JOB LESSON 19


     We will begin this lesson in Job 19:1 "Then Job answered and
said," Job 19:2 "How long will ye vex my soul, and break me in pieces
with words?"

     We must understand that the three men that were tearing Job to
pieces with their cruel accusations were supposed to be his friends.
Bildad's attack of Job in the last chapter was the most cruel of all
of them up, until this chapter. Cruel words spoken by people who are
your friends can cut your heart out. It left Job more wounded, than if
they had thrust a sword through him.

     Job 19:3 "These ten times have ye reproached me: ye are not
ashamed [that] ye make yourselves strange to me."

     It seemed their attack would never end. Job mentions ten times,
here. The sad thing was that they were not reluctantly reproving Job.
They were viciously attacking his character.

     Job 19:4 "And be it indeed [that] I have erred, mine error
remaineth with myself."

     He reminded them that he would pay for his own sins. They would
not be held responsible for what he had done.

     Job 19:5 "If indeed ye will magnify [yourselves] against me, and
plead against me my reproach:" Job 19:6 "Know now that God hath
overthrown me, and hath compassed me with his net."

     They had shown Job no mercy at all. He reminded them that he was
being punished by God for whatever it was that he had done wrong. It
was not their duty to add to his pain and suffering. It appeared, they
thought if they could tear Job down, it would elevate their positions.

     Job 19:7 "Behold, I cry out of wrong, but I am not heard: I cry
aloud, but [there is] no judgment."

     Job declared that the sufferings he had endured were undeserved.
He even cried to God about this, but it appeared that God had not
judged this particular situation at this time.

     Job 19:8 "He hath fenced up my way that I cannot pass, and he
hath set darkness in my paths."

     It appeared that God had blocked Job's way out of this trouble.
There was no light to guide Job in his escape from this problem.

     Job 19:9 "He hath stripped me of my glory, and taken the crown
[from] my head."

     Job had been glorified by God and man. He had prospered Job,
because of Job's faithfulness. It was actually God who allowed
Satan to take all of this away from Job. Job did not know about Satan,
but he was staying faithful to God.

     Job 19:10 "He hath destroyed me on every side, and I am gone: and
mine hope hath he removed like a tree."

     Job had been strong. He was established. Now, it appears he had
lost all hope.

     Job 19:11 "He hath also kindled his wrath against me, and he
counteth me unto him as [one of] his enemies."

     Job could have stood the calamities much better had he known
where they had come from. His worst hurt was believing that God's
wrath had been poured out upon him. He wanted to be God's friend, and
he felt that God counted him as His enemy. His loss of his close
relationship with God was the worst hurt he had.

     Job 19:12 "His troops come together, and raise up their way
against me, and encamp round about my tabernacle."

     Job felt that God had sent His troops against him. He believed
they had encircled him, and there was no way out.

     Job 19:13 "He hath put my brethren far from me, and mine
acquaintance are verily estranged from me."

     Since early on in the book of Job, we have not heard of any
family of Job. Even his wife has not been heard of, since she
suggested that Job curse God and die. It appears, that everyone had
left him that could. They, possibly, thought they might be punished
along with Job, if they stayed.

     Job 19:14 "My kinsfolk have failed, and my familiar friends have
forgotten me."

     Those who had come to Job's house for the great celebrations he
held had left. They did not want to catch Job's illness.

     Job 19:15 "They that dwell in mine house, and my maids, count me
for a stranger: I am an alien in their sight." Job 19:16 "I called my
servant, and he gave [me] no answer; I entreated him with my mouth."

     The only reason the servants and the maid had not left, was
because Job was their master. It appears, even they had lost respect
for Job. They, probably, thought like Job's friends, that Job was
being punished by God for his sins.

     Job 19:17 "My breath is strange to my wife, though I entreated
for the children's [sake] of mine own body."

     This was saying that Job had extremely bad breath from the
disease he had. He had lost the loving tenderness of his wife, because
of the terrible odor accompanying the disease. Everyone avoided him,
because of this terrible disease and the awful odor that accompanied
it.

     Job 19:18 "Yea, young children despised me; I arose, and they
spake against me."

     The children were, probably, saying out loud, what their parents
had said against Job in private.

     Job 19:19 "All my inward friends abhorred me: and they whom I
loved are turned against me."

     The inward friends were, probably, speaking of the friends that
he had as counsel. He had loved and trusted the three friends, that
had attacked him so brutally with their tongue.

     Job 19:20 "My bone cleaveth to my skin and to my flesh, and I am
escaped with the skin of my teeth."

     He had lost so much weight that his skin seemed to be stretched
over his bones.

     Job 19:21 "Have pity upon me, have pity upon me, O ye my friends;
for the hand of God hath touched me."

     Job was appealing to his friends and family to have pity upon
him. It was hard enough to endure the terrible things that had
happened to him, but was even harder when he had no one in sympathy
with him.

     Job 19:22 "Why do ye persecute me as God, and are not satisfied
with my flesh?"

     Job was asking his friends and family to not add to his
suffering.

     Job 19:23 "Oh that my words were now written! oh that they were
printed in a book!" Job 19:24 "That they were graven with an iron pen
and lead in the rock for ever!"

     I believe the words that Job was speaking of that he wanted
written down were the ones he was about to utter. They were so
important, I agree with Job, they should be engraved in stone.

     Job 19:25 "For I know [that] my redeemer liveth, and [that] he
shall stand at the latter [day] upon the earth:"

     I believe Job was speaking of the Redeemer {the Lord Jesus
Christ}.  "Liveth" is a word that means continues to live. He was
speaking prophetically of the King of kings and Lord of lords {Jesus
Christ} who stands in the latter days upon the earth. Notice, that Job
said "know". There was no doubt as far as Job was concerned. Job had
fulfilled the Scripture in Romans that says Romans 10:9 "That if thou
shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in
thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be
saved." Job had professed his faith in this.

     Job 19:26 "And [though] after my skin [worms] destroy this
[body], yet in my flesh shall I see God:"

     Job was saying though this disease killed his present body, and
he died, he would arise in a new body to meet God.

     Job 19:27 "Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall
behold, and not another; [though] my reins be consumed within me."

     Every eye shall see Him. Job was looking to that great and
glorious day, when we shall all meet God. He was not speaking of a
vision, or of a dream. He was speaking of reality. We are all
restrained at present from such an encounter. There is a day when Job,
and all who believe, shall behold Him.

     Job 19:28 "But ye should say, Why persecute we him, seeing the
root of the matter is found in me?"

     The statement that Job had just made should have stopped all of
the persecutions from his friends. If it did not, it would be because
of their lack of understanding, and not because of anything Job was
guilty of.

     Job 19:29 "Be ye afraid of the sword: for wrath [bringeth] the
punishments of the sword, that ye may know [there is] a judgment."

     Job was speaking of the sword of God which would destroy his
friends, if they happened to be persecuting an innocent man. We all
stand before the judgement seat of Christ. This judgement is just.
There will be those who thought they were in right standing with God
who will not be accepted. Job was warning his friends to be careful
how they judged. They will be judged, as they had judged.



















                           Job 19 Questions


1.  Who were vexing and tearing Job to pieces with their accusations?
2.  Who had been the most cruel so far?
3.  How many times did Job say they had reproached him?
4.  They were viciously attacking Job's _____________.
5.  He reminded them that ______ would pay for his own sins.
6.  Why were they tearing Job down?
7.  Job declared that the suffering he had endured was _____________.
8.  Who had Job been glorified by?
9.  In verse 11, what hurt Job the worst?
10. Who were estranged from Job?
11. How had Job's servants treated him?
12. Why had Job's wife not comforted him?
13. What had those who Job loved done to him?
14. What was he asking for in verse 21?
15. What did Job desire would be done with his proclamation of belief?
16. I know that my redeemer __________.
17. When shall he stand upon the earth?
18. Who was Job speaking of when he said redeemer?
19. What does "liveth" mean?
20. Quote Romans chapter 10 verse 9.
21. Quote Job chapter 19 verse 26.
22. What great and glorious day was Job looking forward to?
23. What effect should the statement Job just made have on his
    accusers?
24. What sword was Job speaking of?
25. Why should they be careful how they judged?