Job’s Faith His Redeemer Lives

In II Timothy 1:12, Paul expresses confidence in God and His promises, despite being imprisoned in Rome. In Hebrews 5, Jesus is portrayed as our priest in that He mediates for us and He atones for us. The term “redeemer” is used over twenty times in scripture, and all but one instance of the word refers to God or the Messiah. We have access to God through Jesus.

Job 19:25 provides inspiration for the song “I Know That My Redeemer Lives,” and, in the subsequent verses, Job expresses hope that He will see God one day. Remember what Job had gone through at this point, having lost his health, his possessions, the support of his family and friends. In all of this, he is confident, for he knows his own heart. He knows God’s justice, and he knows God provides access to Himself.

Mediator, Advocate, and Redeemer

In Job 9, Job is giving answer to one of his friends’ accusations, and verses 32-33 express Job’s frustrations that he cannot converse with God as with a fellow man, that there is no individual who will mediate between God and man. Job recognizes the need for one who can understand both mortal and divine perspectives.

I Timothy 2:5 describes the one mediator between God and man as Christ – both man and king. Jesus can understand a human perspective and act with divine authority. Hebrews 2:9-18 describes Jesus’ role in being made lower than angels, to be like us and undergo the same trials we suffer. Philippians 2:6-9 describes how Jesus emptied Himself, obedient to death, and is exalted by God. These scriptures and more give us hope in Christ’s role as our mediator.

Job 16 records Job answering a second friend, and, in verse 19, Job speaks of a witness in Heaven who testifies on his behalf. He asks for an advocate before the Father. I John 2:1-2 reminds us that, when we fall into sin, Jesus acts as our advocate. He is our divine representation before our Creator.

Returning to Job 19:25, Job expresses confidence in a Redeemer who is alive and will be alive at the end, whom Job will see with his own eyes. Titus 2:11-14 calls upon us to watch for Christ’s appearing, having given Himself up to redeem us. We have a Redeemer we can hope to see when He comes for us. I Peter 1:13-19 describes our Savior whom we wait for, who paid for us with an incorruptible price.

Conclusion

Job 33:23-24 records Elihu expressing hope in a messenger from God who will give ransom for man, and Isaiah 61:1 refers to God’s messenger who will free man from captivity. Jesus applies this passage to Himself. Luke 8:32-33 records Jesus that He has come to set His followers free from sin.

Job looks beyond the things of this life – his reputation, his possessions, his friends and family – for purpose. He holds to the idea of his redemption. Likewise, our lives may be far from perfect, but Christ has come to sanctify us and redeem us. We have hope in Him, and like Job, we can cling to that hope regardless of worldly circumstances around us. We know in Whom we believe.

lesson by Tim Smelser