What is the ultimate reason for Job’s misery? What causes him the most distress? We must not dismiss his considerable grief at the loss of his children, the stress of financial ruin and the agony of his physical suffering, yet there is something deeper still. Something more fundamental.

When we come to Job’s words in chapter 9, the theme of God’s justice is ramped up. It’s as if we enter a court room, but Job is not really expecting a fair trial. He has listened to more of the same from his friends as they speak about how God runs the universe (see Bildad’s summary statement in Job 8:20- “Surely God does not reject a blameless man or strengthen the hands of evildoers”).

Job’s replies in Job 9:1-2 by saying “Indeed, I know that this is true”. Now, in light of what follows surely Job in not really agreeing with Bildad here. He is saying “Of course I know ‘The System’. I know—at least I thought I knew—that it was true. But … But how can a mortal be righteous before God?”

This is a massive question! How can a mere man be “in the right with God”? Job is not talking about sinless perfection, but being able to stand in God’s presence. This is what we call justification, to have the legal status before God of a justified or acquitted person.

Job’s problem is that he can see no way in which this could ever be possible. “Though one wished to dispute with him, he could not answer him one time out of a thousand (Job 9:3). This sheer impossibility of standing before God in court is the main burden of Job 9.

These words capture just how Job feels:

“How then can I dispute with him?
How can I find words to argue with him?
Though I were innocent, I could not answer him;
I could only plead with my Judge for mercy.
Even if I summoned him and he responded,
I do not believe he would give me a hearing.
He would crush me with a storm
and multiply my wounds for no reason" (Job 9:14–17).

In other words: “Even though I am innocent- I am never going to be heard. God is both my adversary and my judge!”. For Job, there seems to be no due legal process, no justice. His only hope is mercy. It is interesting that Job anticipates that God will crush him with a storm if he were to speak (see Job 38:1), and again we have that recurring phrase “for no reason” (see Job 1:9; 2:3).

In short, Job longs for a mediator!: "If only there were someone to arbitrate between us" (see Job 9:32-35, cf. 1 Timothy 2:5). Once again, Job brings us to the Cross. We need to realise this again and again, because it is the only place that can begin to make sense of the ways of God. Here is where justice and mercy collide! And this is the heart of Job’s longing- to be able to stand in God’s glorious presence.

Christopher Ash suggests:

“It is this, above all else, for which Job longs. Job longs to stand justified before God more than he longs for his health, his wealth, or his family. Our deepest desires reveal the worship of our hearts. Job’s deepest desire is to stand before God. Idolaters long most deeply for what their idols promise, whether it be success, comfort, fame, sexual satisfaction, whatever. But in his ragged desperation the deepest desire of Job’s heart is revealed—he longs for God”.

What is the deepest longing of your heart?