"I KNOW THAT MY REDEEMER LIVETH!"

"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

Pastor Don Fortner
Grace Baptist Church of Danville
2734 Old Stanford Road
Danville, Kentucky 40422-9438

At last, Job had enough. I imagine he was boiling with indignation. Even the patience of Job has its limits. His heart was heavy. His soul was troubled. Under the afflictions of his Father's rod, he simply could not bear the insults of his pretentious friends any longer. Therefore, he plainly informed them of that which he knew by experience in his soul, which they could never take from him. Even in his poverty, pain, and perplexity, Job knew more and possessed more than his "friends" could imagine.

ONE TRUE FRIEND

Job had one true friend in the midst of many cruel friends. All earthly friends are conditional friends. The very best of them will, in time, bring sorrow to your soul. But "there is a Friend that sticketh closer than a brother." That Friend is Jesus Christ, the Lord.

REAL PROPERTY

Job found real property in the presence of absolute poverty. Job uses the word "my" to speak of his personal interest and property in the Son of God. Blessed is the man who can, with honesty and confidence, call Christ, "my Redeemer."

LIVING KINSMAN

Job had a living Kinsman in the presence of a dying family. In order to be our Redeemer, Christ, God the eternal Son, became our Kinsman, Immanuel, God in human flesh. And Christ Jesus is never ashamed to own his brethren. Even when they had all forsaken him, he called his disciples "my brethren".

ABSOLUTE KNOWLEDGE

Job possessed absolute knowledge in the face of great uncertainty. "I know," he said. His faith made him certain. Invisible things, revealed by God, are certainly known by those to whom they are revealed, by those who are granted faith to believe God (Heb. 11:1-3). Faith is not speculative knowledge, but certain knowledge.

SURE HOPE

Job had a sure hope in the face of utter hopelessness. He lived, even in those early days, in the hope of Christ's second advent. He had hope of eternal acceptance with God. And he hoped for the resurrection of his body. The basis of his hope was the finished work of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God,. his Redeemer. His redemption was finished, even before the world began, for his living Redeemer is the Lamb of God, slain from the foundation of the world.

AMEN.