Sunday, October 23, 2011

BIBLE PICK 'EMS - Hope Lives

HOPE.

Can we really live life without it?

I love the movie, "The Shawshank Redemption" – such a great story, and it has one of my favorite quotes:

"Hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things, and no good thing ever dies."

The word hope can be both a noun (thing) and a verb (action word). The dictionary defines it this way:

Hope (noun) – desire accompanied by expectation of or belief in fulfillment; expectation of fulfillment or success; someone or something on which hopes are centered

Hope (verb) - to desire with expectation of obtainment; to expect with confidence; to trust

Today's "Bible Pick 'Ems" is a resounding statement of hope:

"But as for me, I know that my Redeemer lives, and he will stand upon the earth at last. And after my body has decayed, yet in my body I will see God! I will see him for myself. Yes, I will see him with my own eyes. I am overwhelmed at the thought!" (Job 19:25-27)

Yes, the statement comes from Job. And it is remarkable in several ways. I would love to share with you the things I learned while studying this passage.

What did Job's original readers (and Job himself, for that matter) believe about life after death?

Well, when the book was written, Israel did not have a well-developed doctrine of the resurrection. Job became one of the first people to talk about the resurrection of the body. Later readers of the book based their views on the Old Testament. Writers in the OT described the realm of the dead as a place beneath the earth's surface to which people descend.

In the OT, the afterlife is generally regarded as a gloomy, hopeless place of no return.

However, there were occasional hints of deliverance from the grave. And it is these intimations that gave Job the hope that death might relieve him of his troubles, and that a redeemer might justify him even after death.

This is remarkable faith!

This stirring affirmation of Job's confidence comes right at the *heart* of the book – smack dab in the middle of his terrible suffering, his unmitigated pain, his endless trials.

He sees a Redeemer – (with a capital "R"!!)

In ancient Israel a redeemer was a family member who bought a slave's way to freedom or who took care of a widow. In other words, the redeemer volunteered to take responsibility for someone else.

Anyone out there remember Blue Chip Stamps? We would save those stamps, stick them in a book, and then go to a store and redeem them for merchandise. The stamps bought us something else in return.

This passage, of course, foreshadows Jesus. Those of us on this side of the cross, know that He is the Resurrection and the Life. He is our Redeemer, who traded His righteousness for our sin.

But Job!

Without knowledge, without proof, without any reason to believe in the goodness of Godstill he trusted that God would rescue him. And that even if he died, God's justice would triumph – even if it took a miracle of resurrection to accomplish this.

Oh, what faith that man had!

So…how about me, how about you?

Are we exhibiting this kind of faith in our lives? Remember, Job never knew about the conference between Satan and God – he never knew the "reason" for his suffering. How are we doing when we don't understand? When we're in the midst of struggles, and pain, and trials? When we are discouraged and despairing almost beyond belief? Are we willing to trust God in spite of unanswered questions?

I'll speak for me. I have moments of strong warrior, moments of cowering coward.

Oh Lord, I want to live by this faith, this confident faithfaith in what I KNOW is true. I have met the Messiah – He is my Savior, He is my Redeemer. He is the Resurrection and the Life.

He is my hope – the best hope – my only hope – and though He died, yet HE LIVES!


And I know that someday I will see Him face to face…

… I am overwhelmed at the thought!


How are you living in the hope of Jesus?


"When in doubt, search God out!"

8 comments:

  1. I remember trading stamps (we had S&H green stamps).

    Good thoughts on the book of Job. One of my favorite verses from it is, "though He slay me, yet I will trust in Him."

    Have a blessed week, my friend.

    Joan

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  2. Yep, I remember those stamps, blue and green! Looking through the catalog, wondering how my mom was going to redeem her stamps; wonderful memories!

    I liked learning how the OT people thought about the afterlife, etc, Sharon. I didn't know of some of this, I know it talks about death, etc but not what they thought about what happens afterwards. Very interesting.

    I love Job's words too; to have that hope no matter what he was going through and you and me both know he went through a lot. Yet he remained hopeful in God, no matter what! I want to have that hope too. And I have it, I know it, I get it, I grasp it, but sometimes it is hard to live it. I need to do better on that one indeed!

    have a great Sunday!

    betty

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  3. I needed to hear this today! Thanks.

    "But as for me, I know that my Redeemer lives, and he will stand upon the earth at last. And after my body has decayed, yet in my body I will see God! I will see him for myself. Yes, I will see him with my own eyes. I am overwhelmed at the thought!" (Job 19:25-27)

    I love this.
    sandie

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  4. I always need to hear Job! God seems to have the perfect plan for each one of us whether we know it or not! I needed this share today. Thank you and enjoy the week.

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  5. Many times I have thought that the book of Job was included in the Canonized Bible so that we will learn that our lives are just like Job's. We live in a world where all our earthly blessings can be blown away, but the steadfast love of the Lord endures forever. We don't have to know the reasons we suffer. We just trust the One who is in contol of all things. God bless.

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  6. Hi Sharon,

    Good post, thank you - I think I stand with you. Sometimes the warrior, sometimes the coward. Often ending prayers with Lord I believe, help thou my unbelief.

    God Bless - have a good week - Nita

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  7. I read in Job this morning...and thought also of Enoch. I too have strong faith at times, and then it seems like the smallest issue will knock me down. Casting Crowns says, "deep water faith in the shallow end"...that is me, great faith when the water is only to my knees, but shaky faith when the tidal wave goes over my head. I am glad He is the author of my faith and He supplies it for the need at hand.

    Yes I am trusting even in the midst of some very large unanswered prayers...once that affect eternity. I am also trusting Him to supply the grace I need to walk it out.

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  8. Sharon, I LOVE this one. I remember the day that I realized that "I know my redeemer lives" came from Job. I had loved the song of the same name for a while, and I had never put two and two together. It nearly knocked my socks off when I got to that part of Job. I literally rose to my feet after reading it. I'll never forget it.

    And as to your wonderful post, I love this part.

    *****

    Remember, Job never knew about the conference between Satan and God – he never knew the "reason" for his suffering. How are we doing when we don't understand? When we're in the midst of struggles, and pain, and trials? When we are discouraged and despairing almost beyond belief? Are we willing to trust God in spite of unanswered questions?

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"So [I] have been greatly encouraged in the midst of [my] troubles and suffering, dear brothers and sisters, because you have remained strong in your faith. It gives [me] new life to know that you are standing firm in the Lord. How [I] thank God for you!" (1 Thessalonians 3:7-9)

Thanks for your comments - it is such a joy to be sharing my journey with friends like YOU!

(NOTE: Anonymous comments will be removed. Thank you for understanding.)