JOB'S
SURE KNOWLEDGE
"For
I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon
the earth." -- Job 19:25
The Lord God took 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. He said, "I know that my Redeemer liveth!"
Job was driven by the
precious trial of his faith to look to the Lord his God, his Redeemer and
Savior, 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. Job's statement,
"I know that my Redeemer liveth,"
might be accurately translated three ways.
1.
"I KNOW THAT MY KINSMAN LIVETH."
Christ is our nearest
kinsman. He is our kinsman by his own gracious choice. If the Son of God is my
Kinsman, then all is well.
2.
"I KNOW THAT MY VINDICATOR LIVETH."
At the appointed time, God
will vindicate his own. He will set the crooked 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. But, when he
expressed his truest thoughts, the man who feared God and eschewed evil like
few men do, declared, “I know that my Vindicator lives.”
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 sin and fall of our father Adam. 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 my Redeemer lives, I have peace, for all
is well. AMEN.
Grace Baptist Church of Danville - Grace For
Today Radio Message #864
2734 Old Stanford Road -
Danville, Kentucky 40422-9438
Donald S.
Fortner, Pastor -Telephone 859-236-8235 - Email grace@mis.net