Job 19:1-29
Job
1Then Job replied:
2“How long will you
torment me
and
crush me with words?
3Ten times now you have reproached
me;
shamelessly
you attack me.
4If it is true that I
have gone astray,
my
error remains my concern alone.
5If indeed you would
exalt yourselves above me
and use
my humiliation against me,
6then know that God has
wronged me
and
drawn His net around me.
7“Though I cry,
‘Violence!’ I get no response;
though
I call for help, there is no justice.
8He has blocked my way so
I cannot pass;
He has
shrouded my paths in darkness.
9He has stripped me of my
honor
and
removed the crown from my head.
10He
tears me down on every side till I am gone;
He
uproots my hope like a tree.
11His
anger burns against me;
He
counts me among his enemies.
12His
troops advance in force;
they
build a siege ramp against me
and
encamp around my tent.
13“He has
alienated my family from me;
my
acquaintances are completely estranged from me.
14My
relatives have gone away;
my
closest friends have forgotten me.
15My
guests and my female servants count me a foreigner;
they look
on me as on a stranger.
16I
summon my servant, but he does not answer,
though
I beg him with my own mouth.
17My
breath is offensive to my wife;
I am
loathsome to my own family.
18Even
the little boys scorn me;
when I
appear, they ridicule me.
19All my
intimate friends detest me;
those I
love have turned against me.
20I am
nothing but skin and bones;
21“Have
pity on me, my friends, have pity,
for the
Hand of God has struck me.
22Why do
you pursue me as God does?
Will
you never get enough of my flesh?
23“Oh, that my words were recorded,
that they were written on a scroll,
or engraved in rock forever!
26And after my skin has been destroyed,
27I myself will see Him
with
my own eyes—I, and not another.
How
my heart yearns within me!
28“If you
say, ‘How we will hound him,
29you
should fear the sword yourselves;
for
wrath will bring punishment by the sword,
Verse 25
“I know that my Redeemer lives,
and that in the end He will stand on the
earth.”
Hebrew Text
Any attempt to establish the
true meaning of this passage is almost hopeless. The words have been understood
very differently; some say that they refer to the resurrection of the body, and
the redemption of the human race by Jesus Christ; while others, contend that
they refer only to Job's restoration to health, family comforts, and general
prosperity, after the present trial is ended.
The truth is this: Job was
under the Inspiration of the Holy Spirit, and spoke prophetically. Now, whether
we allow that the passage refers to the general resurrection and the redemption
by Christ, or to Job's restoration to health, happiness, and prosperity, this
principle is equally necessary.
1. In those times no man could
speak so clearly concerning the general resurrection and the redemption by
Jesus Christ as Job unless especially inspired for this very purpose.
2. Job's restoration to health
and happiness, was totally improbable to himself all the way through and, in
every sense, impossible, except to the Almighty Power of God, that it must be
foretold by direct inspiration.
Which was most likely to be the
subject of this declaration, the general resurrection and redemption by Christ;
or the restoration of Job to health and affluence? If we look only to the
general importance of these things, this question may be soon decided; for the
doctrine of human redemption, and the general resurrection to an eternal life,
are of infinitely greater importance than anything that could affect the
personal welfare of Job.
The prophecy uttered by Job was
not designed to point out the future prosperity of himself; but rather the
future Redemption of mankind by Jesus Christ, and the general resurrection of
the human race. After what has been stated above, a short paraphrase on the
words of the text will be all that is necessary to be added. I know, ידעתי
yadati, My Redeemer, גאלי goali, my Kinsman, he whose right it was
among the ancient Hebrews to redeem the forfeited heritages belonging to the
family, to vindicate its honor, and to avenge the death of any of his relatives
by slaying the murderer; (Leviticus 25:25; Numbers
35:12; Ruth 3:13).
But here it must refer to Christ,
Who has truly the right of redemption, being of the same kindred, Who was born
of woman, flesh of flesh and bone of our bone. Lives חי chai, is the living One, Who has the
keys of hell and death: the Creator and Lord of the spirits of all flesh, and the
principle and support of all life. And that He shall stand at the latter day
upon the earth. The latter day,
אחרון acharon,
the latter day, or time, when God comes to judgment; or finally, or at last, or
in the last time, or latter days, as the Gospel is termed, He shall be
manifested in the flesh. He shall stand, יקום yakum, He shall arise, or stand up, i.e., to give sentence in
judgment: or He himself shall arise from the dust, as the passage has been
understood by some to refer to the resurrection of Christ from the dead. Upon
the earth, על עפר al aphar, over the dead, or those who are reduced to dust. This
is the meaning of עפר aphar in Psalm 30:9 : What profit is there in my blood when I go down to the pit?
Shall the dust (i.e., the dead) praise thee? He shall arise over the dust -
over them who sleep in the dust, whom He shall also raise up.
Amen.
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