Recently I was reading through the book of Job again. As you know, this man went through unspeakable pain and torment, not only physically and also with the loss of most of his family, but mentally, socially, financially, and spiritually as
well.
As the book arrives at chapter 19, Job is crying out yet again. But in the middle of it, he makes an astonishing statement, which is also a prophecy:
"I know that my
Redeemer lives, and that He shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God: Whom I shall see for myself, and my eyes shall behold...."
I find this astounding! In his grief, God suddenly seems to give him a revelation of two
things about the future:
- The Second Coming of Christ. In the last days, the Redeemer, Jesus, will stand upon the earth.
- Job's bodily resurrection. Even though worms will destroy Job's body, yet he will be physically resurrected from the dead. This will be the fulfillment of what
Paul stated in I Thess. 4:16-17.
Memorializing this event, George Frederick Handel, in his master oratorio entitled, "The Messiah", wrote one of the most beautiful arias in the entire work. You might or might not be familiar with classical music, but if you click on the button below, you will see Sylvia McNair in perhaps one of the best performances of the piece I have ever heard! The words
provide the essence of the hope that Christians have!
