My Redeemer Lives!
Lessons from Job – PART 2
The book of Job is really a treasure trove of dealing with the conflict/resolution of suffering, pain, and human loss. It’s not an easy book. While it’s raw and convicting, it’s victorious in many ways… and not just because the Lord returned Job’s fortune to him. My personal thinking is that Job would have been fine without, but by the riches of God’s grace, the Lord decided to bless Job with even more than he had in the beginning (Job 42:12-17). Yet, this is not why the book of Job should be admired. Yes, it’s a great part of the story (I celebrate with Job), but the beauty of the book remains in Job’s unwavering faith and lessons learned along the way. Perhaps most notably is when the Lord’s chastisement of Job in 40:6-41:34 and Job’s confession and repentance. There are more lessons there to count. It’s worthy of your reading and rereading.
Yet throughout the book, there are nuggets of gold to be hewn out for our benefit and the strengthening of our faith. While I don’t come near touching all of them, this is just a simple part two to what I wrote earlier this week – Good, But Not Evil? You can READ IT HERE.
Today’s reflection comes from perhaps one of the familiar passages in the Book of Job – Job 19:25-27. The words come as a part the response Job has for one of his friends, Bildad, who speaks in chapter 18 of God’s judgement upon the “wicked” – which is obviously where he categorizes Job. (Side Note: When Job’s friends first appeared, they did right. They sat with Job, mourned with him, and were silent. It’s when they began to talk that things started going south with his friends. At one point, Job refers to his friends as “miserable comforters”(16:1). Lesson: Sometimes it’s just best to be silent and sit with someone who is suffering. It’s ok not to say anything. Sometimes your presence is enough. Many struggle with “I don’t know what to say” or “I wouldn’t know what to say.” Don’t say anything, just BE THERE! The Lord will give you words of comfort and care when necessary – words of Life and Mercy and Grace.)
Well, here is the passage I have been reflecting on a lot lately. Job said, “For I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last he will stand upon the earth. And after my skin has been thus destroyed, yet in my flesh I shall see God, whom I shall see for myself, and my eyes shall behold, and not another. My heart faints within me!” – Job 19:25-27
As mentioned, we’ve all heard these words before – perhaps even memorized them, but what I love just much as Job’s words here is his desire for his words to be known – not for some vain-glory, but as a testament of faith and character. In verses 23 and 24 Job says, “Oh that my words were written! Oh that they were inscribed in a book! Oh that with an iron pen and lead they were engraved in the rock forever!” I read these words as though Job is saying to his friends, “Boys, I know you have your opinions and that you have condemned me already, but you need to write this down, put this in the books, inscribe it in the rocks, HERE’S WHAT I BELIEVE, ‘I KNOW MY REDEEMER LIVES…’”. And with verses 24-37, Job expresses his hope and belief in a future vindication and resurrection. Despite his sufferings and the accusations of his friends, Job declares his unwavering faith in God, stating that EVEN IF HIS BODY IS DESTROYED, he will see God in his flesh. He yearns for God to appear as his Redeemer – the One who sets free and pardons, and Job declares his confidence that he will be restored and see God face to face.
Some Reflections…
1. Trust in God’s Faithfulness – While Job had many questions and lacked understanding, His faith remained.
2. Hope In God’s Redemption – We are a redeemed people in Christ Jesus. We have been bought with a price – the precious blood of Jesus. We are His and He is mine. God’s ultimate redemption will come when the Lord makes all things new – when He rights all the wrongs – and restores His people and creation. This is our vindication.
3. Focus on the Eternal – There is so much more to this life. Live it well, you only have one, but live in light of the eternal promise of eternal life with Christ where “He will wipe away every tear, death will be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain any more…” (Revelation 21:4)
4. Persevere! – One of my favorite passages in the scripture comes from 2 Corinthians 4:16-18, “So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.” Be renewed by His Spirit every day and restored in the goodness, grace, and mercy of God. Life is hard, but I’m learning more and more that in the grand scheme of things, Paul is right. While our outer self (these earthen vessels we call bodies) breakdown and sift away like the dust from which we were made, our sufferings are light and momentary and they are preparing for us an “eternal wright of glory beyond all comparison.”
5. GOD IS AT WORK! Never ever forget that. He is mindful of you, your pain, your suffering, and your loss. God was well aware of Job’s condition. He allowed it. Why? I don’t exactly know. A test of faith? For sure. ONE THING I DO KNOW is that God was aware. There was nothing happening in Job’s life that God wasn’t right there to walk with Him. My God is the God who is there and He’s weaving together the tapestry of your life and He’s taking ALL THINGS and working it together for your good. WHAT AN ORCHESTRATION… A MUSICAL MASTERPIECE THAT CAN ONLY BE BROUGHT TOGETHER BY THE MIESTRO OF HEAVEN AND EARTH – OUR CREATOR GOD!
Learn from Job's words. Cultivate a deep trust in God's faithfulness. Maintain hope in His redemption. Find strength to persevere through trials AND know that our Redeemer lives and is actively involved in our lives.
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. – Romans 8:28
