Job 19:23 Commentary and Bible Study

The turning point in Job’s experience. Suddenly the language changes in an amazing manner. In middle of his complaints God enables him to see what he did not appear to know before. Somehow the comfort of the Lord overwhelms Job, bringing to him a wonderful realisation of future hope. At the very least this is the comfort of the Holy Spirit seizing Job’s mind. But so dramatic are Job’s startled words, and so different are his thoughts from the gloomy views previously held, that this must surely be divine revelation to an unworthy penman.Job, who has frequently uttered his melancholy view that death is a place of darkness from which there is no return, is blessed by God with an understanding which has three wonderful elements. He is taught about the afterlife. He has it strongly confirmed to him that this will come from his Redeemer. (‘For I know that my redeemer liveth,’ the Hebrew word here means a kinsman-redeemer ; one who will purchase me out of all debt and trouble.) Finally he is powerfully reminded that his spiritual Redeemer is alive, and will one day be seen. (‘Oh that my words were now written’ are taken here to apply to the words which follow – as held by Matthew Henry, Barnes, Lange contributor, Keil, Robinson, etc – and not those which precede – as suggested by Calvin and a minority of exegetes.)To see this passage as being a triumphant profession of faith is not sufficient (according to W. H. Green), since the eternal-hope element expressed here is completely out of character with everything which Job has said before. He always believed in his Redeemer, but now the eternal hope is added either by revelation, or by a sudden spiritual apprehension of previously dormant knowledge. ‘We have reason to think that Job was just now under an extraordinary impulse of the blessed Spirit, which raised him above himself, gave him light and gave him utterance, even to his own surprise’ (Matthew Henry).Why does he want his words inscribed in a book or a scroll? Because God has given him a clear insight into truth. He wants them to be inscribed with iron pen and lead and chipped into rock – these are words that I will never take back, which can never change. He wants them to be preserved for all generations to read, and never forgotten. This is his testimony; it is truth for himself but also for all who believe. He wants them to be his clearest statement on the matter.