"I Know That My Redeemer Liveth!"        

Job 19:25-27

 

     At last, Job had enough! I imagine he was boiling with indignation. Even the patience of Job has its limits! His heart was heavy. His soul was troubled. Under the afflictions of his Father's rod, he simply could not bear the insults of his pretentious friends any longer. Therefore, he plainly informed them of that which he knew by experience in his soul, which they could never take from him. Even in his poverty, pain, and perplexity, Job knew more and possessed more than his "friends" could imagine.

1. JOB HAD ONE TRUE FRIEND IN THE MIDST OF MANY CRUEL FRIENDS. All earthly friends are conditional friends. The very best of them will, in time, bring sorrow to your soul. But "there is a Friend that sticketh closer than a brother." And that Friend is Jesus Christ.

2. JOB FOUND REAL PROPERTY IN THE PRESENCE OF ABSOLUTE POVERTY. Job uses the word "my" to speak of his personal interest and property in the Son of God. Blessed is the man who can, with honesty and confidence, call Christ, "my Redeemer!"

3. JOB HAD A LIVING KINSMAN IN THE PRESENCE OF A DYING FAMILY. In order to be our Redeemer, Christ must be our Kinsman. And Christ Jesus is never ashamed to own his brethren. Even when they had all forsaken him, he called his disciples "my brethren".

4. JOB POSSESSED ABSOLUTE KNOWLEDGE IN THE FACE OF GREAT UNCERTAINTY. "I know," he said. His faith made him certain. Invisible things, revealed by God, are certainly known by those who believe (Heb. 11:1-3). Faith is not speculative knowledge, but certain knowledge.

5. JOB HAD A SURE HOPE IN THE FACE OF UTTER HOPELESSNESS. He lived, even then, in the hope of Christ's second advent. He had hope of eternal acceptance with God. And he hoped for the resurrection of his body. The basis of his hope was the finished work of Jesus Christ, his Redeemer. His redemption was finished, even before the world began for his living Redeemer is Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, slain from the foundation of the world!

OCTOBER 23, 1988

 

Don Fortner