DAILY READING : JOB 17 - 20

 

TEXT : Job 19:23  Oh that my words were now written! oh that they were printed in a book! Job 19:24  That they were graven with an iron pen and lead in the rock for ever! Job 19:25  For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: Job 19:26  And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God: Job 19:27  Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me.

 

THEME : THE LAST DAYS

 

As we read in Job chapter 17 when Job refers to his confidence in his "change," we now see a more full reference to the resurrection of Job, of Christ, and of the last days when Christ shall judge the world. We also see the hope of an Old Testament saint [Job] that even though his body is decaying in a grave, he will be restored in his flesh to see God. These verses in chapter 19:23 - 27, are perhaps the clearest in all the Old Testament concerning the resurrection of the dead. Job's words match the statement of Daniel in chapter 12. [ Dan 12:2  And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. Dan 12:3  And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.] Both Job and Daniel's prophecies tell us of the hope of the Christian and the fear of the those who have shunned Christ. All men and women shall be resurrected. Some will go to Heaven, and others to Hell. The decision is Man's to make. Accept the narrow path of Christ that leads to eternal life, or stay on the wide path that leads to eternal destruction.

 

The role of Christ in giving us this hope, is that He [God] came in the flesh, and among His many functions as the Son of Man, He became our kinsman redeemer. That means, as our "brother" in the flesh, He has the right to redeem us from our debt [sin] and its penalty [death]. Christ as kinsman redeemer has the legal right and responsibility under the Law to redeem His own.

 

"For - This is the reason of his confidence in the goodness of his cause, and his willingness to have the matter depending between him and his friends, published and submitted to any trial, because he had a living and powerful Redeemer to plead his cause, and to give sentence for him. My Redeemer - In whom I have a particular interest. The word Goel, here used; properly agrees to Jesus Christ: for this word is primarily used of the next kinsman, whose office it was to redeem by a price paid, the sold or mortgaged estate of his deceased kinsman; to revenge his death, and to maintain his name and honour, by raising up seed to him. All which more fitly agrees to Christ, who is our nearest kinsman and brother, as having taken our nature upon him; who hath redeemed that everlasting inheritance which our first parents had utterly lost, by the price of his own blood; and hath revenged the death of mankind upon the great contriver of it, the devil, by destroying him and his kingdom; and hath taken a course to preserve our name, and honour, and persons, to eternity. And it is well observed, that after these expressions, we meet not with such impatient or despairing passages, as we had before; which shews that they had inspired him with new life and comfort. Latter day - At the day of the general resurrection and judgment, which, as those holy patriarchs well knew and firmly believed, was to be at the end of the world. The earth - The place upon which Christ shall appear and stand at the last day. Heb. upon the dust; in which his saints and members lie or sleep, whom he will raise out of it. And therefore he is fitly said to stand upon the dust, or the grave, or death; because then he will put that among other enemies under his feet." [JOHN WESLEY]

 

The Bible is an inspired Book. That is, God breathed on the 40 authors guiding them what to write. It seems odd that Job would write about his words being put in a book, because they were - or, at least we can see that are put down in a book. Yet, Job's words are not put in just any book, but in the Book of Books - the Bible. Thus, the Spirit of God leads Job to write about the resurrection of Christ, himself [all saints], and of Christ's "standing" on the earth in the latter [last] day[s]. Before Christ came, Satan had the keys of Hell an death. These were granted to him when Man followed him in his rebellion against God. Thus, Man's leader [god] to this day is Satan.

 

Eph 2:2  Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: Eph 2:3  Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.

 

Luk 4:5  And the devil, taking him up into an high mountain, shewed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. Luk 4:6  And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it. Luk 4:7  If thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be thine.

 

Rev 20:10  And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.

 

"The Spirit of God, at this time, seems to have powerfully wrought on the mind of Job. Here he witnessed a good confession; declared the soundness of his faith, and the assurance of his hope. Here is much of Christ and heaven; and he that said such things are these, declared plainly that he sought the better country, that is, the heavenly. Job was taught of God to believe in a living Redeemer; to look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come; he comforted himself with the expectation of these. Job was assured, that this Redeemer of sinners from the yoke of Satan and the condemnation of sin, was his Redeemer, and expected salvation through him; and that he was a living Redeemer, though not yet come in the flesh; and that at the last day he would appear as the Judge of the world, to raise the dead, and complete the redemption of his people. With what pleasure holy Job enlarges upon this! May these faithful sayings be engraved by the Holy Spirit upon our hearts. We are all concerned to see that the root of the matter be in us. A living, quickening, commanding principle of grace in the heart, is the root of the matter; as necessary to our religion as the root of the tree, to which it owes both its fixedness and its fruitfulness. Job and his friends differed concerning the methods of Providence, but they agreed in the root of the matter, the belief of another world." [MATTHEW HENRY]

 

Jesus is the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last. Alpha and Omega are the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet in which the New Testament is written. Thus, Christ as Alpha and Omega answers to Him being the start, the finish, and everything that lies in between [i.e. human history] just like the alphabet. Christ is in control of history and tells us what the outcome will be; namely - a resurrection of the just and unjust, the destruction of Satan's kingdom and the kingdoms of this world, and the establishment of His kingdom that will have no end.

 

Rev_11:15  And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.

 

Isa_9:7  Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.

 

Luk_1:33  And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.

 

Dan 2:44  And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever. Dan 2:45  Forasmuch as thou sawest that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it brake in pieces the iron, the brass, the clay, the silver, and the gold; the great God hath made known to the king what shall come to pass hereafter: and the dream is certain, and the interpretation thereof sure.

 

Dan 7:9  I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire. Dan 7:10  A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened. Dan 7:11  I beheld then because of the voice of the great words which the horn spake: I beheld even till the beast was slain, and his body destroyed, and given to the burning flame. Dan 7:12  As concerning the rest of the beasts, they had their dominion taken away: yet their lives were prolonged for a season and time. Dan 7:13  I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. Dan 7:14  And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.

 

"at the latter day — Rather, "the Last," the peculiar title of Jesus Christ, though Job may not have known the pregnancy of his own inspired words, and may have understood merely one that comes after (1Co_15:45; Rev_1:17). Jesus Christ is the last. The day of Jesus Christ the last day (Joh_6:39).stand — rather, "arise": as God is said to "raise up" the Messiah (Jer_23:5; Deu_18:15).

 

earth — rather, "dust": often associated with the body crumbling away in it (Job_7:21; Job_17:16); therefore appropriately here. Above that very dust wherewith was mingled man's decaying body shall man's Vindicator arise. "Arise above the dust," strikingly expresses that fact that Jesus Christ arose first Himself above the dust, and then is to raise His people above it (1Co_15:20, 1Co_15:23). The Spirit intended in Job's words more than Job fully understood (1Pe_1:12). Though He seems, in forsaking me, to be as one dead, He now truly "liveth" in heaven; hereafter He shall appear also above the dust of earth. The Goel or vindicator of blood was the nearest kinsman of the slain. So Jesus Christ took our flesh, to be our kinsman. Man lost life by Satan the "murderer" (Joh_8:44), here Job's persecutor (Heb_2:14). Compare also as to redemption of the inheritance by the kinsman of the dead (Rth_4:3-5; Eph_1:14)." [JAMESON, FAUSSET, AND BROWN]

 

TRUTH FOR TODAY : "CHRIST WILL RULE AND REIGN!"

 

As believers in the LORD Jesus Christ, we look forward to many things coming in the future. First, there is the resurrection of the body that will be untouched by sin and therefore endowed with eternal life as our spirit and soul are now. Never again will we die! We also look forward to living in a Kingdom where Christ is the Head, the King, the Ruler, the Eternal Governor.  We look ahead to the everlasting day where there is no sickness, disease, crime, sin, thefts, lies, murders, etc. as God Himself wipes all tears away! This is Christ's Kingdom that is [yet] to come.

 

We know Christ's kingdom will never be destroyed and will endu re for eternity. This is an occasion for as much joy as the fact that we too will endure and never die!

 

Luk 1:33  And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.

 

"for ever, and of his kingdom there shall be no end; referring to Isa_9:7 see also Dan_2:44 Dan_7:14 he shall reign in the hearts of his people here unto the end of the world; and with his saints a thousand years in the new heavens and new earth; and with them to all eternity, in the ultimate glory." [JOHN GILL]

 

"Of his kingdom there shall be no end - He shall reign among his people on earth until the end of time, and be their king forever in heaven. his is the only kingdom that shall never have an end; he the only King that shall never lay aside his diadem and robes, and that shall never di e. "He "the only King that can defend us from all our enemies, sustain us in death, and reward us in eternity. O how important, then, to have an interest in his kingdom! and how unimportant, compared with "his" favor, is the favor of all earthly monarchs!" [ALBERT BARNES]

 

Thus, we are comforted by the truth of Christ's rule and reign. Even more so, as we suffer many trials of our faith, persecutions, and afflictions. Still, the day is coming when Christ shall destroy all the kingdoms of this world that are against him, as well as the Devil [Satan] himself. Then, we shall rule and reign with Christ, once the nations are destroyed and Satan himself - their master and god.

 

"These verses are for the comfort and support of the people of God, in reference to the persecutions that would come upon them. Many New Testament predictions of the judgment to come, have plain allusion to this vision; especially Rev_20:11, Rev_20:12. The Messiah is here called the Son of man; he was made in the likeness of sinful flesh, and was found in fashion as a man, but he is the Son of God. The great event foretold in this passage, is Christ's glorious coming, to destroy every antichristian power, and to render his own kingdom universal upon earth. But ere the solemn time arrives, for manifesting the glory of God to all worlds in his dealings with his creatures, we may expect that the doom of each of us will be determined at the hour of our death; and before the end shall come, the Father will openly give to his incarnate Son, our Mediator and Judge, the inheritance of the nations as his willing subjects." [MATTHEW HENRY]

 

When Christ comes, He will not only come as King, but as the "King of Kings!" This is an expression to communicate His supreme authority. None is higher. None are mightier. None rule with more power, dominion, and sovereignty.

 

Rev 19:15  And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smit e the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.

 

Rev 19:16  And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.

 

"Of the various titles given to Christ in this passage this is the highest and marks him as supreme. There are four titles given in the passage: (1) in Rev_19:11; (2) Rev_19:12; (3) Rev_19:13, and (4) in Rev_19:16." [GILL]

 

We must remember when Christ comes, He will execute justice. In His first appearance, there was mercy. In His second, there will be no mercy - only a just retribution to all who opposed Him. The Antichrist and antichristian spirit was be judged most severely. The Lake of Fire, or Hell as we know it, will be the just punishment for those who refus ed to love God and love their neighbor. Remember, without love, we cannot know God.

 

1Jn_3:10  In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.

 

1Jn_3:14  We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.

 

1Jn_4:8  He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.

 

1Jn_4:20  If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?

 

"Christ, the glorious Head of the church, is described as on a white horse, the emblem of justice and holiness. He has many crowns, for he is King of kings, and Lord of lords. He is arrayed in a vesture dipped in his own blood, by which he purchased his power as Mediator; and in the blood of his enemies, over whom he always prevails. His name is "The Word of God;" a name none fully knows but himself; only this we know, that this Word was God manifest in the flesh; but his perfections cannot be fully understood by any creature. Angels and saints follow, and are like Christ in their armour of purity and righteousness. The threatenings of the written word he is going to execute on his enemies. The ensigns of his authority are his name; asserting his authority and power, warning the most powerful princes to submit, or they must fall before him. The powers of earth and hell make their utmost effort. These verses declare important events, foretold by the prophets. These persons were not excused because they did what their leaders bade them. How vain will be the plea of many sinners at the great day! We followed our guides; we did as we saw others do ! God has given a rule to walk by, in his word; neither the example of the most, nor of the chief, must influence us contrary thereto: if we do as the most do, we must go where the most go, even into the burning lake." [MATTHEW HENRY]

 

Therefore, let us dedicate ourselves to the service of the King of Kings, for Christ shall rule and reign!