Job 19 Commentary
Chapter 19 is home to an important poster verse: “I know that my redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand on the earth.”
This statement comes from a man who has lost all. He has suffered rejection, scorn, and ridicule. Job’s skin disease meant isolation and general rejection. He didn’t belong to the world of the normal and the righteous. Having lived the life of the rich, and though humble and generous, people must have still poured scorn on his face.
A socially isolated Job is now talking to his three friends who have gathered to provide comfort in his moment of great pain and suffering. But his friends are nothing but a source of more pain. The world is up against him. All have left and deserted him, including his very closest family. And he has no material support from his wealth. It is all gone.
The isolation is extreme and complete. Yet it is in this moment of utter hopelessness that Job would declare: “I know that my redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand on the earth.”
Job’s redeemer would stand on the earth as Judge. Job’s physical self would see the righteous and just God of Creation. It is for this very reason that Job’s friends should be concerned for their own individual destinies. They too would be judged. Have they lived righteously before the Creator God?
In the first section of this chapter, Job laments the heavy hand of the LORD over his life. But he hasn’t cursed the LORD because of it. Instead, as we have seen in the second section, Job has declared that his redeemer lives and that at an appropriate time, he would stand to judge the earth. Let this be the saint’s faith.
Has the healing failed? Has the economy failed you, despite your very best efforts? Has the world of the living deserted you, dumped and scorned your affection? Be it as it may, let the saint know that his redeemer is still on the throne. And that in the end, he will stand on the earth.
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