THE LIVING REDEEMER - Christmas Evans
SERMON VI.
THE LIVING REDEEMER.
“Oh that my words were now written! oh that they were printed in a book! that they were graven with an iron pen and lead in the rock for ever! For I know that my Redeemer liveth, 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 mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me.”—Job xix. 23–27.
It is the common opinion of learned divines, that Job was an ancient prince in some part of Arabia, known in his day by the name of Uz. His three friends also—“Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite”—were neighboring princes. In their visit of condolence, they were accompanied by Elihu, who seems to have been a young man of extraordinary intelligence and virtue. The occasion of this visit was the apparent judgments of God upon the patriarch. They held a long controversy with him, in which they insisted that his unparalleled calamities and sufferings proved him the chief of hypocrites. Job as strenuously maintained his innocence and integrity, and argued that his providential afflictions were intended only for the proof and the improvement of his piety; and that when this purpose should be accomplished, he would come forth as gold purified from the furnace. God, answering out of the whirlwind, settled the dispute, deciding in favor of his servant Job; his three friends were required to offer sacrifice for their faults, and Job must pray for their forgiveness. Then the wheel of fortune turned in his favor, and he was restored to his former prosperity.
Job and his friends evidently had a clear understanding of the evil of sin, the wickedness of hypocrisy, the importance of the fear of God, and the doctrine of an allwise superintending providence; p. 130and knew how to approach Jehovah through sacrifice, in anticipation of the promised Messiah.
We shall offer a few general remarks on Job’s faith in a living Redeemer, as expressed in our text.
I. Our minds are struck with wonder and pleasure, in beholding the patriarchs and prophets of ancient times, moved by the Spirit of God, searching diligently for the person and grace of the Messiah; like miners, opening an entrance to a precious treasure, which is to redeem them and their brethren from bondage.
Job has no reference here to any temporal deliverer, nor to any other than the Messiah himself. He evidently saw what he needed, when he was speaking of the Daysman, the Umpire, one that might argue and settle the case between him and his Maker, one that might lay his hand alike on God and man. With the eye of faith, he saw the Messiah, setting one foot on the continent of eternity, and the other on the sea of human misery, and lifting up his hand and saying—“Time and eternity are mine! I am God, and beside me there is no Saviour!” Elihu also speaks of the same person, under the name of “a messenger,” “an interpreter,” “one of a thousand,” that might commune with both God and man, concerning atonement, and justifying righteousness, and deliverance from the pit of eternal destruction.
The promise of a Redeemer descended from Eden like a precious ark, containing, for all mankind, the bread of life, and the unsearchable riches of Divine grace. It was conveyed from the house of Adam to the house of Seth, from the house of Seth to the house of Noah, from the house of Noah to the house of Abraham, and thence down through successive generations to the time of Messiah’s advent. The patriarchs, before their departure, received from this ark invaluable spiritual blessings, and a passport to the everlasting city; but the ark itself they left behind for the benefit of their posterity, who found therein the balm of life, and died in the faith of a Saviour to come, according to the promise.
Job’s living Redeemer is none other than the promised “Seed,” that should “bruise the serpent’s head”—Jacob’s “Lion,” “stooping down” to the “new tomb hewn out of a rock,” aiming at the King of Terrors, and on the third morning leaping and “rushing upon the prey,” and becoming the plague of death, and the destruction of the grave—the “Jehovah-jireh” of Abraham—the “I p. 131Am,” who appeared to Moses in the burning bush—the “Wonderful,” the “Councillor,” the “Child-born,” and “the Everlasting Father,” predicted by Isaiah—Jeremiah’s “Jehovah our Righteousness”—the “Branch” and “Fountain” of Zachariah—the “Shepherd and Stone of Israel”—the “Shiloh,” to whom should be “the gathering of the people”—the “Governor,” who should “come out of Bethlehem”—Malachi’s “Sun of Righteousness”—Paul’s “Captain of our Salvation,” “bringing many sons to glory;” opening a tunnel under the river of his own sufferings, and the seas of human guilt and wo, through which his redeemed might go home to their Father’s house—Peter’s “Prince of Life,” “slain and hung on a tree”—John’s “Word,” that “was in the beginning with God, and was God;” but “was made flesh, and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth.”
II. The word here rendered Redeemer, is Goel in the original; and in the book of Ruth, is translated kinsman, one who has a right to redeem. The Redeemer is our near kinsman; for “he that sanctifieth, and they that are sanctified, are all of one; for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren.”
An individual in this country returned from India so rich that he conferred upon all his relatives an independent fortune. To us also a brother was born against the day of adversity, who is able to enrich us all with eternal riches. You know not what hardships your brother endured in the East, while gathering the wealth you now enjoy; but we know that our brother, “though he was rich, for our sakes became poor, that we through his poverty might be rich.”
When Naomi returned from the land of Moab, Elimelech, her husband, was dead, and the inheritance greatly involved in debt. According to the law of the tribes, the nearest kinsman of the deceased debtor was obliged to marry the widow, and redeem the inheritance, so as to retain it in the same tribe. The purchaser was sought in the land of Bethlehem. One was found, sufficiently rich, but unwilling. He preferred to take off his own shoes, before the elders, at the gate of the city, rather than stand in the shoes of his deceased brother. It was done, however, by another, of the name of Boaz. But who will stand in the place of sinners, who have forfeited all claim to the heavenly inheritance, and deserve eternal damnation? Let heaven and earth meet in council, and see who is able and willing to “redeem his brother, or give to God a ransom p. 132for him.” Earth replies—“There is no such person here.” All the angels around the throne answer—“There is none in the celestial city.” Search the streets of Jerusalem; go to the garden of Gethsemane; inquire on the hill of Calvary. Who is willing to die for sinners to-day? There is the tree. There is the executioner, with hammer and nails. Who will offer himself a sacrifice there, for the redemption of man? None but Jesus. None but Jesus was able; none but Jesus was willing. “Here am I,” said he; “if ye seek me, let these go their way.” And without the gates of Jerusalem, he honored the law, spoiled principalities, and redeemed his people. He suffered the curse in the sinner’s stead, and swallowed up all its plagues in himself. As your representative, he endured all the agony and ignominy you justly deserved. [132] And when you by faith lay hold of his atonement, you shall be made the righteousness of God in him—shall be dealt with, not according to your deserts, but according to his merit and his mercy. He was humbled that you might be exalted, impoverished that you might be enriched, bound that you might be released, punished that you might be spared, condemned that you might be acquitted, wounded that you might be healed, cursed that you might be blessed, and slain that you might live for ever.
III. Job’s faith anticipated a Living Redeemer. “I know that my Redeemer liveth”—is the Living One—he that has life, underived and independent, in himself—the agent and source of all life in the universe, who will at last quicken the dead.
The first woman was called Eve—that is, Life—because she was the mother of all living—the mother of him who is the life of the world. This was fulfilled four thousand years afterward in one of her daughters, a virgin, who brought forth a son, whose name is Jesus, Emmanuel, the Living God, the true God, and eternal Life. He is the Lord of life, and the life of all that believe. “Because I live, ye shall live also.” With the flame of one candle you may light many others, and the light of all is the same. Christ is the source whence all his people derive their light, the great central luminary of his church. “In him was life, and the life was the light of men.”
p. 133When the prophet stood in the valley of dry bones and prophesied, there was a wonderful agitation, and the bones came together, and formed themselves into skeletons, and sinews and flesh covered them, and each form was enclosed with a skin; but they were still dead, and it was not till the breath of God blew upon them, and kindled the flame of life within them, that they “stood up an exceeding great army.” So Christ is the resurrection and life alike of the soul and of the body. “He that believeth on him, though he were dead, yet shall he live.” He is the bread and the water of life. “He that cometh unto him, shall never hunger; and he that believeth on him, shall never thirst.” “He that hath the Son, hath life; and he that hath not the Son, hath not life.” “We are dead; and our life is hid with Christ in God; when Christ who is our life shall appear, then shall we also appear with him in glory.”
IV. The Living Redeemer of Job was to appear in this world. “He shall stand at the latter day upon the earth.”
A woman who is travelling, and has no money to bear her expenses, obtains credit on her husband’s account, who afterward passes that way, and discharges the obligation. So ancient saints went home to glory on credit: and in the fulness of time, Christ came and paid their debt; not by installments, but all at once; and the virtue of his own offering went up to the gate of Eden, and down to the end of the world. As on both sides of the altar of burnt-offering, were pipes, conveying the blood into the basins, till they were full; so the great altar on Calvary communicates with past generations, and generations yet to come; and the saving merit of the one sacrifice runs back to Abel and to Adam, and forward to the last believer.
Whom do I see in the garden yonder, in such agony of soul, prostrate in prayer, and sweating great drops of blood? Job’s Living Redeemer. Why is his heart thus wrung with anguish? Is there a dark register of sins in his conscience, like the fiery handwriting of God upon the wall? No, he has not a single crime to confess. He has done no iniquity, neither is guile found in his mouth. Why then does he suffer? He is bearing our griefs, carrying our sorrows, and receiving the chastisement of our peace. Behold him on the mountain, “wounded for our transgressions, and bruised for our iniquities.” “All we like sheep have gone astray; p. 134we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.” “He is brought as a lamb to the slaughter; and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.” “Who shall declare his generation?” Who shall give us his pedigree, his history, his character? Will none of the angels of heaven make the air of Calvary ring with the sufferer’s name? Behold! the darkened sun and quaking earth proclaim him God! Hark! he speaks—“I am the true God, and eternal life. I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning of the Creator’s way, or ever the earth was. When there was no depths, nor fountains of water; before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth; while as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the highest part of the dust of the world. When he prepared the heavens, I was there; when he set a compass upon the deep; when he established the clouds above; when he strengthened the foundations of the deep; when he gave the sea his decree, that the waters should not pass his commandment; when he established the foundations of the earth; then I was by him, as one brought up with him; and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him; rejoicing in the habitable parts of his earth, and my delights were with the sons of men; and therefore I am here, hanging on the cross to-day!”
V. Job’s Living Redeemer was to deliver him from the power of death.
Job anticipated the coming of “the last enemy,” who should give his flesh to be food for worms. The Sabeans had taken away the oxen and the asses, and slain the servants with the edge of the sword. The fire had fallen from heaven, and burnt up the sheep and the shepherds. The Chaldeans had robbed him of his camels, and murdered his domestics. The whirlwind had killed his sons and his daughters in the house of their feasting. His body was covered with putrid ulcers, from head to foot. His best friends turned against him, and even his wife tempted him to “curse God and die.” But amid all his calamities, he saw another enemy, ready to assail his body, and drag it away to the tomb, and reduce it to dust and ashes. At the same time, his faith beheld the Messiah swallowing up death in victory. He saw the Son of Mary in the house of Jairus, where the lion had just slain his victim; and on the street of Nain, where he was taking the prey to his den; and p. 135at the grave in Bethany, where he was banqueting with worms in the joy of victory. Death could not stand before the Prince of Life. The spoiler yielded up his spoil. Christ sailed on the open channel like a man of war, delivering the hapless captives of the great pirate Death, to the astonishment and joy of the people, from Samaria to the borders of Tyre and Sidon. But on a certain day, ever to be remembered, as he drew near the ramparts of Sinai, all its batteries were opened upon him. He stood in the fire all night, and fought till he sweat great drops of blood. He threw himself between his friends and the fort, and sustained the shock of its heaviest artillery, which played upon him without intermission, especially the old cannon of Eden—“Dying thou shalt die”—until three o’clock in the afternoon of the next day, when he received a shot in the heart, and, crying, “It is finished!” gave up the ghost. The whole creation trembled when he fell, and was swallowed up in the horrible abyss. But on the morning of the third day, the earth was seized with new spasms, and he that was dead came forth to be the life of his people; and the cable of faith, the anchor of hope, and the sails of love, ascended with him from the deep, never to go down again. He is alive for evermore, and has the keys of hell and of death.
VI. Job speaks of the period of Messiah’s advent, under the term of “the latter day.” This may refer, either to the end of the Jewish dispensation, or to the end of the world.
Christ has already once appeared on earth, fulfilled the types and shadows, made an end of sins, and brought in everlasting righteousness; “and to them that look for him, he shall appear the second time, without a sin-offering, unto salvation.” “When the Son of man shall come in his glory, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory, and before him shall be gathered all nations, and he shall separate them as the shepherd divideth the sheep from the goats.” Then shall God have finished his work in mount Zion, and the trumpets of the gospel shall cease to sound, and the great net shall be taken up from the sea, and the laborers in the vineyard shall receive their wages, and the tares shall be cast into the unquenchable fire.
Wonderful shall be the glory and the terror of that day; “when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven, with his mighty angels, in flaming fire; taking vengeance on them that know not p. 136God, and obey not the gospel; who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; when he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and admired in all them that believe.” What a glorious army shall attend him down the sky—myriads of his saints, and all the celestial powers and principalities! “Fire shall devour before him, and it shall be very tempestuous round about him. He shall call to the heavens above, and to the earth, that he may judge his people.” His throne shall be “like a fiery flame, and his wheels like a burning furnace.” He “shall descend with a shout, and the voice of the archangel, and the trump of God.” The sound of the trumpet on Sinai was long and loud, and “exceeding terrible;” but how much more powerful shall be the voice of “the last trumpet,” penetrating the cold ear of death, and awaking into immortality the dust of the grave! Then the Messiah shall not appear “as a root out of dry ground;” but shall stand forth before heaven and earth “in the glory of the Father, and of his holy angels;” in addition to the glory of his own person as God-man, and the glory of his work as Mediator. Before him, “the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat; the earth also, and the works that are therein, shall be burned up;” and death and hell shall deliver up their dead; and all men shall stand and receive their sentence from him who was an infant in Bethlehem—“a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief”—condemned by Pilate, mocked by the multitude, and nailed upon the cross. This is Job’s living Redeemer, the resurrection and life of all who believe.
VII. Our text contains Job’s confession of faith. It is brief, but very comprehensive, and may be called an epitome of the gospel. Here we have the Divinity and the humanity of Christ, his work of redemption, his victory over death and hell, his second advent, and the resurrection of the dead.
The Athenians mocked when they heard of the resurrection of the dead; and the Sadducees greatly erred on this subject, “not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God,” and many of the Corinthians imbibed the same poison of unbelief. But the patriarch of Uz thought it not “a thing incredible that God should raise the dead.” He firmly believed the doctrine, and gave it a prominent place in his confession. He knew that God is able to watch and preserve the dust of his saints; has his eye upon every p. 137particle, throughout all the periods of time; and through the Divine Mediator, “will raise it up at the last day.” This doctrine was to him a great consolation in his unparalleled afflictions. “Though my skin,” says he, “is a tissue of disease and corruption—yea, though my body sink into the earth, and be eaten up of the worms, and my very reins be consumed within me—yet in my flesh, in this same body, reorganized, reanimated, and made immortal from the tomb, I shall see God—shall see him for myself, with these self-same eyes.”
Yes, brethren; the souls and bodies of all the human race shall be reunited; and with our own eyes, we shall see the judge of quick and dead, with his fan in his hand, thoroughly purging his floor, gathering the wheat into his garner, and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire. In that day, the tares and the wheat shall be for ever separated, and there shall be no more foolish virgins among the wise. “For we must all appear before the judgment-seat of Christ, that we may receive the things done in the body, according to that we have done, whether it be good or evil.”
How vast the difference between Messiah’s first and second advents! When he “tabernacled and dwelt among us,” he appeared “in the form of a servant;” but when he shall come again, he shall come as a judge, and “sit upon the throne of his glory;” and “all that are in their graves shall hear his voice, and come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.” “For the Son of man shall send forth his angels; and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them that do iniquity; and shall cast them into a furnace of fire; there shall he weeping and gnashing of teeth; then shall the righteous shine forth as the Sun in the kingdom of their Father.”
VIII. I call your attention to one other topic suggested by the text—the confidence with which Job speaks of his interest in the living Redeemer. “For I know that my Redeemer liveth.” It was not a mere conjecture. There was no doubt in the case. The patriarch had reached the assurance of faith; and so perfectly satisfied was he of the fact, that he expressed an intense desire that his words might be recorded on the most durable materials, that they might be read by generations to come.
How may we acquire the same confidence? What is the evidence p. 138of our interest in Job’s living Redeemer? The nature and effects of the change which has taken place in our hearts. You that “were sometime darkness, are now light in the Lord;” have been “called out of darkness into his marvellous light;” and can say—“One thing I know, that whereas I was once blind, now I see.” “The carnal mind is enmity against God;” but those that are born of the Spirit love God; and love and hatred are not so much alike, that you cannot tell by which principle you are governed. While the strong man armed kept the palace, his goods were in peace; but when a stronger than he came and cast him out, there was a warfare commenced between the old man and the new. You were formerly dead in trespasses and sins; but are now alive to God, through our Lord Jesus Christ. You were once destitute of faith in the Redeemer; but now you believe in him, and rely upon his righteousness alone, as the ground of your acceptance and salvation. How can you experience such a transformation, and know nothing of the matter? As well might the sick, when Christ healed them—as well might the blind, when Christ opened their eyes—as well might the dead, when Christ raised them to second life from the bed, the bier, or the grave—have been ignorant of the mighty change.
In the word of God, we have the testimony of many who had obtained the assurance of faith. “I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand upon the earth at the latter day”—was the testimony of Job. “The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer, and the horn of my salvation, in whom I will trust”—was the testimony of David. “I will greatly rejoice in the Lord; my soul shall be joyful in God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation; he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness”—was the testimony of Isaiah. “I know in whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day”—was the testimony of the apostle Paul. “We know that we are of God; we know that we have passed from death unto life; we know that when he shall appear, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is”—was the testimony of John, “the beloved disciple.”
“These things,” saith the apostle, “have I written unto you that believe in the name of the Son of God, that ye might know that ye have eternal life.” This is the design of God, in revealing p. 139his will to the church. We may—we should know that we have eternal life. “He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself.” But this assurance of faith is not a mere imagination of the brain. It is not founded on a vague notion of your being one of the elect, without any other evidence. It is not founded on a voice from heaven, bidding you be of good cheer, and go in peace, because your sins are forgiven you. It is founded on the fruits of the Spirit, and the testimony of Divine Revelation. True believers are “created anew in Christ Jesus, unto good works;” evincing the reality of their love to God by keeping his commandments.
Let us, therefore, give all diligence to make our calling and election sure. Let us examine ourselves, whether we are in the faith. Let us compare our religion with the precepts of the Bible, and the example of ancient saints. But as our hearts are so wicked and deceitful, let us not trust them, but pray to God for the aid of his Holy Spirit, in this important work of self-examination. Behold “the Sweet Singer of Israel,” praying—“Search me, O God, and try me; prove me, and know my heart.” The Holy Spirit has given you a rule by which you are to examine yourselves; and he works in you a conformity to that rule, and bears witness with your spirits that you are the children of God. In proportion to his operation upon the heart, will be the assurance of faith; and in proportion to the assurance of faith, will be your spiritual comfort and joy. The Lord grant us that “faith which worketh by love, and purifieth the heart!”
Are you stript of property, bereft of children, afflicted in body, forsaken of friends, persecuted and insulted by relatives? Think of Job, and of Job’s living Redeemer! Imitate the patriarch’s patience and confidence amid all the troubles and conflicts of life! Go your way until the end; for ye shall rest, and stand in your several lots at last!
Christmas Evans