Job 19

Job 19:1

4. Job’s Response (Chap. 19)19:1-22 Job tells his friends that they ought to be ashamed of the way they have wronged him. He has been mistreated by God and by relatives, friends, and servants. His body has wasted away and he has barely escaped death. Yet his friends join God in attacking him pitilessly. 19:23, 24 He wishes that his words of defense were inscribed in a book and engraved on a rock with an iron pen and lead, forever, so that sometime in the future he might obtain justice. 19:25-27 In a rare burst of light, he believes that there is a Redeemer who will one day vindicate him and then restore him, even though death and decay intervene. The great English preacher, Spurgeon, whose own style is not unlike that of the Book of Job, makes a fine application of verse 25: The marrow of Job’s comfort lies in that little word “My"“My Redeemer,” and in the fact that the Redeemer lives. Oh! to get hold of a living Christ. We must get a property in Him before we can enjoy Him . . . So a Redeemer who does not redeem me, an avenger who will never stand up for my blood, of what avail were such? Rest not content until by faith you can say, “Yes, I cast myself upon my living Lord; and He is mine.” It may be you hold Him with a feeble hand; you half think it presumption to say, “He lives as my Redeemer;” yet, remember if you have but faith as a grain of mustard seed, that little faith entitles you to say it. But there is also another word here, expressive of Job’s strong confidence, “I know.” To say, “I hope so, I trust so,” is comfortable; and there are thousands in the fold of Jesus who hardly ever get much further. But to reach the essence of consolation you must say, “I know.” The fact that Job has faith to see God in his flesh after his skin is destroyed, strongly suggests the physical resurrection, a doctrine not widely taught in the OT, but accepted as standard in the time of our Lord by OTbelieving Jews. Again Spurgeon comments in a beautiful way on verse 26: Mark the subject of Job’s devout anticipation"I shall see God.” He does not say, “I shall see the saints"though doubtless that will be untold felicity but, “I shall see God.” It is not"I shall see the pearly gates, I shall behold the walls of jasper, I shall gaze upon the crowns of gold,” but “I shall see God.” This is the sum and substance of heaven, this is the joyful hope of all believers. 19:28, 29 In view of this coming vindication, his friends should not persecute him, or they will be punished.