That's right. You read the title correctly. If you know anything about Job, you might think I've lost it. Or that I am reading into the text with New Testament eyes. Yet, in the midst of preparing for last night's study on Chapter 14, I came across these verses:
13 “If only you would hide me in the grave
and conceal me till your anger has passed!
If only you would set me a time
and then remember me!
14 If someone dies, will they live again?
All the days of my hard service
I will wait for my renewal to come.
15 You will call and I will answer you;
you will long for the creature your hands have made.
16 Surely then you will count my steps
but not keep track of my sin.
17 My offenses will be sealed up in a bag;
you will cover over my sin.
My first reaction was to wonder what gave the writer the idea that what is described in these verses is a possibility. While he doesn't use the word "resurrection," at the very least he implies it or something similar to it. A fully developed doctrine of resurrection and the afterlife did not come into Hebrew literature until Hellenistic (Greek) times and later, but many believe that these concepts were not completely foreign to preexilic Israel.
According to Elmer Smick in the revised version of The Expositor's Bible Commentary, "this chapter proves Job believes in the possibility of resurrection." That's a pretty exciting thought for me. I believe it is a testimony to the inspired nature of God's word. The book of Job is considered one of the oldest, if not the oldest pieces of Hebrew literature. Sheol (the grave) is mentioned throughout the work as a permanent place people go to when they die. This was the commonly perceived way to see death for Jews in the Old Testament. Yet, in this ancient time, we see a hint of the possibility that God may have something greater in store for his people.
"If only..." Job begins in v. 13, God would "...hide me in the grave...and then remember me." Good news Job: He has and he will!
13 “If only you would hide me in the grave
and conceal me till your anger has passed!
If only you would set me a time
and then remember me!
14 If someone dies, will they live again?
All the days of my hard service
I will wait for my renewal to come.
15 You will call and I will answer you;
you will long for the creature your hands have made.
16 Surely then you will count my steps
but not keep track of my sin.
17 My offenses will be sealed up in a bag;
you will cover over my sin.
My first reaction was to wonder what gave the writer the idea that what is described in these verses is a possibility. While he doesn't use the word "resurrection," at the very least he implies it or something similar to it. A fully developed doctrine of resurrection and the afterlife did not come into Hebrew literature until Hellenistic (Greek) times and later, but many believe that these concepts were not completely foreign to preexilic Israel.
According to Elmer Smick in the revised version of The Expositor's Bible Commentary, "this chapter proves Job believes in the possibility of resurrection." That's a pretty exciting thought for me. I believe it is a testimony to the inspired nature of God's word. The book of Job is considered one of the oldest, if not the oldest pieces of Hebrew literature. Sheol (the grave) is mentioned throughout the work as a permanent place people go to when they die. This was the commonly perceived way to see death for Jews in the Old Testament. Yet, in this ancient time, we see a hint of the possibility that God may have something greater in store for his people.
"If only..." Job begins in v. 13, God would "...hide me in the grave...and then remember me." Good news Job: He has and he will!
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