Job 19:25

_ _ redeemer — Umbreit and others understand this and Job 19:26, of God appearing as Job’s avenger before his death, when his body would be wasted to a skeleton. But Job uniformly despairs of restoration and vindication of his cause in this life (Job 17:15, Job 17:16). One hope alone was left, which the Spirit revealed — a vindication in a future life: it would be no full vindication if his soul alone were to be happy without the body, as some explain (Job 19:26) “out of the flesh.” It was his body that had chiefly suffered: the resurrection of his body, therefore, alone could vindicate his cause: to see God with his own eyes, and in a renovated body (Job 19:27), would disprove the imputation of guilt cast on him because of the sufferings of his present body. That this truth is not further dwelt on by Job, or noticed by his friends, only shows that it was with him a bright passing glimpse of Old Testament hope, rather than the steady light of Gospel assurance; with us this passage has a definite clearness, which it had not in his mind (see on Job 21:30). The idea in “redeemer” with Job is Vindicator (Job 16:19; Numbers 35:27), redressing his wrongs; also including at least with us, and probably with him, the idea of the predicted Bruiser of the serpent’s head. Tradition would inform him of the prediction. Foster shows that the fall by the serpent is represented perfectly on the temple of Osiris at Philae; and the resurrection on the tomb of the Egyptian Mycerinus, dating four thousand years back. Job’s sacrifices imply sense of sin and need of atonement. Satan was the injurer of Job’s body; Jesus Christ his Vindicator, the Living One who giveth life (John 5:21, John 5:26).

_ _ at the latter day — Rather, “the Last,” the peculiar title of Jesus Christ, though Job may not have known the pregnancy of his own inspired words, and may have understood merely one that comes after (1 Corinthians 15:45; Revelation 1:17). Jesus Christ is the last. The day of Jesus Christ the last day (John 6:39).

_ _ stand — rather, “arise”: as God is said to “raise up” the Messiah (Jeremiah 23:5; Deuteronomy 18:15).

_ _ earth — rather, “dust”: often associated with the body crumbling away in it (Job 7:21; Job 17:16); therefore appropriately here. Above that very dust wherewith was mingled man’s decaying body shall man’s Vindicator arise. “Arise above the dust,” strikingly expresses that fact that Jesus Christ arose first Himself above the dust, and then is to raise His people above it (1 Corinthians 15:20, 1 Corinthians 15:23). The Spirit intended in Job’s words more than Job fully understood (1 Peter 1:12). Though He seems, in forsaking me, to be as one dead, He now truly “liveth” in heaven; hereafter He shall appear also above the dust of earth. The Goel or vindicator of blood was the nearest kinsman of the slain. So Jesus Christ took our flesh, to be our kinsman. Man lost life by Satan the “murderer” (John 8:44), here Job’s persecutor (Hebrews 2:14). Compare also as to redemption of the inheritance by the kinsman of the dead (Ruth 4:3-5; Ephesians 1:14).