Job 19 Commentary

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 means isolation and general rejection. He hasn’t belonged to the world of the normal and the righteous.

A socially isolated Job is now talking to his three friends who have gathered to provide comfort in his moment of great need. 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.”

Call it hope! Call it faith!

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.

Job’s pain and suffering don’t constitute judgment, as the friends have maintained. But there is judgment in the “end”, as Job expects. It’s judgment for everyone.

Job is right. The hand of the LORD is behind his suffering. But the three friends are also right, as they also hold the same conclusion. Yet their conclusion is wrongly premised on the assumption that Job has sinned.

Based on their assumption and simple equation, they, too, should be scared of the same “judgment”. They are no better than Job! But Job hasn’t believed this simple equation for life. He knows his redeemer lives!

He may not have answered, but He lives. He takes note of everything happening. Indeed, every statement made reaches the highest office in its raw form – as coming from a man’s heart.   

Has the healing failed? Has the economy failed you? 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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