May 25, 2025 - Job 9:33 - "God's Appointed Mediator"

Job 9:33

"Neither is there any daysman betwixt us, that might lay his hand upon us both."

Job was one of God's children—perhaps one of the oldest that we find in the Old Testament—and yet the LORD was pleased to bring him through deep affliction and trouble. But the purpose was to draw him mercifully to his Redeemer and Savior, and to serve as a type of the LORD Jesus Christ, God's suffering Servant.

He speaks in verse 33 of a daysman. This is a judge or an arbitrator, called a daysman because such a person was designated to appoint the actual day on which arbitration or mediation was to take place. Now, nobody ever talks about arbitration or mediation unless there is a conflict. And here, there was a conflict—at least, Job in his depravity, crying unto the LORD in his complaint, saw it that way.

Any kind of strife or controversy is one of three kinds:

1. A strife that requires mediation due to a mistake,

2. A controversy resulting from mutual wrongdoing, or

3. A strife where one side wrongs the other.

   
   

We know for sure that there is no blame that can be brought against God with regard to our sin or in how He deals with us. He is holy, just, and equitable. That was Job’s cry—that this Daysman, this Mediator, might "lay his hand upon us both." In other words, One Who could interpose Himself and lay His hand upon God in His justice and holiness, and at the same time, lay His hand upon Job, the sinner. Where is such a Daysman to be found?

And so, his cry was for a Mediator. Oh, that God would give us such a cry! Job, in his deepest moment of affliction—and again, this affliction was from the hand of God—was mercifully brought to see that nothing in this life has any lasting importance. You hear many preachers talk of health, wealth, or prosperity, but all these things are temporal.

The first point we see here is the need for a Mediator. Job was a man whom God had enriched with substance and influence. Often, we do not understand the reason for a trial. We know that we do not deserve better, yet going through a trial as one of God's children can raise many questions. But one thing is certain—it is for God's glory. He does it for the honor of His Name and for His purpose. That was the whole reason the LORD laid Job low.

Some might ask, “Why would God do that to one of His own?” It was a mercy that the LORD afflicted him and brought him low, lest he should in any way confide—even in the mercies of God—rather than in the merits of the LORD Jesus Christ as his God, his Savior, and his Redeemer. He was made to see just how vain the temporal enjoyments of time truly are. It is striking that we come, live, and die, and time marches on. Everything we enjoy in this life, by way of creature comforts, is temporary at best. And yet, time continues. The LORD graciously caused Job to look outside himself—not only away from temporal comforts, but also from any supposed personal obedience.

The second point is this: the LORD Jesus Christ Himself is that Mediator. In 1 Timothy 2:5–6, we read: “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.” Every word in this passage is vital. The LORD Jesus Christ is the Mediator, and He is also the Ransom required for all whom God has saved.

Note again, the language used by Job is: “Neither is there any daysman betwixt us, that might lay his hand upon us both” (Job 9:33). What he refers to is an earthly mediator. If we look to men, or to anyone or anything, to stand between us and God, it is a false hope. Do not even look to the works of your hands or to any supposed good works to be that mediator. No! It is in the Person of the LORD Jesus Christ. The LORD Jesus Christ is the Daysman between God and men. He is the God-Man in the flesh. That is why He became man—so that He might lay His hand upon God the Father, satisfying His law and justice, and honor the law. He did not set aside the law—He came to fulfill it by His perfect obedience. And then, to lay down His life—that is the ransom—to pay all that God's law and justice required because of the sin debt of the people He came to save.

The LORD Jesus honored the law and made reconciliation for sinful men, making peace with the Father. How? “Having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself” (Colossians 1:20). Upon completion of His obedience unto death, God justified, once for all—everyone that the LORD Jesus Christ came to save. That would have included Job. Job died not having seen the promise fulfilled, but he died believing that his Redeemer would stand at the latter day upon the earth (Job 19:25).

If Christ had only fulfilled all righteousness and returned to glory without dying, there would still be no salvation. He had to be the perfect Lamb—the perfect Sacrifice—and lay down His life for His people. As the God-Man, He has laid His hand upon those sinners the Father gave Him. Therefore, they are secure forever in His hand.

If the LORD has taught you of Himself, your one confession is this: “God is holy, and I am impure, a worm.” A worm is a lowly, despised thing. We hardly notice one on the ground, and if we do, we step on it or push it aside. That is how we are brought to see ourselves before a holy God. That was the purpose of Job’s affliction—that he might be stripped of anything outward that gave him the appearance of personal righteousness. He was brought to abhor himself.

The LORD tenderly and mercifully deals with sinners such as Job to bring them to the end of themselves. That they might cry out for that Daysman, that Mediator. Christ is that Mediator Whom God Himself has appointed, Who can lay His hand upon God as God, and upon the sinner as man.

And that is what Christ has done. Glory be to His name!