The Strand Study Bible

JOB

JOB

819

or had been slain in a family feud (Num 35:15-21). Job not only knew he needed a Redeemer to save him (someone who would mediate his deliverance, paying the price - Job 16:16- 21); he also knew who that Redeemer would be – God in flesh ( Gen 3:15 a & 6:2 ). To Job, God was not merely a Judge (Gen 18:25) waiting to arbitrate his situation, or a witness ready to testify on his behalf, but a near KINSMAN REDEEMER ( Ruth 2:1 & 4:14 ) who would fight his cause, even at the end of time ( HE shall stand at the latter day upon the earth - Isa 45:21-22 & 49:26 & 60:16, I Tim 2:3-6 & 3:16 & 4:10 and Titus 2:13). Job knew he would see the God/man Redeemer again (vs. 26-27). NOTE – While it is true that Job may not have understood every detail concerning the Gospel of Christ ( Lk 18:34 and I Pet 1:10 a ), it is also true that Job understood the “facts” behind the actual death, burial and resurrection of Christ, and the “facts” behind the Gospel are what save a person ( I Cor 15:1 ). Job knew what all men needed to know in order to be saved. He knew: 1. Who he was (a sinner in need of a Savior - my REDEEMER - Mt 3:2 & 27:3 ) 2. Who the REDEEMER was (a next of kin Savior who would fight his cause - Isa 45:21-22 & 49:26 & 60:16, I Tim 2:3-6 & 3:16 & 4:10 and Titus 2:13) Amazingly, 1,600 years later the thief on the cross next to CHRIST understood the very same thing ( Lk 23:34 -42). 19:25b This word ( liveth ) in the Hebrew is in the present tense (continuous action). Job is referring to CHRIST here as a “living” (continuous) redeemer. Meaning: Jesus could not be a redeemer unless He had already redeemed. According to Job, the REDEEMER had already redeemed Job before He was officially the REDEEMER (Titus 1:2 and Rev 13:8). This explains why Isaiah could refer to the sacrifice of Christ as if it had already taken place (Isa 53). Isaiah said in Isaiah 53:5, “ And by His stripes we are healed .” Interestingly enough, Isaiah included himself ( we ) in the healing.