Exposition of Job, Exposition of Job · Chapter 19 · Verse 25
Verſ. 25. For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he ſhall ſtand at the latter day, upon the earth:
In this and the two following Verſes, we have the ſecond and more particular Evidence of Job's Integrity, taken from his ſaving knowledge of, and faith in a Redeemer, and his expectation of a bleſſed Reſurrection through him. To underſtand all this (as ſome do) only of his hope of a temporal reſtitution of the health of his body and outward proſperity, is not only to wreſt the clear words, but to make Job contradict his own Aſſertion, that he is certainly expecting death, Chap. 17.14, 15, 16. which is here alſo ſuppoſed by him, in this encouragement, v. 26, 27.
In this verſe he aſſerts that he was not ignorant, nor wicked, as Bildad had inſinuated, Chap. 18.21. But had ſound knowledge of a Redeemer, and was aſſured of an intereſt in him. He knows there is a Redeemer, who is God, and was to become Man, that he might be a kinſman (as the word ſignifieth) having right to Redeem his people; that he liveth eternally, and that having conquered all his Enemies, he would ſtand at laſt upon the Earth, as Judge of the world. Here are precious Truths, which it were well if they were as well ſtudied and improved now, in the clear Sunſhine of the Goſpel, as they were in thoſe days by him. And that we may make ſome uſe of the words,
Obſerve. 1. The Connexion of this with the former Evidence, intimated by the particle for, or, and may teach,
1. Men who boaſt of their integrity before men, had need to be ſure of the grounds upon which they go, and that they will hold before God; For, Job confirms the former evidence of his integrity, wherein he deſires his cauſe were made known to all ages, by this other other evidence that he is ſure his Redeemer liveth. It is eaſie to delude men, but God will not be mocked, and it is full of danger to be deluded, as to his approbation.
2. Men who are ſure of an Intereſt in Chriſt, and have a ſure hope of a ſentence of Abſolution from him in the laſt day, need not fear any partial Judge on earth, nor be troubled with miſconſtructions and prejudices from men; For, Job bottoms his deſire and confidence, as to men, on this, For I know my Redeemer liveth.
Obſ. 2. While Job bottoms the teſtimony of his Integrity and good Conſcience upon his ſure Intereſt in a Redeemer, and his knowledge thereof, I know my Redeemer, &c. It teacheth,
1. Man is faln into a condition of ſin and miſery, and it was known by the godly of old that it was ſo; For, then there was word of a Redeemer of men, which preſuppoſeth their bondage.
2. There is a Redeemer appointed (and but only one) to deliver man from this bondage; by whom God doth recover and ſet free his own Elect, who had ſold and alienated themſelves, as of old the Jews did ſell and mortgage their Inheritances. This great truth, wherein the Wiſdom and Mercy of God ſhine to admiration, was known alſo by Job, long before the days of the Goſpel, who ſpeaks of the Redeemer here, or, of him who, by vertue of ſome Title, had right to redeem the people of God; as the Name in the Original doth ſignifie one that, by being a Kinſman, hath right to redeem, and therefore it is given afterward to the Kinſmen of the impoveriſhed Jews, who had right to redeem their Lands and Houſes.
3. It is a Truth of eternal Verity, that none of Adam's faln Poſterity can prove their own integrity before God, but in a Redeemer; So that only that man is righteous and ſincere before God who; being humbled under the ſenſe of his miſery and bondage, doth flee to a Redeemer for pardon and reconciliation, and for grace to enable him to walk uprightly: For, thus doth Job prove his integrity, and cleareth in what ſenſe he maintains his own righteouſneſs in this debate, by ſhewing that he laid claim to a Redeemer.
4. Albeit, when a man is convinced of his own ſinfulneſs, his fleeing unto, and recumbency upon, Chriſt upon all hazards, be ſufficient to clear his good condition: Yet, the full comfort of it depends upon a particular aſſurance of his intereſt, which is attainable, and ſhould be ſtudied after: For, Job here attains to call him, My Redeemer.
Obſ. 3. Job here profeſſeth not only an intereſt in this Redeemer, but his knowledge of him, what he is, and inſtanceth it in ſeveral particulars; Which teacheth; That to know our Redeemer well (in his Godhead, his humanity, and likeneſs to us in all things except ſin, his offices, his ſucceſſes againſt his and out Enemies, &c.) is a ſpecial mean to clear our intereſt in him, by looſing all doubts about it; and to draw out the comforts that flow from this intereſt. See Pſal. 9.10 Hoſ. 11.8, 9. 2 Tim 1.12.
Obſ. 4. The Name, Redeemer, in the Original, ſignifieth, (as hath been hinted) a Kinſman, or, one who, upon a Title of Kindred, hath a right to redeem his Brother, or Friend, or any thing that pertained to him. Hence it is the Name frequently given to ſuch a one in the Judicial Laws of Moſes. See Lev. 25.25. Ruth Chap. 3. & 4. and elſewhere. It teacheth,
1. It was known of old, that the Redemer of ſinners (as he even then lived, being the Eternal God, ſo) in the fulneſs of time ſhould become Man, and their Kinſman, that he might redeem them; ſo much doth his very Name here import, as alſo his Name Immanuel, God with us, or, in our nature, Iſa. 7.14. This is held out in that Promiſe in the Garden, Gen 3.15. and in the Churches deſire to ſee that day, Cant. 8.1.
2. The confidence of the godly, even before the Redeemers Incarnation, was fixed upon him as to be incarnate, for their Redemption and Comfort; For, here Job looks upon him, and cloſeth with him, as the Kinſman having right to redeem: Thus was he made uſe of as the Lamb ſlain, from the very foundation of the world, or from that very day wherein Adam firſt heard of the Promiſe of the Seed of the Woman, Rev. 13.8. And the eyes of Believers were upon that day, wherein he ſhould come in the fleſh, to pay the price, Luke 10.23, 24 Job 8 56. This may point out the infinite fulneſs of Chriſt, who is the joy of all ages, even of thoſe who lived before he came; may ſhew us how ſure a bargain that it which is made betwixt the Father and him, in that it was uſeful and effectual to ſave ſinners, even before he ſaid down the price; and the practice of thoſe Believers of old may make us aſhamed, if we eſteem not highly of him.
3. The knowledge of the Redeemer as our Kinſman, and fleſh of our fleſh, is the notable encouragement of Believers, and help to their faith; For, here it upholds and refreſheth Job, that he is ſuch a one. For,
1. This clears up the admirable condeſcendence and love of God the Father and his Son Chriſt (far above what ſhined in the type of the Temple, which yet raviſhed fouls, 2 Chron. 6.18.) in that ſuch a gift is given to ſinners, Iſa. 9.6. Joh. 3.16. Rom. 8.32. and that he would come to us, who could not go to him, and would be made like us in all things, without ſin, that we might be made like to him.
2. This is the ſure foundation and pledge of the Reconciliation to be made betwixt God and Man through him, in that ſuch an union is made betwixt God and Man in his Perſon. That he is Immanuel, ſecures the Church, that it cannot be ruined (And therefore his Incarnation is given as a ſign that the Church ſhall be preſerved) Iſa. 7.14. and ſecureth Salvation to ſinners, Mat. 1.21.22, 23.
3. This aſſures us that he is a fit party to undertake our debt, as having right to redeem us, being of the ſame nature with us, as well as he hath power to do it as he is God.
4. All his fulneſs as God, is treaſured up in our fleſh, in him who is a Kinſman, who hath taken our nature and ſinleſs infirmities, who is acquainted with our diſtreſſes, and with ſorrows and griefs.
5. Hereby Believers are aſſured, that he will prove the neareſt friend to them of any; will own them, though all forſake them; will faithfully keep their counſels, when they pour out their grievances in his boſom; will ſympathize with them, and take ſhare in all their ſorrows, &c.
6. To all this may be added. That poor Believers are ennobled by having ſuch a Kinſman, who will own them, and make them Kings and Prieſts unto God, Rev 1 5, 6. All thoſe may let us ſee how ſweet and refreſhful this ſtudy of Chriſt may be to Believers.
Obſ. 5. He ſaith, he knoweth his Redeemer liveth; He lived even then (as he doth from everlaſting to everlaſting) as God; and he liveth alſo after his ſufferings as our Kinſman; For that this is alſo imported in what Job ſaith, may be gathered from what he ſubjoyns, as the conſequents of his living, that his Redeemer ſhall ſtand at the latter day upon the Earth, and that he ſhall ſet him in his fleſh, and with bodily eyes, v. 26. It teacheth,
1. It is the great comfort of Believers to know that their Redeemer and Kinſman is God alſo; As here he was known to live before his Incarnation, and he is called God, v. 26. whom Job expected to ſee with bodily eyes in his Humane Nature. Hereby, they ſee their treaſure in him is infinite. They ſee all thoſe ſufferings he endured to be of infinite value, as being the ſufferings of him who is God, Act 20.28. They ſee all that pity, and bowels of compaſſion that are in him, not to be a mans, or our Kinſmans only, (for ſo they might be exhauſted) but to be his who is Infinite and Unchangeable God.
2. It adds, in particular, to their comfort, that he is the living God, who liveth eternally; and ſo is able to give ſpiritual life to his people, when they are dead; to preſerve it, when it is given, and recover it when they loſe any degrees of it; and, who lives for ever, to make them eternally happy with himſelf.
3. It may yet further comfort Believers, That, however their Redeemer behoved once to die; yet, not only was he ſtill alive as God, but after all his ſufferings, he is alive as Man; For, in this reſpect alſo doth Job comfort himſelf, that his Redeemer liveth. And it is comfortable that not only was he to out-live all his ſufferings, even death it ſelf, by which he could not be held; but that he is alive to be Executor of his own Teſtament, and to apply his own Purchaſe, Heb. 7.25. that he hath triumphed over death, Rev. 1.18. and, by his living again, hath aſſured his people, that their debt, which he undertook, is diſcharged, Rom. 4 25.
Obſ. 6. Job adds further, That he knoweth his Redeemer ſhall ſtand at the latter day upon the earth, The Original may alſo be read thus, He ſhall ſtand laſt upon the Earth. Both thoſe readings may be joyned, as they will be both verified in Chriſt at the laſt day, when He ſhall ſtand laſt upon the earth, or, duſt, as a Conquerour in the place of Battle, after he hath foiled all his Enemies; and ſhall alſo ſtand on, or, over the earth (as the word alſo will bear) in the clouds, when he cometh to judge the world. Both thoſe being joyned together, do teach,
2. The Redeemer of ſinners did undertake all his Peoples Enemies, as his own; As is here preſuppoſed in his triumphing over them. We ſhould ſend all our Enemies to the right Party, who only is able to grapple with them, who hath ſatisfied all that can be craved in juſtice, and who declined none of theſe Enemies; ſo that they have themſelves to blame if they got not ſatisfaction in him, and ſince he hath eſcaped them, they cannot be heard to purſue any of thoſe who ſerve themſelves Heirs to his Conqueſt.
2. Our Redeemer will out-live all the oppoſition of all his Enemies, and will ſtand laſt in the field, when he ſhall deſtroy the laſt Enemy, Death. 1 Cor. 15.25, 26. and ſhall bring all his Enemies, who would not ſuffer him to reign over them, and ſlay them before him, Luke 19.27. Believers need not fear the long continuance of Enemies, nor that one Enemy riſeth up after another; For Chriſt will out-live and triumph over them all.
3. When all thoſe Enemies are deſtroyed, then time will have an end; and the General Judgment will come; For, when he thus ſtands laſt, then it will be the latter day, or, the laſt, of time, 1 Cor. 15.24, 25, 26. This was a truth known and believed in the very infancy of the Church, as appears from Enoch's Propheſie, recorded, Jude v. 14, 15.
4. The Redeemer of Sinners will be their Judge at the laſt day; For, He ſhall ſtand over the Earth; which, as it will be terrible to the wicked, who ſhall then be forced to ſee him whom they ſtill declined to own; So, it may comfort all thoſe who have made their peace with him, and with God through him, in time.
5. Our Redeemer will teſtifie his love to his People, by coming to Earth again to fetch them, as he came at firſt to redeem them; For, he ſhall in that day, ſtand again upon, or, over the Earth, for this end. See John 14.2, 3.