This is one of the more remarkable passages in Job to me. Because though Job has no knowledge of Jesus (who of course had yet to be born), yet he cries out his faith in a Redeemer.
First, he once again blasts his friends for failing to support him in his time of trouble, and for being blind to his situation. But in the midst of all this, he cries out,
Give me, O God, the pledge you demand.
Who else will put up security for me? (Job 17:3)
It’s a bit unclear exactly what picture Job is giving here. Generally, the idea of being a pledge and putting up security carries the idea of a guarantee.
We see in Genesis, for example, that Judah made himself surety for his brother Benjamin. He guaranteed with his life that Benjamin would be returned to Jacob.
And when Joseph threatened to take Benjamin as his slave, Judah pleaded to be taken in Benjamin’s place, because of his promise to Jacob.
In the case of a loan, sometimes a third party would act as a guarantor for the borrower. If the borrower defaulted, the third party would pay.
It seems here, though, that the picture is of a person that would put in a pledge on the accused’s behalf professing his belief in the accused’s innocence.
What exactly this pledge was for is not clear. Perhaps it was required by the judge simply for the purpose of saying that a trial was actually necessary and that the person should not be automatically condemned.
Or perhaps it was for the purpose of paying recompense if the accused was found guilty and could not pay for the damages himself.
It is a very unique picture Job presents here, because God is both the judge that demands the pledge from the guarantor, and is the guarantor himself.
But that is exactly what Jesus did for us. Though he is God, and all judgment has been given to him by the Father (John 5:22), nevertheless, he stands as our guarantor.
And when we proved to be guilty and unable to pay the price, he paid it with his own blood.
Anyway, in the midst of all Job’s complaints at how God had been unjustly punishing him, he amazingly cries out in faith,
I know that my Redeemer lives,
and that in the end he will stand on the earth.
And after my skin has been destroyed,
yet in my flesh I will see God;
I myself will see him
with my own eyes — I, and not another.
How my heart yearns within me! (Job 19:25-27)
Sometimes in the book of Job, you kind of wonder if he believed in an afterlife. And it seems his views are a bit confused depending on his mood.
But here, he seems to proclaim loudly that there is something after death. And that after his life was over, he would be vindicated by his Redeemer.
We too have that same hope. Though we may go through trials and struggles, in the end, our Redeemer lives and he will stand on the earth. On that day, he will speak up for us before the Father, saying, “I have paid the price for their sin.”
And because of that, as Paul wrote, there will be no condemnation for those of us who are in Christ Jesus.
I love the song by Keith Green that says,
There is a Redeemer,
Jesus, God’s own Son,
Precious Lamb of God, Messiah,
Holy One.
Jesus my Redeemer,
Name above all names,
Precious Lamb of God, Messiah,
Hope for sinners slain.
When I stand in Glory,
I will see His face,
There I’ll serve my King forever,
In that Holy Place.
Thank you oh my Father,
For giving us Your Son,
And leaving Your Spirit,
‘Til the work on Earth is done.
Moment to Moment (Bible blog) 