David Bahn – Reflections

Click here for an audio version of this blog post.

These reflections grow out of the Follow the Word Bible reading program at St. John Lutheran Church in Cypress, Texas. This year we are reading through the Scriptures together, listening for how God speaks through his Word day by day. I hope you will join me on this journey.

Today’s readings are Job 17-19; Psalm 19.

Job 19:23-29

“Oh that my words were written!
    Oh that they were inscribed in a book!
²⁴ Oh that with an iron pen and lead
    they were engraved in the rock forever!
²⁵ For I know that my Redeemer lives,
    and at the last he will stand upon the earth.
²⁶ And after my skin has been thus destroyed,
    yet in my flesh I shall see God,
²⁷ whom I shall see for myself,
    and my eyes shall behold, and not another.
    My heart faints within me!
²⁸ If you say, ‘How we will pursue him!’
    and, ‘The root of the matter is found in him,’
²⁹ be afraid of the sword,
    for wrath brings the punishment of the sword,
    that you may know there is a judgment.”

It is not at all clear that Job had any sense of how far-reaching or prophetic his words would be when he cried out, “Oh that my words were written! Oh that they were inscribed in a book!” These words emerge not from quiet reflection, but from the midst of intense verbal conflict. Three self-righteous friends launch repeated accusations against Job, who has become deeply defensive – at times even self-justifying. The friends take turns pressing their case. Job responds with sarcasm and counter-accusation. It is not a pretty scene on any level.

In that context, it seems unlikely that Job imagined his words would one day be read at funerals and graveside committal services, or sung by the Church as a hymn of resurrection hope: “I know that my Redeemer lives.” We rightly hear these words fulfilled in Jesus Christ, who lives triumphant over the grave. He lives, having conquered death – and Job will indeed see him, even after his body has returned to dust.

Yet the immediate spirit of Job’s words seem to be more courtroom appeal than calm confession. Job is fighting for vindication. He longs for a living witness who will stand for him when everyone else condemns him. And in that desperate plea, God gives words that reach far beyond Job’s moment – words that the Church hears, at last, fulfilled in Christ.

It might be that Job uttered these words in faith – believing that God would come to his aid and justify him before his three visitors. But the evidence is not strong to that idea. Nevertheless, man’s lack of faith does not thwart God’s redemptive work. And that’s good news. For faith does not cause God to bless us. Faith discovers the blessings of God and makes them our own.

As I re-read these words of Job, I wonder whether these are words of faith – albeit a desperate faith. He is at the end of his self. He has only God to appeal to – even though God has been silent for these many days. It’s as if he is surrendering. But we know the surrender is not complete. He and God will have a heart-to-heart talk and Job will discover just how desperate he really is. But he will also discover how good, gracious, merciful, and faithful God is. It comes at a price – not that of Job’s suffering, but at the price of the suffering and death of God’s Son, the Redeemer of the world, and our Savior.