Vindication of Job (Job 42:7-17)
Sermon Summary
Pastor David Yan
16 February 2020
Vindication means the clearing of someone of perceived wrong. It is justification of someone's claim to innocence.
Job was so vindicated. Jesus also, for in Job's vindication we see Jesus’ vindication. Job is a prophetic type of Jesus. Jesus taught that the Old Testament spoke of him and here we have an example of this. Job points us to Jesus.
Life is like a jig-saw puzzle. It has many pieces and the complete picture is not seen till the puzzle is complete. Job had many pieces to his life. He could not see the whole picture until the very end. We also. It will only be at the end of our lives when we enter into glory that we see all things have indeed worked together for good to those who love God (Romans 8:28).
Consider now the vindication of Job with particular emphasis on the affects of his vindication.
The vindication of Job showed that God is fair in showing wrath. The Lord was angry at Job's three friends for they did not speak correctly as Job had done (42:7).
Job was vindicated; his friends were not. So it will be on the last day that all who have continually spoken lies about the Lord Jesus will be condemned - justifiably so!
Job's vindication gave opportunity for repentance and renewal. His three friends could now offer sacrifices to God and be forgiven (42:8). Today is a day of opportunity for although God's wrath is revealed from heaven (Romans 1:18) it is still a day of opportunity. If people repent they can be cleansed from their sins. Jesus has made this possible.
Note the efficacy of Job’s priestly prayer. This was another affect of his vindication. He could pray for his friends because the Lord had accepted him (42:9). Likewise Jesus has been accepted by God the Father. He can pray for us because he has been accepted and his prayers are effective. The Father who has received Jesus will receive his prayers. That is our assurance.
Job had his fortune restored (42:10-11). God gave him twice as much as he had before. So Christ has been enriched. God the Father has given him honour and a name higher than any other name. Jesus came from heaven’s riches to earth’s poverty. For our sake he became poor (2 Cor. 8:9). Now he has been restored to the riches of heaven’s glory.
Another affect of Job's vindication is the occasion of a great feast (42:11). Guests came and ate with Job. They consoled him. They gave gifts. All this is a prelude to the marriage supper of the Lamb (Rev. 19:9) at which Christ Jesus, having been vindicated, will feast with his people.
The end of Job was greater than his start (42:12). The Lord blessed Job materially. So Jesus' end will be greatly blessed and glorious. He will have a multitude of followers which no one can number (Rev.7:9). They shall be as innumerable as the sand on the sea.
Job having been vindicated gives an inheritance to his daughters (42:13-15). In this he went beyond the usual practice where only sons received an inheritance. Job was revolutionary. Job foreshadows the Christian gospel where in Christ there is neither male nor female (Galatians 3:28). God loves male and female equally and in regard to salvation there is no favouritism.
Finally, another affect of Job's vindication is his long life (42:16,17). Job, who in his trials was as good as dead, lived a long life. Jesus died but through his resurrection he lives forever. Jesus is the redeemer Job spoke of (19:25 ) - the resurrection and the life (John 11:25).
In all this we see that the vindication of Job was a blessing to all just as the vindication of Jesus Christ is a blessing to everyone.