Job's Recorded Words

There was a man who lived in Old Testament days named Job. We believe he lived somewhere around the time of the patriarchs (Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob). God calls Job a holy man. In fact, God told the heavenly court, which included Satan on that day, that there was no one on earth like Job. 

Job 1:8 (NLT) 

Then the LORD asked Satan, “Have you noticed my servant Job? He is the finest man in all the earth. He is blameless—a man of complete integrity. He fears God and stays away from evil.” 

The events that follow this heavenly conversation are beyond our ability to fully comprehend. God allowed Satan to test Job, taking away everything precious in his life. Job entered a time of great suffering and grief. Suffering and grief that I cannot even imagine. 

Job cries out to God in his suffering because he can’t understand why such horrible judgment has come upon him. Job’s wife sees his great suffering and torment and tells him to curse God and die. In that moment, Job acknowledges that God has allowed both good and evil to be a part of his life. 

Job 2:8-10 (NLT) 

Job scraped his skin with a piece of broken pottery as he sat among the ashes. 

9 His wife said to him, “Are you still trying to maintain your integrity? Curse God and die.” 10 But Job replied, “You talk like a foolish woman. Should we accept only good things from the hand of God and never anything bad?” So in all this, Job said nothing wrong. 

Job said nothing wrong! Yet he suffered on and on from his great loss. It’s at this point, in the midst of Job’s great grief, that he makes this statement to those who had come to comfort him. 

Job 19:23-24 (NLT) 

“Oh, that my words could be recorded. Oh, that they could be inscribed on a monument, 24 carved with an iron chisel and filled with lead, engraved forever in the rock. 

How could Job have imagined that his words would be recorded for all future generations to read? But God protected and recorded the words of Job and wrote them in a book alongside the very words of God himself. 

Job was a holy man who suffered great loss while living on the earth in human flesh. But Job’s words were recorded by God. Job’s words were recorded by God for those who would follow after Job. And what are those words that could help us in our time of suffering today? What words of Job could help us in our time of waiting today? 

Job 19:25-27 (NLT) 

“But as for me, I know that my Redeemer lives, and he will stand upon the earth at last. 26 And after my body has decayed, yet in my body I will see God! 

27 I will see him for myself. Yes, I will see him with my own eyes. I am overwhelmed at the thought! 

I find great comfort in these recorded words of Job today. I join Job and proclaim these same words today…I know that my Redeemer lives, and he will stand upon the earth at last. 26 And after my body has decayed, yet in my body I will see God! 

27 I will see him for myself. Yes, I will see him with my own eyes. I am overwhelmed at the thought! 

Job was a holy man, and holy men today continue in this same hope. 

Maranatha, Hosanna, Hallelujah and Amen, 

Terry Cooper 

Lead Minister