If you’re old enough to remember the show Hee-Haw, you undoubtedly recall the regular segment where the guest star and many of the regulars like Roy Clark and Grandpa Jones would sing “Gloom, despair, and agony on me…” Job 9 is the third verse of this song.

Verses 4-10 contain Job’s acknowledgment of YHWH as Creator and he talks about the stars. Ever since I was a kid I’ve been fascinated that Job had the same names for constellations as we do- the Bear (Ursa Major, which contains the Big Dipper), Orion, and the Pleiades. Seeing as the Lord made all of them, umm, He doesn’t exactly have to answer to humans. Job basically says, If I was going to sue God, who would serve the subpoena? How does one even file a lawsuit in the court of the Universe?

“Behold, he passes by me, and I see him not; he moves on, but I do not perceive him.”
‭‭Job‬ ‭9‬:‭11‬ ‭ESV‬‬
If you’ve never watched Dr. Chuck Missler explain “Flatland,” dimensional reality, and how God can be closer to us than anyone else, and we can still be completely unaware of Him… That’s some good sciencey stuff. Look that up on YouTube. You’re welcome.

Job fills the remainder of chapter 9 comparing the vast power and position of YHWH to his own weak and insignificant place in the universe. He seems to be highlighting the futility of arguing with God- though he really really wants to.

Now check out this part –

“For He is not a man, as I am, that I might answer Him, that we should come to trial together. There is no arbiter between us, who might lay his hand on us both.”
‭‭Job‬ ‭9‬:‭32‬-‭33‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Y’all…. Do you see it? There’s the Gospel tucked up in there. Like a sleeping, purring kitten, curled up and hidden almost in plain sight. Read it again.

Job is wrong. Very wrong. There IS an arbiter for Him. “For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time.” 1 Timothy‬ ‭2‬:‭5‬-‭6‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Job’s time wasn’t the “proper time” yet.

YHWH’s Eternal Word is going to become a man as Job is. This Almighty Maker of Orion and Pleiades is going to become human and be put on trial as Job requests. Jesus will be the arbiter between YHWH and Job. Jesus will have one hand on the Eternal One, “who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see” 1 Timothy‬ ‭6‬:‭16‬.‬‬ And He will have his other nail-pierced hand on Job.

🥹❤️🙌🏼

(K, we’re just gonna pull this blog over right now for a minute and worship…)

☁️☁️☁️☁️☁️☁️☁️☁️☁️☁️☁️☁️☁️☁️☁️☁️

Job then has another chapter-long rant at God. And he gets more things wrong:

• He finally does demand “Why?!”
• He says God is looking for reasons to beat him over the head
• He says God has an ulterior motive in making humans: to sit around and watch them and wait for them to sin so He can entertain Himself with punishing them
• Verse 14 “you do not acquit me of my iniquity.” Compare this with: “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases”
  ‭‭Psalm‬ ‭103‬:‭2‬-‭3‬ ‭ESV‬‬
• Verse 15 – If I sin, I lose. If I don’t sin, I still lose. Seriously, someone get this man some Prozac.
• Verses 18-19, Let’s sing another verse of that song about wishing I had never been born.

Did you see the Pixar film Inside Out? You know the blue character, Sadness? Ok, Sadness is firmly at the console of Job’s emotions right now. Disgust and Fear are nearby. Anger too. Joy? I think Joy is stuck down in the memory trash heap with Bingbong. Job wants to be left alone to enjoy his depression. For the rest of his pathetic existence.

You know that friend that is always depressed? Well, Zophar has had it with Job’s funk. He’s been patient for 7 chapters. He let Eliphaz and Bildad have their say. He’s had it with Job’s blue purple black mood. My chapter heading for 11 reads like a front page headline-

Zophar Speaks: You Deserve Worse

He actually does say that. “Know then that God exacts of you less than your guilt deserves.” Job‬ ‭11‬:‭6‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Ouch! And just…wow.

First off- I’m not sure how much worse it could possibly get for Job. His wife could die, I suppose. But the attitude we got from her one and only speech in the book, (“Why don’t you curse God and die?”) 👀 I’m not sure but Job might consider her death a blessing. So, no. The wife lives.

You could say- well, Job could die. No. Job has already stated (several times) that death would be a blessing compared to the living Hell he’s in.

Hmm, 🤔 I wonder if this is where the phrase “death wish” comes from…

I can’t actually think of any way God could “exact more” from Job. Kill him? Then resurrect him? And kill him again?

Really, Zophar. Judge much?

Zophar waxes eloquent on God’s awesome power. That’s one thing they all seem to agree on. He also lays into Job to the point of outright character assassination. Then, this little diamond right here:

“For he (God) knows worthless men; when he sees iniquity, will he not consider it? But a stupid man will get understanding when a wild donkey’s colt is born a man!”
‭‭Job‬ ‭11‬:‭11‬-‭12‬ ‭ESV‬‬

I believe the phrase that Zophar was looking for was: “when pigs fly!” Wow. “Worthless” AND “stupid.” Tell us what you really think of your “friend” Job there, Zophar.

Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar are all completely convinced that their concept of God as powerful-Creator-to-be-appeased is unassailable. Sinners are visited with calamity. No exceptions. The righteous are happy and blessed with health and wealth. No exceptions. Job’s whole experience is one huge exception. They, however, do not have room in their narrow minds to consider this possibility. So for now, the verbal beatings will continue until morale improves.

Zophar ends with a brilliant piece of emotional manipulation. (Y’all, I am loathe to say this, but it’s not unlike some emotionally manipulative “altar calls” I’ve heard in church. Just sayin.) He tells Job that if he would just repent and get right with God, Alllllllll of his troubles will go away. Just like that. 🫰Ok, that’s bunk.

And in the next three chapters, the “friends” will not be able to get a word in edgewise because Job is gonna let ‘em have it. He’s going to rebut their rebuttals.