Job 9:35

Context

Job 9:35 is part of Job's anguished and eloquent response to his friend Bildad. In this chapter, Job acknowledges God's immense power and wisdom, describing Him as the sovereign Creator who controls all things, from the stars to the forces of nature (Job 9:10). However, this very power becomes a source of dread for Job, who feels utterly helpless and unable to contend with God in a legal dispute. He perceives God as an overwhelming force, making any attempt to plead his innocence futile. This verse expresses Job's deep longing for a fair hearing, a scenario where he wouldn't be paralyzed by fear in God's presence, highlighting his profound sense of injustice and isolation.

Key Themes

• The Inaccessibility of God (from Job's perspective): Job feels an insurmountable chasm between himself, a suffering human, and the all-powerful Deity. He perceives God as an unapproachable judge rather than a compassionate defender, making it impossible to present his case.
• The Desire for an Impartial Mediator: This verse implicitly highlights Job's desperate longing for an impartial arbiter or mediator, someone to stand between him and God so he could present his case without intimidation. This desire is explicitly stated just two verses prior (Job 9:33).
• Human Helplessness in the Face of Divine Power: Job acknowledges God's absolute control and unchallengeable might (Job 9:19), yet this realization only intensifies his sense of powerlessness and despair regarding his own unjust suffering.
• The Nature of Fear: Here, "fear" is not reverent awe or worship, but rather a paralyzing terror or intimidation that prevents Job from speaking truthfully or defending himself before what he perceives as an overwhelming divine force.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew phrase for "not fear him" is lo' yira'ennu (לֹא יִרָאֶנּוּ). The verb yira' (יִרָא) can mean both "to fear" in the sense of dread or terror, and "to revere" or "to worship." In this context, given Job's lament and his desire for a fair hearing, it clearly conveys the sense of being terrified, intimidated, or overwhelmed, preventing him from speaking freely and openly. Job wishes for a state of being free from this oppressive dread.

Reflection and Application

Job's cry in this verse resonates deeply with the human experience of feeling overwhelmed by circumstances or by the vastness of God's power. It offers several points for reflection:

• Honest Lament: Job's raw honesty reminds us that it is permissible to voice our deepest fears, frustrations, and sense of injustice to God. The book of Job validates expressing genuine human anguish, even when we don't understand God's ways or feel Him to be distant.
• The Ultimate Mediator: Job's desperate longing for an umpire or mediator finds its ultimate fulfillment in the New Testament. The Bible teaches that there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus. Unlike Job's hypothetical umpire, Christ truly bridges the gap between God and humanity, allowing us to come boldly unto the throne of grace without fear of condemnation, knowing we have an advocate.
• Transforming Fear: While Job struggled with God's perceived inaccessibility, the broader narrative of Job, and indeed the entire Bible, reveals a God who is not only powerful but also just, merciful, and intimately involved with His creation. Our initial fear can be transformed into reverent awe and trust when we truly grasp His love and faithfulness, enabling us to approach Him not with terror, but with confidence and worship.