I know that my redeemer lives
Job 19:25 - Studying God’s Word regularly helps to build your personal relationship with God and will provide you with strength and guidance when life gets tough.
Statue of Christ the Redeemer, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Photo © 2016, Steven Sande
“I know that my redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand on the earth.”
Job 19:25 NIV
God is fascinating in His choices for these random verses He wants me to study. After a long run of New Testament Epistles, He is pointing me to the Old Testament Book of Job.
This is a rather well-known verse, and the phrase “My Redeemer Lives” was used in a praise song by Reuben Morgan that was covered by many Christian singers. The verse is found in a response by Job to Bildad the Shuhite, one of the three “friends” who come to console Job in his misery, but end up accusing him of being an evil person. Their thought: why would God punish Job if he wasn’t evil?
Job, however, has rock steady faith in God. In the midst of his horrendous suffering, he retorts that “I know that my redeemer lives”. That “I know” testifies to his personal relationship with God, and emphasizes just how important it is to have faith and to know God, especially during life struggles.
In the time of Job, the term redeemer (גָּאַל or gā'al) referred to a kinsman-redeemer. This was a family member who would redeem or buy back a relative’s land if he fell on hard times and had to sell some property (see Leviticus 25:25 for details). Christ is the eternal redeemer, and here with the statement that “my redeemer lives” we see a prophetic foreshadowing of the resurrection of Jesus, who is alive and interceding on behalf of believers (Hebrews 7:25).
Job goes on to say about his redeemer “that in the end he will stand on the earth”. Job realizes that he may gain both a resolution to his problem and justice well past his living days. That aligns with his unwavering faith and with the Bible’s theme of redemption and restoration. In Revelation 21:4, God promises to “wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”
Finally, Job stating that in the end times God “will stand on the earth” also points to Christ’s second coming, when He returns to establish His kingdom on earth. God promises justice and vindication of the righteous, and Job’s certainty in His promise defies the accusations of his alleged friends.
Job’s faith throughout his ordeal is a testament to his life-long relationship with God. Studying God’s Word regularly helps to build your personal relationship with God and will provide you with strength and guidance when life gets tough.
Heaven On Wheels Daily Prayer:
Today’s prayer comes from Knowing Jesus:
Loving Heavenly Father, what a wonderful declaration to fall from the lips of Job: "I know that my Redeemer lives." Thank You for the truth of Your Word and the wonderful illustrations of real people who trusted You, no matter what. Thank you that You are my Redeemer. In Jesus' name, AMEN.