Have you ever felt so utterly alone, as if the world had turned against you, and there was no one left to comfort or understand your pain?
Imagine the depths of despair and suffering, and yet, within that darkness, a glimmer of faith and hope emerges. This is the essence of Job’s remarkable story, particularly in Job 19.
Before delving into Job 19, let’s briefly recap the preceding chapters of Job.
Job, a righteous man, faced a series of devastating trials, including the loss of his wealth, health, and children. In his suffering, Job’s friends came to offer comfort but ended up accusing him of hidden sin as the cause of his afflictions. Despite this, Job has maintained his faith in God while wrestling with the questions of suffering and justice. In this chapter, we witness Job’s unwavering hope in the midst of his suffering.
(Summarized and continued after the scripture)
Job Feels Insulted
1Then Job responded,
2“How long will you torment me
And crush me with words?
3“These ten times you have insulted me;
You are not ashamed to wrong me.
4“Even if I have truly erred,
My error lodges with me.
5“If indeed you vaunt yourselves against me
And prove my disgrace to me,
6Know then that God has wronged me
And has closed His net around me.
Everything Is against Him
7“Behold, I cry, ‘Violence!’ but I get no answer;
I shout for help, but there is no justice.
8“He has walled up my way so that I cannot pass,
And He has put darkness on my paths.
9“He has stripped my honor from me
And removed the crown from my head.
10“He breaks me down on every side, and I am gone;
And He has uprooted my hope like a tree.
11“He has also kindled His anger against me
And considered me as His enemy.
12“His troops come together,
And build up their way against me
And camp around my tent.
13“He has removed my brothers far from me,
And my acquaintances are completely estranged from me.
14“My relatives have failed,
And my intimate friends have forgotten me.
15“Those who live in my house and my maids consider me a stranger.
I am a foreigner in their sight.
16“I call to my servant, but he does not answer;
I have to implore him with my mouth.
17“My breath is offensive to my wife,
And I am loathsome to my own brothers.
18“Even young children despise me;
I rise up and they speak against me.
19“All my associates abhor me,
And those I love have turned against me.
20“My bone clings to my skin and my flesh,
And I have escaped only by the skin of my teeth.
21“Pity me, pity me, O you my friends,
For the hand of God has struck me.
22“Why do you persecute me as God does,
And are not satisfied with my flesh?
Job Says, “My Redeemer Lives”
23“Oh that my words were written!
Oh that they were inscribed in a book!
24“That with an iron stylus and lead
They were engraved in the rock forever!
25“As for me, I know that my Redeemer lives,
And at the last He will take His stand on the earth.
26“Even after my skin is destroyed,
Yet from my flesh I shall see God;
27Whom I myself shall behold,
And whom my eyes will see and not another.
My heart faints within me!
28“If you say, ‘How shall we persecute him?’
And ‘What pretext for a case against him can we find?’
29“Then be afraid of the sword for yourselves,
For wrath brings the punishment of the sword,
So that you may know there is judgment.”
Summary Key Points:
- Job’s Profound Suffering: Job’s afflictions have reached an unbearable point. He is physically and emotionally tormented, covered in painful sores, and surrounded by friends who misunderstand and accuse him.
- A Cry for a Redeemer: Despite his anguish, Job clings to a glimmer of hope—a hope in a Redeemer who will vindicate him. In the midst of despair, he expresses an unwavering belief that his Redeemer lives and will one day stand upon the earth.
- Resilience in Faith: Job’s story teaches us the power of resilience in faith. Even when life’s circumstances seem utterly bleak, when it appears that God has turned against us, we can still hold on to the hope of redemption and restoration.
- The Promise of Restoration: Job’s cry for a Redeemer foreshadows the ultimate redemption we find in Jesus Christ. In Christ, we have a Redeemer who not only vindicates us but also offers us salvation and eternal life.
As we contemplate Job’s remarkable faith amid suffering, let us consider our own trials and tribulations. Are there moments in our lives when we, like Job, feel abandoned and afflicted? Take comfort in knowing that our Redeemer, Jesus Christ, is alive and present in our struggles.
Let us pray:
Dear Heavenly Father, in our moments of despair and suffering, we thank you for the hope we find in Jesus Christ, our Redeemer. Just as Job clung to the belief in his Redeemer, help us to hold on to the assurance of salvation and restoration through Christ. Strengthen our faith and grant us resilience in the face of adversity. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.
Discussion and Comment: Have you ever experienced a moment of deep suffering where your faith was tested? How did you find hope and resilience during that time? Share your thoughts, engage in meaningful discussions with others, and leave your comments below.
May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you.
John Golda
Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.