Written Words

My Redeemer Lives

We can all understand that Job was mistreated by Satan, right? When I was a teenager I thought that God was mistreating Job as well. Now that I have grown up some, little, I have recognized that Job can symbolize our struggle with life and navigating our faith through life. (NRSV)

Job and His Family

1 There was once a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job. That man was blameless and upright, one who feared God and turned away from evil. You see Job was found to be blameless and upright. If ever there was a man who could stand in his humanness and save his people, Job may have been that guy. You know, the one that we can never be because we are not upright and blameless. Job would pray for his children because he says they might have sinned. (NRSV)

5 And when the feast days had run their course, Job would send and sanctify them, and he would rise early in the morning and offer burnt offerings according to the number of them all; for Job said, “It may be that my children have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts.” This is what Job always did.

So let me ask you, are you faithful because God has blessed you and protected you? 8 And the LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil?” 9 Then Satan answered the LORD and said, “Does Job fear God for no reason? 10 Have you not put a hedge around him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

So with all that which I used to lead up to this passage, we need to know what is currently happening to Job.

13  “He has put my brothers far from me, and those who knew me are wholly estranged from me.

and those who knew me are wholly estranged from me.

14  My relatives have failed me, my close friends have forgotten me.

my close friends have forgotten me.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

Job is in a bad place because his closest friends have abandoned him. I will tell you that we should all feel the despair in Jobs condition. Job is telling us that his words should be written down for all time. Isn’t this the essence of faith? That our walk in life, no matter what we go through should testify to the fact that our redeemer lives. 25  For I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last he will stand upon the earth.

and at the last he will stand upon the earth.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

Job is not only crying out against the way he is being treated, he is crying out against his friends leaving him in his misery. But Job speaks out against those who have abandoned him and has offered a conclusion that perhaps we, as Christians, fail to see. (NRSV) 26 and after my skin has been thus destroyed, then in my flesh I shall see God, Job is telling his, so called friends that he will be redeemed. But I wonder what is to become of those who abandoned him. You see, when I was a teenager, I used to feel that God had abandoned him. But that is not really the truth. Job’s salvation was not in the pain but through the pain. Just as Jesus went through the pain of death so that we could find salvation, Job had to walk through the pain, hold on to his faith and walk into his redemption.

Verse 28 can be difficult to understand, (NRSV) 28 If you say, ‘How we will persecute him!’ and, ‘The root of the matter is found in him’; 29 be afraid of the sword, for wrath brings the punishment of the sword, so that you may know there is a judgment.” Basically, Job is telling his friends, if you continue to pursue the idea that it is my sin which has caused me to decay and die, then you should be aware of the sword. Job will die of this humanness and he will be again in the second life. For those who believe will never die, but those who do not place their faith in the Lord, have no life.

26 and after my skin has been thus destroyed,

28 If you say, ‘How we will persecute him!’

then in my flesh I shall see God,

and, ‘The root of the matter is found in him’;

29 be afraid of the sword,

for wrath brings the punishment of the sword,

so that you may know there is a judgment.”