Job 19

The redeemer shall come to Zion. Some understand it of Cyrus, others of an angel, but the most ancient Jewish doctors understand it of Christ the Redeemer of the elect (Job 19:25). My redeemer lives.

The saved body shall arise again. Some hold that the soul shall be clothed with a new body; but then it were improper to call it a resurrection, it should be rather a creation (Job 19:26). Though worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God.

God sometimes melts his people in a furnace. 2. God sometimes lays various afflictions on us (Job 19:17): He multiplies my wound. God shoots various sorts of arrows.

The fifth argument is taken from express testimony of scripture. Job has an excellent place for this purpose, I am sure (says he) that my Redeemer lives, and he shall stand the last on the earth, and though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet I shall see God in my flesh,…

But I speak of ordinary infirmities. Job's friends were good men, yet he said — Job 19:3 — 'These ten times have you reproached me.' So then, no such conclusions follow from this first ground of doubting.

We may also make our complaint to men. So did Job (Job 19:21), Have pity, have pity on me O you my friends; for the hand of God has touched me. And it is a mercy if we have any friends that are wise, faithful, and experienced.

First, that the same body which was so pleasant a sight to you shall be restored again — yes, numerically the same, not just the same in kind, so that it shall not only be what he was but who he was. These eyes shall see him, and not another (Job 19:27). The very same body you l…

Use, 2. It is a most comfortable doctrine, in reference to all ups and downs of the time, and to all the straits that His Church and people can be put to; it cannot be ill with Christ, and it shall not be ill with them: He may have contests, but He shall get, indeed, He has gott…

Troubled Christ prays. Tempted Job believes (Job 19:25). The scourged apostles rejoice (Acts 5:41).

That seeing of the salvation of God, is neither conversion, nor preparation of a people for Christ. 2. The phrase of seeing God, and the salvation of God, being set down as a powerful fruit of the Gospel, has never in Scripture so low a meaning as is not wanting to natural men,…

3. The manner; glorification takes not away the substance and natural properties of the body; for there is a glorious transfiguration, but no abolition of the substance of Christ's body, it was the same body of Christ before, and after transfiguration. Glory frees us from natura…

God in the plainest and most positive manner, revealed and testified his special favor to Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Daniel, and others. Job often speaks of his sincerity and uprightness with the greatest imaginable confidence and assurance, often calling God to witness…

So Psal. 135. 17. Job 19. 17. which is a thing Material or Corporeal. But most frequently it denotes things purely Spiritual and Immaterial.

Shall Tribulation? There was a time when Job could call nothing in this world but trouble his own: he could not say, my Estate, my Honour, my Health, my Children; for all these were gone; yet then he could say, my Redeemer, Job 19:25 Well then, there is no cause to sink whilst I…

Exodus 4. 24, 25. David had his scoffing Michal, 2 Samuel 6:20 And patient Job no small addition to all his other afflictions, from the Wife of his bosom, who should have been a support to him in the day of his trouble, Job 19:17 No doubt, but God sanctifies such rods to his Peo…

In the Scripture we find it both ways used. Sometimes (I say) to touch, does signify, the greatest and the sorest affliction or punishment that can be; and so Job does express all the afflictions that fell upon him at the last only by touching (Job 19:21). Have pity upon me, hav…

The husbandman knows, that though the seed rot in the earth, yet it will rise again. And the believer knows, that though after his skin worms destroy his body, yet in his flesh he shall see God (Job 19:25), and the resemblance between the seed sown, and springing up; and the bod…

It is like a Burning-glass, so it contracts the Beams of the Threatnings, twists them together, and reflects them on the Soul, until it smoke, scorch, and flame. If the wrath of a King be like the roaring of a Lion, then what is the Almighties wrath! which is burning wrath, Job…

The Doctrine of the Resurrection of the Body, is a Doctrine full of singular Consolations to Believers, 1 Cor. 15. and most clearly asserted in Scripture, Acts 26. 8. Job 19. 25. 1 Cor. 15, &c. And it is well for us this point is so plainly revealed; because, as it is a most com…

By all these proofs it appears that if a master bids his servant come, go, do this, or that, he must obey. The contrary to this is the highest degree of disobedience, as when servants refuse to be at their master's command, and to do what they charge them to do: as Ziba, who bei…

What does this phrase (my eyes shall be upon the faithful) imply, but that he will diligently and carefully inquire after such: indeed my eyes (says he) not another man's eyes: he would not put all the trust upon others: he would himself make what proof and trial he could. Such…

5. From the providence of God, permitting it for wise reasons. Job owns God in it (Job 19:13-14): He has put my brethren far from me, and my acquaintance are truly estranged from me. My kinsfolk have failed, and my familiar friends have forgotten me.

He means the hope of immortality, opposite to that vain show and false appearance which is in worldly things. This was that Job comforted himself with, that ancient believer (Job 19:26): Though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God. And the Macca…

[illegible] is such a childish heedlessness that a man should ever be at a loss for his spiritual estate; as though one should live in his possessions, and if he go but a mile out of the town, and the day grow soggy, he cannot tell where he is though he be upon his own ground. W…

There life natural is only endangered, here eternal salvation is hazarded; therefore their greater need calls for the greater pity. As Job complained (Job 19:21): "Have pity upon me, O my friends, have pity upon me, for the hand of God has touched me." The spirit of a man will […

Put a backing of steel to the glass, and you may see a face in it; so the human nature of Christ is as it were a backing through which we may see the glory of God. In this sense that scripture is to be understood (Job 19:26): With these eyes shall I see God. Setting forth the ex…

His name is sweet; it is as ointment poured forth (Song of Solomon 1:3). It was Job's wish: Oh that my words were now written, that they were graven with an iron pen and laid in the rock for ever (Job 19:23). And it is my wish — O that this sweet name of Christ were now written,…

God gives us his Word as his will and testament which he leaves in charge with us to see it performed. If God would only have had his laws to be known or talked of, he might have delivered them to parrots; if he would only have had them kept safe, he might have graven them with…

To such I say as our blessed Savior (Matthew 22:29): You do err, not knowing the Scriptures, nor the power of God. First, not knowing the Scriptures: the Scripture tells us expressly, that the same body that dies shall rise again (Job 19:26): In my flesh shall I see God, not in…

SECT. 1. The first privilege of being with Christ. 1. Vision (Job 19:26). In my flesh shall I see God; the sight of Jesus Christ will be the most sublime and ravishing object to a glorified saint.

So that this gives the Apostles argument its due temperament: for he meant not to scare them into a cowardly flight, or sullen despaire of victory, when he tells them their enemy is so subtile and politick: but to excite them to a vigourous resistance, from the assured hope of s…

2. For a doubting child of God, because the light of evidence (which to them, in that case is dim) comes nearer to the natural light of reason, than to spiritual light, therefore faith must be set on work to act as faith, and faith acts most strongly when reason is weakest. Natu…

11. They are not rightly mortified who are not deadened to creature-comforts, to father and mother, for they forsake, and the mother may forget the fruit of her own womb, but the Lord cannot forget his own (Psalm 27:10; Isaiah 49:15). My friends (Job 19:19): 2. All my friends, 3…

Curtius says that the Macedonians put to death such as were near of blood to traitors: Marcellinus says so much also of the Persians. The just Lord punishing the sins of the fathers upon the children, to the third and fourth generation, teaches that conjunction of blood (such as…

Of the same force is the Hebrew word 'asham' (Isaiah 53:10; Leviticus 7:2): 'He made his soul an offering for sin' — a piacular sacrifice for the removing of sin — which the apostle abundantly clarifies by saying he was made sin itself (2 Corinthians 5:21), sin there being put f…

There will be use in this of our bodily eyes, as shall be declared. For as Job says, "In my flesh shall I see my Redeemer, and my eyes shall behold him" (Job 19:25–27). That corporeal sense shall not be restored to us — and that glorified beyond what we can conceive — but for th…

I am like a Deer that is struck with a Dart, my Soul lies a-bleeding, and nothing can cure me, but a sight of him whom my Soul loves. 4. Divine Knowledge is appropriating, Job 19. 25. I know that my Redeemer liveth. A Medicine is best when it is applied; this applicative Knowled…

The Hebrew word for afflicted, signifies to be melted; God seems to melt his people in a furnace. 2. God does sometimes lay diverse afflictions on the Saints, Job 19. 17. He multiplieth my wounds: as we have diverse ways of sinning, so the Lord has diverse ways of afflicting; so…

It is not good to be wise above what is written; thus far I think may with modesty be asserted, that we shall with our bodily eyes, behold Christ's human nature! His glory as a Mediator shall be visible to the Saints, and shall be beheld by glorified eyes; in this sense that Scr…

In a desperate case he lifts up himself to God the author of life, in whose hand are the ends of death, as it is said in the Psalm (Psalm 68). Job also being liker to a carrion than to a man, trusting upon the power of God does not hesitate as though he were whole and sound to l…

Sixth, to conclude, it is the root of all that precious fruit which we bring forth to God in this world. It is the root of every gracious word in our lips, and of every gracious work in our hands: be the matter of our gracious thoughts never so excellent, the matter of our heave…

But yet you read (Proverbs 24:16): 'A just man falls seven times, and rises up again.' Job's friends were good men, yet he tells them (Job 19:3): 'These ten times have you reproached me.' This indeed shows a heart that really needs purging; for it is with relapses in spiritual m…

4. Faith says, sense is a liar — fancy, sense, the flesh will say (Job 16:13): His archers compassed me round about, he cleaves my reins asunder, and does not spare, and pours out my gall on the ground. But faith says (verse 19): I have a friend in Heaven; also now my witness is…

(verse 17) Israel shall be saved in the Lord, with an everlasting salvation. God casts a cloud of anger about himself, he makes darkness his pavilion, and will not look out; yet Job sees God, and finds him out many hundred miles (Job 19:26). Yet in my flesh I shall see God.

Death makes no report of death: but the believer can say at his lowest condition (Song of Solomon 5:1), 'I sleep but my heart wakes'; and he who says (Psalm 119), 'Lord quicken me,' must say, 'Lord, I am dead'; yet to say, 'Lord quicken me,' and to feel and know deadness, are ac…

No, it is more. He himself who only reveals all the secrets of God, and measures the Temple with a golden Reed — He only gave me a drink of the water of life immediately; for to see in the holy language is to enjoy (Hebrews 12:14; Revelation 22:4; Jeremiah 17:6; Psalm 34:12; Job…

The reasons for crying are: 1. Want cannot blush; the pinching necessity of the saints is not tied to the law of modesty: hunger cannot be ashamed (Psalm 55:2). I mourn in my complaint, and make a noise, says David, and Hezekiah (Isaiah 38:14): Like a crane, or a swallow, so did…

If we saw our enemies' donkey falling under his burden, we ought to help him (Deuteronomy 22:4), and shall we see our brothers and sisters fall under the burden, not only of an accusing conscience, but of a wounded heart? The Lord speaks terror and wrath, and lays the burden of…

First, this is the nature of faith: it applies the blessing there offered, faith there lays hold on Christ, and of all the promises of this life and of another; and the firmer hold of them, because it sees the promise there rooted and sealed, which is a privilege in that ordinan…

And after, he offered up his son in faith, because he knew that God was able to raise him even from the dead, from where he had before in a figure received him, namely from a dead and barren womb (Hebrews 11:29). This was Job's only comfort upon the dunghill, that that God who w…