The Mind of a Dying Man (Job 19:21-27)
Sermon Summary
Pastor David Yan
28 February 2021
The words of a dying man are sometimes worth listening to.
Hear the words of Job, a dying man. Enter his mind and learn.
This dying man knows he has a redeemer. What a blessed state to be in. Before leaving this life to know you have a redeemer and that your sins are forgiven. The redeemer is Jesus Christ according to the Bible. In Jesus the redeemer, Job the dying man has confidence. His confidence is not in himself but entirely in the redeemer.
In his redeemer Job confidently states his case of innocence. He desires that his integrity be forever recorded. He says “Oh, that my words were inscribed in a book! That they were engraved on a rock forever!” In effect he is saying that he can resist all accusations of wrongdoing. Accusation comes from the devil, the accuser of the brethren (Rev. 12:9). We are taught that if we resist the devil he will flee from us (James 4:7). Job is resisting the devil.
This dying man foresees his redeemer standing on the earth. When Job was experiencing his trial Jesus had not yet come in the flesh. Remarkably, Job prophesied that one day the redeemer would come to earth. He foresaw the birth of Jesus, the Son of God incarnate. It was surely the Holy Spirit who revealed this to Job.
Job believed in the resurrection of his body. He said after his skin, that is, his life, is destroyed, in his flesh he would see God. This is another remarkable statement from a dying man. Job believed that though he would die, yet he, in his flesh, in his body, would see God. This is surely reference to the resurrection of the body. Even before Jesus was raised from dead, Job had this insight, again given to him by the Holy Spirit, that there would be a resurrection of the body.
He knows he shall personally be resurrected and see God. He is emphatic that he shall see God for himself. His own eyes shall behold, and not another, the redeemer. This leaves no room for the idea of annihilation, that is, after death there is nothing. Moses and Elijah died and returned to earth. They were not annihilated. The dying thief on the cross was told by Jesus that after death he would be with Jesus in Paradise. The thief was not annihilated. Supremely, Jesus lived after his death. He was not annihilated.
According to the Bible after death there is judgment (Hebrews 9:27). Oh that we might be like this dying man Job and know that we shall see God as he is and be like him (1 John 3:2).
Finally, note that Job yearns for his complete redemption. He says "How my heart yearns within me!” The dying person who has faith in Jesus will long for the redemption of body and soul. This world is not our home. We yearn for something better. We, along with the whole creation yearn for something better. We yearn for the revelation of the sons and daughters of God (Romans 8: 22,23). We yearn for God’s restoration of the universe. In this life we are incomplete and unfulfilled. There is something better ahead of us. Long for it.
Let us like Job have full assurance of our redemption. Job the dying man has much to teach us concerning life and death. Hear, as it were, his dying words. Be wise. Be believing.