I Know That My Redeemer Lives

Twenty-fifth Sunday of Pentecost

Job 19: 23 - 27

Although the Book of Job is one of the most beautiful books of poetry we have in all literature, it is complex and difficult to understand.

Job suffers many losses and diseases, and well-meaning friends, who do not understand his situation and who do not have the wisdom to understand his relationship with God, try to comfort him, but they only make him angry with their superficial knowledge of the nature of God.

In the midst of the worst of things, Job responds with one of the most beautiful poems of hope ever written, so beautiful that nearly 3000 years later, it inspired George Friedrick Handel to write one of the most beautiful airs in all music, Number 45 of Messiah, I Know that My Redeemer Liveth.

Bring a tape or recording of the air to class, so your students can listen to wisdom and beauty that transcend 3000 years. Kiri Te Kanewa has made a tape that is widely available, but there are dozens, if not hundreds, of recordings.

Redeemer, Defender, and Savior are names of God that we use to describe Jesus. Job used these words to describe God 1000 years before Jesus was born.

1. What does Job know for certain about God?

[Job knows that God lives.]

2. What will Job's Redeemer (or Defender) do?

[Job's Redeemer will stand upon the earth.]

3. What happens if Job's Redeemer appears only after Job dies?

[Job will still see him as though he were a person living on earth.]