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June 7            Today’s Reading: Job 16-21

“I know that my Redeemer liveth!”

Job 19:25

 

At last, Job had enough! I imagine he was boiling with indignation. Even the patience of Job had 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.

 

Job’s Sure Knowledge

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 our souls. But “there is a Friend that sticketh closer than a brother.” And that Friend is Jesus Christ. Blessed is the man who has Christ for his friend, who can lift his heart to heaven, seeing Christ by faith, and say, “This is my Beloved, and this is my Friend” (Song of Solomon 5:16).

Job found real property in the presence of absolute poverty. He 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!

Job had a living Kinsman in the presence of a dying family. His statement, “I know that my Redeemer liveth,” may be translated three ways. — (1.) “I know that my Kinsman liveth!” Christ is our nearest kinsman; and he is our kinsman by his own gracious choice. If the Son of God is my Kinsman, then all is well! 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.” — (2.) “I know that my Vindicator liveth!” At the appointed time, God will vindicate his own. He will set all crooked things straight. Oh, for grace to trust Christ to be our Vindicator! The saddest passages in the Book of Job are those in which Job attempted to vindicate himself. Job’s foolish attempts at self-vindication have led many to conclude (erroneously) that Job was a lost man, because this is out of character for a man of faith. Like you and me, Job did not always think, behave, and speak like a believer; but he was a man of God-given faith in Christ. He trusted Christ to vindicate him of Satan’s accusations spewed from the mouths of Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar, just as Paul trusted Christ to vindicate him from the charges of false brethren (1 Corinthians 4:3-5). Spirit of God, give me grace to do the same. — (3.) “I know that my Redeemer liveth!” Christ, who is our God, is our Redeemer. He has redeemed us from the curse of the law by his blood. He has redeemed for us all that we lost in the fall. He has redeemed us from the bondage of sin by the power of his grace. And he shall redeem us from the grave at last. If I know that my Redeemer lives, I have peace!

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 him (Hebrews 11:1-3). Faith is not speculative knowledge, but certain knowledge.

            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 our dear Savior, the Lord 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!

 

Job’s Comfort

The Lord God had taken every comfort of life, every source of earthly joy, and every form of temporal good away from his servant Job. His property, his health, his riches, his influence, his children, and his friends were all gone! And his wife was as good as gone. Job was completely alone in this world, alone with his boils, his pains, and his troubles. But in the midst of his troubles, Job found an argument for peace and sweet comfort for his soul. — “I know that my Redeemer liveth!” He was driven by the precious trial of faith to look to God, his Redeemer, alone for comfort. His trials drove him away from every earthly good into the arms of his Redeemer. Blessed is the man whose trials cause him to flee to Christ! In the midst of sorrow, Job found great joy. In the midst of trouble, he found great peace. In the midst of darkness, he discovered great light. In the midst of uncertainty, he possessed a sure knowledge, by which his soul was possessed with peace, “looking unto Jesus the Author and Finisher of our faith.

 


 

 

 

Don Fortner

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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