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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadPaul Kretzmann Commentary - Job 19:23 - 19:29
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Job States his Belief in Final Vindication
v. 23. Oh, that my words were now written! those with which he protested his innocence. Oh, that they were printed in a book! inscribed in a writing-roll, to be kept for later generations as a record of his protest.
v. 24. That they were graven with an iron pen and lead in the rock forever! chiseled in the rock and the letters then filled with lead, as a witness to future generations. This hope, as Job knew, would not be fulfilled; he could not hope for a vindication of his righteousness before men. But he trusted in another fact, his faith was based upon another wonderful truth.
v. 25. For I know that my Redeemer liveth, he had that conviction of faith which he, for his own person, held, that his Avenger, his Vindicator, his Redeemer, was even then living, not only as the Possessor, but as the very Source, of all true life, and that He shall stand at the latter day upon the earth, literally, "for as the last He will arise on earth. " The time will come when the Redeemer will appear as the Advocate and Vindicator of those who put their trust in Him, as the Savior who leads to the beholding of God. When He, on the Last Day, will step on this earth, the many millions of bodies that have returned to the dust will feel the influence of His almighty power, arise from their graves, and join the Redeemer, to be led by Him into everlasting glory.
v. 26. And though after my skin worms destroy this body, literally, "and afterward will with my skin be surrounded this" (body). He is sure that there will be a glorious resurrection of the body on the Last Day, that the very skin which clothed him during his mortal life here on earth will again cover the flesh which has become subject to decay and corruption. Yet in my flesh shall I see God, literally, "Out of my flesh shall I behold God. " The body which, in the corruption of death, was stripped of its skin will once more be clothed with that covering, and then, from out of that same body, Job would see God. Job is so sure of this fact that he pictures the scene in concrete terms.
v. 27. Whom I shall see for myself, literally, "behold unto me," for my benefit, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another, not a stranger. It is a beholding, a seeing, in the supernatural manner which is often connected with visions. It is a beholding of God in the bliss of eternal salvation. So great is Job's longing for the wonderful revelation to which he is looking forward that he cries out: Though my reins be consumed within me, literally, "are consumed my reins in my abdomen," it is a consuming anxiousness which filled Job in the midst of his great tribulation; he was eating out his heart in longing for the last great day of salvation.
v. 28. But ye should say, Why persecute we him, if they should still insist upon pursuing him, seeing the root of the matter is found in me? If they still persisted in charging him with guilt, with harboring in his own heart the root of the calamities which had befallen him, they should beware.
v. 29. Be ye afraid of the sword, which the vengeance of God would bring upon them; for wrath bringeth the punishments of the sword, the crimes, the transgressions, of the sword are invariably overtaken by wrath, that ye may know there is a judgment, the slanderers and blasphemers will finally be laid low by the justice of the Lord, a statement which is full of consolation also in these last days of the world.