even so, he could not comprehend why such suffering had come upon him.
During this season of anguish, several deep longings arose within him.
He longed to meet God (Job 23:3).
He desired to speak directly with God (Job 13:3).
Job knew that these desires were beyond his reach. Yet another longing burned even more deeply within his heart:
"If only there were a mediator between God and me!" (Job 9:33; 16:19–21).
His heart cried out, "I want to ask God why I am suffering like this. But there is no one to stand between God and me."
This was the deepest longing of Job's heart.
Nowhere else in the Old Testament do we find this longing for a mediator expressed as clearly and passionately as it is by Job.
Under the Old Covenant, the sins of God's people were covered in anticipation of Christ's coming sacrifice. But in the New Covenant, that promise has been fulfilled.
Our Lord Jesus Christ offered Himself on the cross as the sacrifice for our sins. Yet His ministry did not end at Calvary.
Even now, He lives in the presence of the Father as our Mediator, continually interceding on our behalf. This is one of the priceless gifts God has given to New Testament believers.
When we received Christ, all our sins were forgiven. Yet, because of our human weakness, we still fail in many ways. The reason we continue to enjoy fellowship with God is that Jesus Christ remains our eternal High Priest and Mediator, constantly interceding for us before the Father.
The blessing that Job longed for but could never experience has been freely given to every New Testament believer.
This is also one of the reasons why New Testament believers enjoy greater spiritual privileges than the saints of the Old Testament.
The depth of Job's anguish is revealed in the way he described his friends. They came to comfort him, yet they failed to understand the burden and pain he was carrying. Therefore, Job called them "miserable comforters" (Job 16:2).
Our Mediator today is entirely different.
"For we do not have a High Priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in every way, just as we are, yet without sin" (Hebrews 4:15).
Therefore, the ministry of Jesus Christ did not end at the cross. It continues even now and will continue until the day we leave this world and enter His glorious presence.
The longing that remained unfulfilled in Job's life is being fulfilled every day in the life of every Christian believer.
The Mediator whom Job longed for has been given to us.

The access to God that Job desired has been opened to us.

The intercession that Job longed for is continually taking place on our behalf.
To God alone be all the glory.

In God's Service,
Ezekiel Shanmugavel..

Bible Study – 18
Job's Cry for a Mediator
In God's own assessment, Job was blameless, upright, one who feared God and turned away from evil (Job 1:1). Among all the people of his region, he was regarded as a man of great importance. He was also exceedingly wealthy.
Fearing that his children might have sinned and cursed God in their hearts, Job would call them together, consecrate them, and rise early in the morning to offer burnt offerings on behalf of each one of them (Job 1:5). Such was the life of this godly man. Yet, in a single day, he lost all his possessions and all his children.
After this, with God's permission, Satan afflicted Job with painful sores from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head (Job 2:7).
Although Job endured all these sufferings, there was one thing he could not understand: "Why has this happened to me?" He was convinced that he had not committed any wrongdoing deserving of such suffering. Yet, despite everything, he never denied God.
He declared, "There is no violence in my hands, and my prayer is pure" (Job 16:17). Even so, he could not comprehend why such suffering had come upon him.
During this season of anguish, several deep longings arose within him.
He longed to meet God (Job 23:3).
He desired to speak directly with God (Job 13:3).
Job knew that these desires were beyond his reach. Yet another longing burned even more deeply within his heart:
"If only there were a mediator between God and me!" (Job 9:33; 16:19–21).
His heart cried out, "I want to ask God why I am suffering like this. But there is no one to stand between God and me."
This was the deepest longing of Job's heart.
Nowhere else in the Old Testament do we find this longing for a mediator expressed as clearly and passionately as it is by Job.
Under the Old Covenant, the sins of God's people were covered in anticipation of Christ's coming sacrifice. But in the New Covenant, that promise has been fulfilled.
Our Lord Jesus Christ offered Himself on the cross as the sacrifice for our sins. Yet His ministry did not end at Calvary.
Even now, He lives in the presence of the Father as our Mediator, continually interceding on our behalf. This is one of the priceless gifts God has given to New Testament believers.
When we received Christ, all our sins were forgiven. Yet, because of our human weakness, we still fail in many ways. The reason we continue to enjoy fellowship with God is that Jesus Christ remains our eternal High Priest and Mediator, constantly interceding for us before the Father.
The blessing that Job longed for but could never experience has been freely given to every New Testament believer.
This is also one of the reasons why New Testament believers enjoy greater spiritual privileges than the saints of the Old Testament.
The depth of Job's anguish is revealed in the way he described his friends. They came to comfort him, yet they failed to understand the burden and pain he was carrying. Therefore, Job called them "miserable comforters" (Job 16:2).
Our Mediator today is entirely different.
"For we do not have a High Priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in every way, just as we are, yet without sin" (Hebrews 4:15).
Therefore, the ministry of Jesus Christ did not end at the cross. It continues even now and will continue until the day we leave this world and enter His glorious presence.
The longing that remained unfulfilled in Job's life is being fulfilled every day in the life of every Christian believer.
The Mediator whom Job longed for has been given to us.

The access to God that Job desired has been opened to us.

The intercession that Job longed for is continually taking place on our behalf.
To God alone be all the glory.

In God's Service,
Ezekiel Shanmugavel.