I Know That My Redeemer Liveth (Job 19:25-29)

2023-05-19

For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God: Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me. (Job 19:25-27)

Who is the Redeemer? The context says it is God, and that He will stand on the earth at the end of time. Job, nearly 4,000 years ago, knew of a future resurrection. His body would decay in the ground, but he would later be in his body looking on God. Even in ancient times, God’s people knew of a physical resurrection.

If we die before the Lord’s return, we shall likewise rise from the dead. “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first” (1 Thessalonians 4:16). “In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed” (1 Corinthians 15:52).

How is the Lord a redeemer? He bought us back from eternal destruction caused by our sin. He rescued us from the grave. “Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works” (Titus 2:14).

Because the LORD will return very visibly and physically to the earth, Job says, “But ye should say, Why persecute we him, seeing the root of the matter is found in me? Be ye afraid of the sword: for wrath bringeth the punishments of the sword, that ye may know there is a judgment” (Job 19:28-29). The friends of Job should have been more cautious when accusing Job. There is a judgment coming, and we should be careful with how we live our lives.