Job 9:27  If I say, I will forget my complaint, I will leave off my heaviness, and comfort myself:
28  I am afraid of all my sorrows, I know that thou wilt not hold me innocent.
29  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.

In verses 27-28 Job continued his negative approach to his troubles. He reckoned that if he would look beyond his troubles and not dwell on his heaviness of heart and mind, and comfort himself, God would send him more trouble. He assumed that God was chastening him and if he tried to look at the good in it, God would give him more trouble. Job did not know what his sin was, but he assumed there must be something he had done to bring on these trials.
Job proved his friends to be wrong. He did not try to justify himself. He did not understand why he was being judged of God, but he did not plead innocence. He knew he was a sinner. It is good to be humble and to be willing to accept that there might be some personal cause for suffering. It is also important to ask God to show the reason for the suffering, if it is for personal sin. If God does not reveal any cause, then it is not good to credit God for the suffering.
As we have noted, Job did not know what was going on in the spiritual realm. His three friends were sure that Job had sinned and if he would just confess his sin, God would remove the suffering and restore health and wealth to Job. They were wrong in their assessment. Job was also wrong in his assessment. Job was not showing disrespect toward God, as his friends were, but he lacked the trust he needed in God at this time. He knew God was in charge of all things and thus he assumed that God was bringing this suffering upon him. He did not want more suffering, so he was not going to try to look at the bright side of what he was facing. He feared that God would see that as ignoring the suffering and He would then make life even worse for him.
In verse 29, Job wondered why he should spend time in prayer, seeking God’s forgiveness and blessing, if he was truly the hypocrite his friends assumed he was. He knew that God can see beyond our human facade. He understood that no one hides anything from God.
In verses 30-31 Job knew that it would not matter what he did, his friends would still throw him “in the ditch”. Job knew there was no help available from his friends. They were a broken record. Their theology was wrong and they were not open to God’s direction or correction. It was good that Job could see through their foolishness. He was not about to be turned aside by their false ideas. He was not a “yes man”. He was not going to agree to false teaching just to get along.
In verse 32 Job turned his attention back to God. He understood that God is not a man as he was. Job understood that God is much greater than man. He knew he could not argue with God’s ways. God would not consult him in regard to judgment. God was much wiser than he was. He did not need to consult with man on anything.
Job assumed that there was not anyone to mediate for him to God. Job did not understand the blessing of the Godhead. Job would speak of his Redeemer further on. He did not have that understanding that is needed with regard to the closeness that a true child of God can have with God.
In the Old Testament, God used the priesthood as the human vehicle to mediate between Himself and man. He taught the importance of a right sacrifice and the shedding of animal blood as the means of approaching God. All of that was a picture of the Lord Jesus Christ. He is our Mediator between God and man. He shed His blood to make the way for man to be forgiven and saved.
Those who are saved have the blessing of coming to God at any time to commune with Him through Jesus Christ our Lord. Unconfessed sin can strain the relationship from our side. I John points out the importance of confessing sin and walking in fellowship with the Lord. The context there is to Christians.
Job was an Old Testament saint, but he did not have the understanding that was needed in relation to a close walk with God. God would have shown him that, but Job was wrongly interpreting his current situation and assuming some wrong thoughts in regard to God. God would graciously correct this for Job further on in this book.
In verses 34-35 Job shows us that he had an unhealthy fear of God. He assumed that he could not approach God at this time. He did not need to fear God as Esther feared the king in her time. God is never irrational. Even when a child of God is guilty of sin, they do not need to have a dreaded fear of God. They need to understand the gravity of the sin and they need to draw nigh to God and seek His forgiveness. This is why we have a Mediator in Jesus Christ.
Job assumed that if God would stop punishing him, then he could talk to Him again. Job was in a dark place in his life. He could not count on his friends for help. He assumed he did not have access to God at this point either.
It is good to be humble. It is good to understand that God is holy. It is also important to know that God is compassionate and kind. God has a love for man that is unique. He never throws a fit. He is never irrational. He does not pout. He is always just in all that He does.
God was angry with king David for numbering the people. He gave David one of three options. Punishment was required for his sin. However, mercy was also there. David could be forgiven and he could offer a sacrifice for his sin.
Jesus Christ is the Lamb of God which taketh way the sin of the world. A lost sinner can come to God in repentance and be forgiven and saved by trusting in the Lord Jesus Christ as his or her Saviour. The true child of God can always come to God for fellowship and when sin is in the way, he or she can confess that and be forgiven and restored to that right fellowship. God is gracious.
If you observe false religion, you will find that their gods are just like man. They are unpredictable and vengeful and unjust. Or they are a push over and accept anything and everything that man does. Don’t settle for a lie. Be sure to know the true God and walk with Him.
Job needed to gain a greater understanding of Who the true God is. His three friends also needed to come to understand Who the true God is. Job would learn and he would be blessed in learning. We are not told if his three friends would learn. Job was blessed in being directed by God to mediate for them. Job was willing to do that. He did not hold grudges. He knew enough of the mercy and grace of God to know that he too needed to show mercy and grace to others.
As we continue this study, we can look in the mirror of God’s Word. What is your view of God? Do you know Him as the holy and just and loving and merciful God that He is? Or do you stand aloof of Him and assume that He is sometimes unreasonable? Don’t allow the devil to give you a distorted view of God. Know Him through His Word and trust in Him as your God and Saviour.

Romans 8:15  For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.

We need the true God in our lives. We need that precious relationship that Paul wrote about. We can have that if we are saved and walking in the Spirit. Trust God and know His peace and blessing today.
Pastor Bartel