Job

Job Chapter 19

Job Replies: My Redeemer Lives

• Job 19:1  Then Job answered and said, 
• 2  How long will ye vex my soul, and break me in pieces with words? 
• 3  These ten times have ye reproached me: ye are not ashamed that ye make yourselves strange to me. 
• 4  And be it indeed that I have erred, mine error remaineth with myself. 

Imagine for one minute having to defind ourselves constantly and at the same time being so miserable in bodily suffering against not just one but three people casting words like stones upon us. He was willing to bear the pain if he was indeed at fault but he couldn't figure out why this has come upon himself. He doesn't remember doing anything as an offense against God. He tried his best to live righteously.

• Job 19:5  If indeed ye will magnify yourselves against me, and plead against me my reproach: 
• 6  Know now that God hath overthrown me, and hath compassed me with his net. 

Job still assumes God is angry with him and is causing this hardship but he still can't figure out why.

• Job 19:7  Behold, I cry out of wrong, but I am not heard: I cry aloud, but there is no judgment. 
• 8  He hath fenced up my way that I cannot pass, and he hath set darkness in my paths. 
• 9  He hath stripped me of my glory, and taken the crown from my head. 
• 10  He hath destroyed me on every side, and I am gone: and mine hope hath he removed like a tree. 
• 11  He hath also kindled his wrath against me, and he counteth me unto him as one of his enemies. 

He really believes God has forsaken him and that God counts him as an enemy. He is suffering so bad and it in total confusion.

• Job 19:12  His troops come together, and raise up their way against me, and encamp round about my tabernacle. 

Like a city surrounded by great armies with no help from anyone, is how Job felt at that time. He was in total darkness as far as not knowing why. One thing after another happened to him without any way out as he could see.

• Job 19:13  He hath put my brethren far from me, and mine acquaintance are verily estranged from me. 
• 14  My kinsfolk have failed, and my familiar friends have forgotten me. 

One would wonder where his relatives and real friends were at this time. Only these three were around and no one else. A man with his reputation surely would have others to help and give comfort but he seemingly was alone.

• Job 19:15  They that dwell in mine house, and my maids, count me for a stranger: I am an alien in their sight. 
• 16  I called my servant, and he gave me no answer; I intreated him with my mouth. 
• 17  My breath is strange to my wife, though I intreated for the children's sake of mine own body. 

His servants and his own wife acts like they despise him. Sometimes people might stay away though because they really don't know what to say and how to deal with this kind of thing. Unless one is what we call prayed up and led by the Holy Spirit when visiting someone who is sick, it is hard to know how to help. It is easier to stay away unless one is sent by the Lord but I wonder if that is just a way to cop out of doing something to comfort them.

• Job 19:18  Yea, young children despised me; I arose, and they spake against me. 
• 19  All my inward friends abhorred me: and they whom I loved are turned against me. 
• 20  My bone cleaveth to my skin and to my flesh, and I am escaped with the skin of my teeth. 
• 21  Have pity upon me, have pity upon me, O ye my friends; for the hand of God hath touched me. 

He cries out for someone to understand to help him at this time. These three friends are truly making things far worse that even his physical suffering.

• Job 19:22  Why do ye persecute me as God, and are not satisfied with my flesh? 
• 23  Oh that my words were now written! oh that they were printed in a book! 
• 24  That they were graven with an iron pen and lead in the rock for ever! 

His words are printed in the bible and millions have probably read it. The printing press was not invented yet but they did carve words and pictures onto rocks like the ten commandments were.
How thankful I am that not only is the bible in print for us to read but even online or digital for us to be able to copy and paste on websites and share with millions. The words of Job is now in other languages and in many bookstores.

• Job 19:25  For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: 

Here is the one comfort that Job has. His redeemer lives. There are songs written with those words, "My redeemer lives." That is our hope and comfort. That is the one and only thing Job has at this time. His redeemer lives.

• Job 19:26  And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God: 
• 27  Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me. 
• 28  But ye should say, Why persecute we him, seeing the root of the matter is found in me? 
• 29  Be ye afraid of the sword: for wrath bringeth the punishments of the sword, that ye may know there is a judgment. 

This is the hope of all who believe in God and after the coming of His Son Jesus, it is the hope of all who receive Him and become born again or born from above. It is something supernatural, everlasting and the ultimate divine comfort for all who suffer in this life. There is a resurrection, there is a hope, there is a good ending, yet not an ending but a new beginning. No longer will they suffer in body but live eternally with God forever for their faithfulness. All because Jesus came and suffered the penalty for in for us. He that had never sinned suffered for all of us who did sin.

This is available to all who believe in the one God sent to save us. This is our hope, our treasure and more that we don't even know yet. In both the Old and New Testaments, this hope is given.

To those that deny God's plan for our salvation and reject the way out God provided for us, there will be a day of judgment because we have to be judged for our sins if we don't receive God's forgiveness and salvation to escape that judgment. Sin cannot enter Heaven. It has to be stopped. This can happen but only through faith in Jesus our Christ.

Old Testament

• Isaiah 64:4  For since the beginning of the world men have not heard, nor perceived by the ear, neither hath the eye seen, O God, beside thee, what he hath prepared for him that waiteth for him.

New testament

• 1Corinthians 2:9  But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. 
• 10  But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. 

Paul repeats what the book of Isaiah said. This is our hope and our comfort. DC

Job Chapter 20