Redeemer

"Oh, sweet the joy this sentence gives: 'I know that my Redeemer lives!'" (Thomas S. Monson).

Our thoughts for this week come from Job's second response to Bildad. In Job, the book's namesake feels God is against him. He thinks this way because of his suffering, which, he assumes, is coming from God. Job also believes everyone is either against him or has abandoned him. He appeals to his friends to no longer try to prove his wickedness but rather to encourage him.

In verses 25-27, Job makes a great confession. Verse 25 contains parallelism that most English translations do not pick up. The phrase "at the last" is not adverbial, giving us the "when" of the Redeemer's standing. It is an adjectival phrase describing the "redeemer." This individual is a future person. His "stand on the earth" literally translated would be "arise over the dust." "Dust" is metaphoric for human mortality. Rising over the dust would mean triumphing over death.

By the way, this is in direct refutation of the Near Eastern ideas of the afterlife. The Egyptians would remove necessary organs and preserve them in jars. They preserved skin by mummification. They thought you must have a proper funeral cult, and then, and only then, could you live on in the realm of the dead. 

Job is saying that after his skin has completely gone, he will still see God! For now, the Redeemer will stand between him and the Lord. Job is thinking of some other figure, someone who has yet to appear on the scene.

Maybe you have had days similar to Job in that you feel abandoned. Perhaps it is because of a diagnosis, the death of a loved one, financial problems, relationship troubles, or some other affliction we must suffer through in this world. But, just like Job, we can find encouragement, peace, and even joy in the fact that our Redeemer lives, that He stands between us and God, and that He loves us. Knowing our Redeemer lives helps assure us that death is not the end. If we follow a risen Redeemer, we, too, shall live for eternity! I love you, and God does too!

Corey Sawyers is the preaching minister for the Martin Church of Christ and an adjunct instructor for Bear Valley Bible Institute. He is Melody's husband and Daddy to Garrett (and Bailey), Gordon (and Lauren), and Gannon. We are studying the hope we have in the end because of our Redeemer this Sunday. If you are looking for hope, we would love to see you at the Martin Church of Christ!