Job 19 "MY REDEEMER" There was no question in Job's mind that Eliphaz's lofty opinion of himself and his wisdom of experience, or Bildad's angry challenge to him to submit to his legal traditions, were wrong. However, in some ways Job was wrong in stooping to their level in his attitude, his understanding of God and the cause of his suffering. He was deeply hurt by the harsh judgment of Bildad against him. Instead of understanding and pity, he was condemned by those who he hoped would help him. To Bildad he was considered a wicked hypocrite. Consequently, his supposed friends were breaking down his defense. The more they talked, the more distant and alienated they were from Job.
Job himself thought that because they were wrong, he was right. Sometimes when accusations come, the worst thing you can do is try to defend yourself against those whose opinions are entrenched. They usually pay no heed to what you say because their minds are made up, and they do not want to be confused by the facts. A saying that is quite well stated is, "Your friends know you don't need any explanation, and your enemies won't believe you anyway."
It is best to remain silent when falsely accused, even though you are unfairly condemned without any evidence. When that happens, just quietly listen and say nothing in return. Then show the person to the door and leave the whole matter with the Lord. If He chooses to expose the falsehood, that is His prerogative. If it is His will to allow the false charges to remain unchallenged by others, quietly say to yourself and others who may ask questions of you about the accusation, "The will of the Lord be done."
It is easy to point out someone else's faults or sins. Job's friends did that to him to make him feel guilty rather than to correct or encourage him. If we ever have to go and comfort someone, do so with love, grace, empathy and sincerity. Not because he or she has annoyed us or caused us some inconvenience. Spiritual pride is just as bad as any other kind of pride. We must be careful to guard our minds lest we allow ourselves to think a person is getting what they deserve when they suffer. God permitted Satan to attack Job although Job did not know that, but God is not responsible for allowing wickedness. He does not devise evil. He does not tempt people to do evil. When He allows something out of the ordinary to happen that may seem to us to be negative in its results, we need to remember He is holy in every way. For reasons of testimony, maturity and the developing of faith, things happen to believers that often cannot be explained. So, we need to trust our sovereign God's who we know loves and cares for His own people.
Job felt isolated as he mourned his condition and sense of abandonment. He was blind to some of his own faults, one of which was he thought God was treating him as an enemy. Because he didn't get an immediate answer, he thought God didn't care. Bildad said Job had walked into a trap of his own making, but Job was sure God had done what had happened to him, but had not explained why to Job. His charge against his friends was that they were defending injustice.
There are not many things more painful than rejection by one's family and close friends. Job lists those who were estranged from him, considered him a stranger and an alien. Even those who worked for him wouldn't answer when he called them. His wife didn't want to be near him. Children mocked him instead of honoring him. There are some people who avoid going to see and comfort someone who is suffering because they don't like hospital, old people's homes, or can't stand being around one who has pain and suffering. That unsympathetic attitude is evident in one who is the center of their own life and is controlled with a "me first" attitude.
The phrases "skin and bones," and "the skin of my teeth," came into our language to describe sickness or a close call with death. It is then Job asks again fro some pity from his friends in a plaintive plea for some help and understanding. It is in this context that Job realizes that help will not come from them and is able to gather some strength and hope in his great declaration of faith. "I know that my Redeemer liveth..." comes from his understanding of the reality of the resurrection. He was nearing death and wanted to die to get away from his suffering and troubles. There was no comfort he could find from the past or present, so he looked into the future.
Faith often shines brightest at the darkest times. Even though Job was unaware that it was Satan who was bringing all of his loss upon him, and he thought it was God, yet his faith in God was intact. "I know" - positive assurance; "my Redeemer" - personal knowledge; "liveth" - practical reality. His confidence was still that God was on his side, even though the present circumstances he was passing through made him think God was against him for some unknown reason. His positive belief in the resurrection of the dead was so strong that he was one of the first in the scriptures to speak about the resurrection of the body.
People who have put their faith in God down through the ages right to this present day, have this same assurance in common. No matter how severe the opposition, suffering or injustice God's people may have to go through in their lives on earth, justice will prevail at the resurrection. Bodies of believers may have disintegrated into dust, but the believer who leaves his or her body is immediately in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ. The Redeemer is coming for His own people at the rapture and bodies, souls, and spirits will again be one visible person. Those who have died in Christ will have resurrected bodies made to last forever like that of our Lord.
The light of truth and faith in the middle of all the debate going on, seemed to give Job some relief from all the tension he was going through. Even so, he didn't seem able to maintain this positive view of himself and God. He then turns to the three men who have spoken against him, and he speaks against their accusations to challenge them to look at themselves in view of coming judgment.