Living God
Opening Prayer
Kind Father, help me to realize where my true resources are today in Your Word.
Read JOB 19:1-29
[1] Then Job replied: [2] “How long will you torment me and crush me with words? [3] Ten times now you have reproached me; shamelessly you attack me. [4] If it is true that I have gone astray, my error remains my concern alone. [5] If indeed you would exalt yourselves above me and use my humiliation against me, [6] then know that God has wronged me and drawn his net around me. [7] “Though I cry, ‘Violence!’ I get no response; though I call for help, there is no justice. [8] He has blocked my way so I cannot pass; he has shrouded my paths in darkness. [9] He has stripped me of my honor and removed the crown from my head. [10] He tears me down on every side till I am gone; he uproots my hope like a tree. [11] His anger burns against me; he counts me among his enemies. [12] His troops advance in force; they build a siege ramp against me and encamp around my tent. [13] “He has alienated my family from me; my acquaintances are completely estranged from me. [14] My relatives have gone away; my closest friends have forgotten me. [15] My guests and my female servants count me a foreigner; they look on me as on a stranger. [16] I summon my servant, but he does not answer, though I beg him with my own mouth. [17] My breath is offensive to my wife; I am loathsome to my own family. [18] Even the little boys scorn me; when I appear, they ridicule me. [19] All my intimate friends detest me; those I love have turned against me. [20] I am nothing but skin and bones; I have escaped only by the skin of my teeth. [21] “Have pity on me, my friends, have pity, for the hand of God has struck me. [22] Why do you pursue me as God does? Will you never get enough of my flesh? [23] “Oh, that my words were recorded, that they were written on a scroll, [24] that they were inscribed with an iron tool on lead, or engraved in rock forever! [25] I know that my redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand on the earth. [26] And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God; [27] I myself will see him with my own eyes-I, and not another. How my heart yearns within me! [28] “If you say, ‘How we will hound him, since the root of the trouble lies in him,’ [29] you should fear the sword yourselves; for wrath will bring punishment by the sword, and then you will know that there is judgment.” Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. All rights reserved throughout the world. Used by permission of International Bible Society.
Reflect
What wonderful confidence does Job express here?Job is now at rock bottom. Sometimes this is a good place to be. When I come to the end of my resources, God can take over. Job had just faced an angry Bildad (ch. 18) who tried to frighten Job into repentance. He described in graphic detail the terrors of dying without God.
Job continues to blame God for his situation (7-12). He had become a social outcast (13-20); his family rejected him. But then Job had a sudden revelation of the living God. He longed that his words would be recorded (23,24), and we are reading them now! He had the promise of a redeemer. The God of Israel was revealing himself to Job in a new way. Job now has the assurance that this God will raise his people to new life individually.
We will have a bodily resurrection, with all the blessings that go with it. God became a man so he could bring us back into his family. Look at v. 25b—surely we may read this as a reference to Jesus coming again. Such a revelation made Job stronger; strong enough to give his friends a warning (28,29).
Apply
What does it mean for you today that Jesus is alive and that he will return and give you a new body one day?
Closing prayer
Lord, I marvel at all You’ve done for me and I pray that it will make a difference that everyone around me can see.
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