I Know that My Redeemer Lives -- 10/2/11

Sunday, October 2, 2011

I KNOW THAT MY REDEEMER LIVES

Job 19:23-27

How do you deal with difficulties in life? Oh, I see, you don’t have any difficulties in life. Sometimes we give that impression. I recently have caught myself doing exactly that. A couple of times people have asked me how I was doing. Before I even thought, I said, “Fine.” Not really; the truth of the matter is I was really hurting. I’m not saying that I or you should always lay our troubles out for everyone to see, but what amazed me is that I didn’t even realize I wasn’t being honest. Such greetings have become such a routine for me that they have lost all meaning. Regardless of what we tell others around us, we all have difficulties. How do you deal with them?

How do you cope with severe illness? Some of you are there right now. If not, how will you cope with severe illness? According to one news network, one out of every two men and one out of every three women will develop some kind of cancer during their lifetime. Whether cancer or serious car wreck or heart attack, how will you handle it?

How do you deal with broken and strained relationships? If you don’t have any, you will. One of your children rarely calls you. A dear friend seems distant. One of your brothers or sisters in Christ constantly rubs you the wrong way. Or maybe you are having serious difficulties relating to your husband or wife. How do you cope with those out-of-joint relationships?

We could go on and on, because there is no end to the variety of problems that confront people like us. Some of you hide those problems, while others of you are more than willing to share them. But either way, they are there. Sometimes they are more serious than others, but they never totally go away. You may escape them for a while by going on vacation, or reading a good book, or through some other diversion, but they are always waiting for you. So it’s pretty important that we discover how we should handle our difficulties.

You recognize that we could answer that question by reading a pretty good chunk of the Bible. After all, God’s Word has plenty to say about how a person should respond to his problems. But this morning we are going to read only a small portion of scripture, but a very powerful one.

I want to begin by reminding you of a man named Job. Some of us hardly need a reminder, as we have been gazing at him steadily for a few months. Just in case you haven’t been with us or have missed it, Job was the target of the devil himself. It was the Lord who asked Satan if he had considered His servant Job, who was blameless and upright, who feared God, and who hated evil. Satan replied by suggesting that the only reason Job served God was because God was so good to him. ‘Take away all the perks, and he will curse you to your face.” From that point on, Job became the test case. Will a man serve God out of pure motives and for the glory of His Creator? As the devil’s target, Job experienced the loss of all his possessions, servants, and even his ten children. Then for months he was forced to endure severe pain and affliction in his own body.

Up to now we have focused on the first 14 chapters, although last week we looked at portions of chapters 15, 18, 20, and 21. Beginning with chapter 4, everything we have read has been a part of a discussion between Job and his three friends -- Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar. Job’s three friends have hammered him over and over with this conclusion: “Job, God is chastening you because of your wickedness against him. You may try to hide it, but your experience proves that you are in deep sin. God knows your hypocrisy and is afflicting you, though He isn’t treating you and bad as what you deserve. Job, if you will just repent and turn back to God, He will bless you and give back that you have lost.” For his part, Job absolutely refuses to confess to what he has not done. Though he doesn’t claim to be sinless by any means, he maintains that he has not committed some terrible evil, as his friends say. During this intense debate, Job has often asked God to let him die. He has begged God to tells him what the charges are against him. Job is filled with confusion and despair. He cannot understand why God is doing these things to him.

I asked you how you deal with difficulties in life. Let’s put that question to Job: “Job, how do you deal with all your difficulties.” So far we would have to conclude that Job hasn’t deal with his difficulties very well. However, he began well. After he lost all his possessions and children, as detailed in chapter one, we read these words in Job 1:20-21, "Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped, 21. And said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD." Job continued to handle his problems well, when his wife told him he should curse God and die. But after months of physical suffering and the relentless attacks of his friends, Job sank into a deep pit of despair.

The Text of Chapter 19

Now let’s come to chapter 19. I have selected this chapter because it contains some amazing words from Job. The chapter starts as a number of other chapters. Job is responding to the attack of Bildad. Let’s take just a few minutes to walk through the first part of this chapter.

1 Then Job answered and said: 2 "How long will you torment my soul, And break me in pieces with words? 3 These ten times you have reproached me; You are not ashamed that you have wronged me.

Notice first of all that the “you” in these first three verses is plural (KJV -- ye/you, denoting the plural). Job is speaking not only to Bildad, but he is including Eliphaz and Zophar. He openly expresses his displeasure with the way his friends have responded to his woes. Yes, words can be very hurtful.

4 And if indeed I have erred, My error remains with me. 5 If indeed you exalt yourselves against me, And plead my disgrace against me, 6 Know then that God has wronged me, And has surrounded me with His net.

Job does not concede that he is guilty of the sin of which they accuse him, but he says that even if he were guilty, it would be his concern, not theirs. The ESV brings out with clarity the thought of verse 5: “If indeed you magnify yourselves against me and make my disgrace an argument against me…” That is exactly what they were doing -- using Job’s afflictions as an argument that he must be a terrible sinner.

Notice the accusation of verse 6, “Know then that God has wronged me.” I think maybe the idea is, “If you have set yourselves against me, you will be happy to know that God has done the same.” Now this is a very serious accusation, as Job bluntly accuses God of doing him wrong. This is one of those places where we have to say that Job has overstepped his bounds. It is one thing to question God; it is quite another to state that God has done wrong, that He has mistreated one of the people He has created, but that is exactly what Job does. Job has come to this conclusion and now he shares it with these three friends. The rest of verse 6 and the verses that follow give details of how Job believes God has wronged him. As we will see in verse 11, he even accuses God again of pouring out His wrath on him.

7 "If I cry out concerning wrong, I am not heard. If I cry aloud, there is no justice. 8 He has fenced up my way, so that I cannot pass; And He has set darkness in my paths. 9 He has stripped me of my glory, And taken the crown from my head. 10 He breaks me down on every side, And I am gone; My hope He has uprooted like a tree. 11 He has also kindled His wrath against me, And He counts me as one of His enemies. 12 His troops come together And build up their road against me; They encamp all around my tent.

In verses 13-19 Job is going to explain how God has set all the people in Job’s life against him. Because God has done these things, they will have nothing to do with him. Let’s read 13-19…

13 "He has removed my brothers far from me, And my acquaintances are completely estranged from me. 14 My relatives have failed, And my close friends have forgotten me. 15 Those who dwell in my house, and my maidservants, Count me as a stranger; I am an alien in their sight. 16 I call my servant, but he gives no answer; I beg him with my mouth. 17 My breath is offensive to my wife, And I am repulsive to the children of my own body. 18 Even young children despise me; I arise, and they speak against me. 19 All my close friends abhor me, And those whom I love have turned against me.

20 My bone clings to my skin and to my flesh, And I have escaped by the skin of my teeth. 21 "Have pity on me, have pity on me, O you my friends, For the hand of God has struck me! 22 Why do you persecute me as God does, And are not satisfied with my flesh?

After one last explanation of his suffering, Job pleads with his friends to have mercy on him. Can’t they see how helpless and pitiful Job is, having been struck down by the hand of God? “Why do you add your persecution to that of God Himself?” He ends with a kind of sarcastic statement, rendered by the NIV as, “Will you never get enough of my flesh?”

Now to the Great Proclamation

23 "Oh, that my words were written! Oh, that they were inscribed in a book! 24 That they were engraved on a rock With an iron pen and lead, forever!

Job believes he has some thoughts that should be preserved for future generations. Of course, they didn’t have printing presses in those days, but they had their methods of preserving things in writing. Job wanted to so preserve his thoughts.

The big question this: What words did he want to preserve? Was it the things he has just said, or the things he is about to say? If it is the things he has already said, then he wants his complaints to be remembered, so that everyone will know that he is right, and not his friends. While there are many who believe that is what he had in mind, there are plenty of others who disagree, and I am among them. Surely Job wants to preserve something far greater than his complaints, as laid out in the previous verses. If the truths of verses 25-27 are as great as they seem to be, they would be suitable to preserve for future generations. So I am suggesting that Job is preparing us for the most important words that have ever come out of his mouth. Let’s look at those words in verses 25-27…

25 For I know that my Redeemer lives, And He shall stand at last on the earth; 26 And after my skin is destroyed, this I know, That in my flesh I shall see God, 27Whom I shall see for myself, And my eyes shall behold, and not another. How my heart yearns within me!

Now we come to the heart of this chapter and this entire section of the book of Job. So let’s dive in, beginning with the crucial words, “I know that my Redeemer lives.” What is a redeemer? Most of us are familiar with the New Testament term “redeem.” It means “to buy back.” The Old Testament word is the Hebrew “goel,” which means “redeemer” or “kinsman.” Sometimes we translate it “kinsman redeemer.” It is the word that is used throughout the book of Ruth. When an Israelite lost his land through poverty or some other misfortune, the duty of the kinsman was to redeem it, to buy it back. Charles Spurgeon pointed out that a kinsman not only redeemed through paying a price, but at times he redeemed through power, even as Abraham went and rescued his nephew Lot from powerful kings of the east.

Now Job says, “I know that my Redeemer lives.” So who is this Redeemer of whom he speaks? First of all, let’s be very clear that God refers to Himself as Redeemer. Ps. 19:14, "Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer." This concept of God as Redeemer is especially prominent in the latter part of Isaiah…

41:14…"Fear not, thou worm Jacob, and ye men of Israel; I will help thee, saith the LORD, and thy redeemer, the Holy One of Israel."

43:14… "Thus saith the LORD, your redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; For your sake I have sent to Babylon, and have brought down all their nobles, and the Chaldeans, whose cry is in the ships."

44:6 "Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God."

44:24… "Thus saith the LORD, thy redeemer, and he that formed thee from the womb, I am the LORD that maketh all things; that stretcheth forth the heavens alone; that spreadeth abroad the earth by myself;"

47:4… "As for our redeemer, the LORD of hosts is his name, the Holy One of Israel."

48:17… "Thus saith the LORD, thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; I am the LORD thy God which teacheth thee to profit, which leadeth thee by the way that thou shouldest go."

49:7… "Thus saith the LORD, the Redeemer of Israel, and his Holy One, to him whom man despiseth, to him whom the nation abhorreth, to a servant of rulers, Kings shall see and arise, princes also shall worship, because of the LORD that is faithful, and the Holy One of Israel, and he shall choose thee."

49:26… "And I will feed them that oppress thee with their own flesh; and they shall be drunken with their own blood, as with sweet wine: and all flesh shall know that I the LORD am thy Saviour and thy Redeemer, the mighty One of Jacob."

Now let me ask you a simple question: When I speak of a Redeemer, what is the first thing that comes to your mind? Jesus. While that specific term “Redeemer” is not applied to Jesus, He is Redeemer by virtue of the fact that He is the One who redeems. You know that you were not redeemed with corruptible things like silver and gold, but with the precious blood of Christ (I Pet. 1:18-19). We are looking for the appearance of our Lord Jesus, “who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity and purify unto himself a peculiar people” (Tit. 2:13-14). Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law (Gal. 3:13).

Many who interpret these words “I know that my Redeemer lives” focus on the fact that Job is speaking here of God the Father and has no reference to Christ. Job means to say that in the end God will vindicate him, letting everyone know that he has not committed the terrible sins of which he has been accused. While that is certainly true, the question is this: Is Job saying more than that? No one will argue that Jehovah God is Redeemer, but it must also be stated that He has redeemed us through the blood of His Son. Does Job have any reference to the Lord Jesus, when he makes this statement?

We could debate the issue, but I think maybe it would be helpful to share a quote from Charles Spurgeon, who preached on this text 150 years ago…

I am sorry to say that a few of those who have written upon this passage cannot see Christ or the resurrection in it at all. Albert Barnes, among the rest, expresses his intense sorrow that he cannot find the resurrection here, and for my part I am sorry for him. If it had been Job's desire to foretell the advent of Christ and his own sure resurrection, I cannot see what better words he could have used; and if those truths are not here taught, then language must have lost its original object, and must have been employed to mystify and not to explain; to conceal and not to reveal. What I ask, does the patriarch mean, if not that he shall rise again when the Redeemer stands upon the earth?

Someone will protest, “But surely Job didn’t understand about Jesus coming to earth, dying for sins, returning to heaven, and then promising to return.” No, I’m sure he didn’t understand all that, but who says he had to understand perfectly? We read these words in I Pet. 1:10-12…

Of this salvation the prophets have inquired and searched carefully, who prophesied of the grace that would come to you, 11 searching what, or what manner of time, the Spirit of Christ who was in them was indicating when He testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow. 12 To them it was revealed that, not to themselves, but to us they were ministering the things which now have been reported to you through those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven--things which angels desire to look into.

What Job did understand is that he had a Redeemer who was alive and well. Furthermore, Job testified that his Redeemer would at last stand on the earth. Again, Jehovah God is Redeemer, but whom did He send to stand on the earth? “And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us…” (John 1:14). That Word, who from the beginning was with God and was God, was none other than Jesus Christ, who lived as the God-man on this earth and redeemed us to Himself through the cross. There on the cross He was made sin for us. The wrath of God was poured out upon Him, that we might go free. And what happened after He died? He rose from the grave. And after appearing from time to time on the earth for 40 days, He was taken up into heaven, as two angels proclaimed, "…Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven” (Acts 1:11). Yes, Jesus will indeed stand on the earth again! Praise God!

Job does not stop there. In verse 26 he says that after his skin is destroyed, he will then in his flesh see God. Some commentators make the point that it is grammatically possible to translate “in his flesh” as “without his flesh.” Even if that is so, is Job trying to say that he will see God “without his flesh”? Surely not. Job is suffering in the flesh, and he has confidence that God is going to so work in that flesh that he will see God with the physical eyes of his physical body. Yes, Job is speaking about a bodily resurrection. Yes, his body was being destroyed, beginning with the skin which was under attack, but he served a God who was able to refashion his body in resurrection glory.

Read again verses 26-27, this time in the NIV, “And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God; I myself will see him with my own eyes--I, and not another. How my heart yearns within me.” Job says clearly that he plans to see God. You may ask, “Is he talking about God the Father or God the Son?” Yes, I think so. Just go read Revelation, where heaven is all about the glory of both God the Father and Christ the Son.

No wonder Job concludes with ,”How my heart yearns within me.” He has been focused on his bodily afflictions and worldly sorrows, but now his spirit is lifted to contemplate heavenly glory. It’s almost too much for him, even as Paul would later speak of things revealed to him (see II Cor. 12:1-4). These words remind me of the two men on the road to Emmaus, after they had talked with Jesus but didn’t recognize Him. When they did finally recognize Jesus, He vanished from their sight. Then they said, “Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?” (Luke 24:32).

Where Did Job Get This?

Now we come to a very important question which must be considered. After hearing all the complaining of Job, even in this very chapter, how do we explain these glorious words of verses 25-27? Where did they come from? Is there another character in this story that someone forgot to tell us about? Did he sneak in and say these things? I ask you, does this sound like the Job who has spoken half dozen times up to this point? No, it does not.

Some people say that Job was able to stir up this faith within himself. He fought until he got to this point. There is some truth in that idea. It is true that he asked this question in 14:14, “If a man die, shall he live again?” But as we discovered, Job goes on to say that such an idea is just wishful thinking. Nevertheless, he did ask the question instead of immediately concluding that there is no life after death. But still, asking the question and concluding it isn’t so is a far cry from the confident expression we find here in 19:25.

Please allow me to give you a suggestion. Chew on it. I believe that God blessed Job with an unexplainable, supernatural revelation. I don’t think anything else can explain the sudden change in the words Job spoke. As far as we know, there had been no change in Job’s circumstances; things only continued to get worse. Nor was there any change in the opposition. Satan was still working hard to try to induce Job to curse God, his goal from the start. We certainly aren’t seeing any softening in his friends; they have become more defiant and even angry at Job. God simply revealed these things to Job at this time. Why? Because He chose to do so. Perhaps He chose this time because He knew Job needed something to hang on to.

The main reason I come to this conclusion is because it is so much parallel to what we find in the New Testament. In the 16^th chapter of Matthew we read about Jesus withdrawing from the crowds with His apostles. He asked them, “Whom do men say that I, the Son of man, am?” They gave Him the various answers they had heard. Then He asked them, “But whom do you say that I am?” That’s when Peter spoke those memorable words: “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Wow! Now did Jesus pat Peter on the back for being so smart? No. Rather, He said, “You are blessed Simon, because flesh and blood has not revealed these things to you, but my Father which is in heaven” (Matt. 16:17). No man could have shown Peter those things. Peter could not have figured them out himself. It was God who chose to reveal that great truth to Peter.

Doesn’t it seem that the Father revealed to Job the great truths that He proclaimed on that day? God is more than capable of doing such a miraculous work. I am thinking of a man named Saul, who headed for Damascus for the express purpose of destroying Christians. Before he would see Damascus, he would be one of those Christians. Why? Because our God is the Sovereign Lord who does things that are beyond our understanding. I believe that is what He did in Job. I suspect that Job was somewhat surprised by the words that came out of his own mouth, but he was also deeply impacted by them.

Conclusion: Can You Speak with Job?

We could go on and on about how amazing it is that a man who lived hundreds of years before Jesus could speak such glorious words, but it is now time to make those words our own. That is the great question: Can you speak these words with Job? Can you say, “I know that my Redeemer lives and that He will at last stand upon the earth”? Can you say, “And in my flesh, I will see God; I myself will see Him with my own eyes--I, and not another”? To find the answer to those questions, let’s ask three very specific questions…

First, do you know that the Redeemer is Jesus Christ? While Job didn’t understand all he was saying, he is making unmistakable reference to Jesus, the One who would stand upon the earth. Yes, God is Redeemer, but He has chosen to accomplish His ultimate redemption through Jesus Christ. Everyone of us came into this world in need of redemption. We were slaves to sin and Satan and could do nothing for ourselves, because we were dead in our trespasses and sins. Our only hope is that someone outside and above the situation could reach down and buy us back? But who had the resources and the power to do that? The One who came to this earth as a man and lived a sinless and holy life that pleased the Father completely. That Jesus went to the cross to pay the price for sinners like you. He took what we deserved, as God His Father poured out His wrath upon His only Son. He was our substitute. He was the sacrifice offered in our place. Jesus, and no other, is the Redeemer. There is no other way to deal with our sins. If the blood of Jesus Christ does not wash us clean, we will die in our sins and pay the punishment forever. Praise God that there is a Redeemer!

Second question: “Do you know that this Redeemer lives?” Job said, “I know that my Redeemer lives.” The Christ who died on the cross was buried in the tomb, but praise God He didn’t stay there. The grave couldn’t hold Him. Please hear me. We are not talking about religious leader who blessed us with great teachings and then died like other men. Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more; death has no more power over Him (Rom. 6:9). When He had by Himself purged (cleansed) our sins, He sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on High, (Heb. 1:3), and there He lives and makes intercession for His own (Rom. 8:34). If Jesus doesn’t live, He is no Redeemer. We sing…

He lives; He lives; Christ Jesus lives today.

He walks with me and talks with me along life’s narrow way.

He lives; He lives salvation to impart;

You ask me how I know He lives; He lives within my heart.

I ask you, “Do you know the Redeemer, the Lord Jesus Christ, lives?”

And finally, the third question: “Do you know that Jesus Christ is your Redeemer and that you will see Him face to face?” It’s wonderful to proclaim that Jesus is the Redeemer and even that He is alive today, but is He your Redeemer? Has the ransom price He paid been applied to your life, so that you have been delivered from the power of darkness and translated into the kingdom of His dear Son? (Col. 1:13). Has His blood been applied to your life? Are you still in your sins, or have you been raised to walk in newness of life? (Rom. 6:4). Are you trying to follow some wonderful teachings from the Bible, or have you been born again of the Spirit of God? (John 3:1-8).

What could be more tragic than to know great biblical truths about Christ the Redeemer, but not actually know Him as your Redeemer? That tragedy will finally come home to many who will call Him “Lord” in the last day, only to hear Jesus the Redeemer say, “I never knew you; depart from me, you who practice lawlessness” (Matt. 7:21-23). What sorrow to hear them say, “The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved” (Jer. 8:20).

Praise God that He has not left us in the dark. Jesus said, “Repent and believe the gospel” (Mark 1:15). The truth that Job proclaimed makes a wonderful story, but if you have not been born again by the Spirit of God, it isn’t your story. That is why Jesus calls for repentance, the attitude which says, “O God, I need a Redeemer because I have sinned against You. I have broken your holy commandments. Worse than that, my whole life has been centered on me, which is proof that I have hated You instead of loving You, as You commanded so clearly. My whole life has been one of rebellion against You. Even when I have tried to fix the problem, I have failed miserably. Lord, I am sick of living this way. I am desperate to find a solution.” That is the attitude of repentance.

Out of that repentance comes a desperation for a Savior, a Redeemer who can buy us back from slavery to sin and self. Jesus is that Redeemer. His perfect, sinless life, His sacrificial death, and His victorious resurrection qualifies Him to be your Redeemer. Though you are defiled and stained with the wickedness of your sin, He can save you. He will save you. Call upon the name of the Lord. Cast yourself on Jesus as your one and only hope.

So how do you deal with the difficulties of life? And let’s not kid ourselves about the greatest difficulty in life. My pastor from younger days used to quote some preacher that said, “The man that gives me the most trouble is the man under my own hat.” Isn’t it the truth! Besides all the adverse circumstances that come our way, we have to deal with ourselves. How can we do that? What better way than to live in the fragrance of the attitude that says, “I know that my Redeemer lives and that in the end He will stand upon the earth. And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God. I myself will see him with my own eyes--I, and not another” (Job 19:25-27a NIV).

Job longed to have these marvelous words etched in stone so that they could be remembered by future generations. Go back to years gone by and you will find many a tombstone with these words etched in stone: “I know that my Redeemer liveth.” Job wanted his words to be recorded in a book, written upon a scroll. We are reading them this very morning in the Word of God, which lives and abides forever (I Pet. 1:24-25). Praise God that He preserved them in such a way that we can not only read them, but we can make them our own.

After being immersed in this passage, I have begun to see more clearly why we have been wading through the early chapters of Job. Light is brightest where the darkness is greatest. The truth that Job is proclaiming here is all the more glorious against the background of where he has been. So it is with the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. We can tell people, “God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life,” but it has little meaning unless it is seen against the background of sin and hopelessness. When we see the depth of our sin, the gospel is glorious indeed. Jesus is only seen as a wonderful Redeemer by the person who truly understands that he is in desperate need of a Redeemer. We are blessed, if we see that need. Then we can say, “I know that my Redeemer lives.”