Job 19:27

What an understanding of Christ in both His person and His work is here! It is the faith and hope of our gospel. Job knew he had a Redeemer. That Redeemer was living then, and would later stand upon the earth manifested in flesh. And Job knew this Redeemer would win for him a glorious victory over the power of death and the strength of corruption. And all this fine understanding of Christ comes with the simplest faith that takes it for itself. "Whom I shall see for myself," says Job, "and my eyes shall behold, and not another." This is the confidence of Paul. Paul and Job, in the same spirit, knew the glorious redemption, and knew it for themselves. "Who loved me, and gave Himself for me."

Does not Job speak here of seeing the Lord with his own eyes? And does that not call for a resurrection? He does not seem to have looked for the Redeemer to act for him in this present life. He looked for Him to act after his death — in a glorified body. So, as it has been beautifully put, "he plants the flag of victory upon his own grave."

How amazing that Job could say this! Only by divine revelation could he know it, for he recognised that though he was destroyed by death, yet in his flesh he would see God. This certainly means resurrection. Also, the only way he — or anyone — will see God is in the person of the Lord Jesus (John 1:18).

What a blessed hope! What a glorious outlook! No wonder that Job, aware of his present sufferings, adds, "My reins are consumed within me." Set such a glorious hope for the future beside the torture he had to bear in the present. The contrast was so great that he nearly fainted with longing for this unspeakable happiness. But after his restoration and recovery it is certain that he often strengthened himself with this hope.

This scripture is admittedly hard to translate exactly. Even so, the sense is plain enough. But we must remember two things — the meaning Job attached to his words, and the mind of the Spirit in them. It is quite possible that Job only thought of his deliverance from his present condition, his restoration and vindication. We do not say that it was so. But as the Holy Spirit used it, the language undoubtedly becomes a prophecy of the coming of Christ, and of the resurrection of His people.

Job looked forward, through the dim twilight, to something that was to be done in the far-off future. We look back, from the full flood-tide of divine revelation, to something that has been done.

Job knew he himself would be raised in the body should he die. He had no doubt or scepticism about resurrection. The worms might consume his flesh. He had no materialistic doubts about the power of God to raise him. He had no doubt that his eyes would really see his Redeemer. I don't think we, New Testament believers, can surpass Job's statement in its quiet assurance and magnificent faith.