Christian Reflection and Prayer

I Know My Redeemer Lives

Scripture:

But as for me, I know that my Redeemer
lives, and that he will stand upon the earth
at last. And after my body has decayed,
yet in my body I will see God. I will see
him for myself. Yes, I will see him with my
own eyes. I am overwhelmed at the thought!
Job 19:25-27 NLT

Hymn:

I know that my Redeemer lives; what joy
the blest assurance gives! He lives, He lives,
who once was dead; He lives, my everlasting
Head!

He lives, all glory to His name; He lives, my
Savior, still the same; what joy the blest
assurance gives: I know that my Redeemer lives!
I Know That My Redeemer Lives
Samuel Medley (1738-1799)

Reflection:

One of those verses

Every once in a while, a verse jumps out of the
Old Testament and takes on a new meaning.
Job lost his fortune, family, and much of his
health. In a stunning display of faith, he expresses
his only remaining hope: "I know that my Redeemer
lives, and that in the end he will stand upon the
earth" (Job 19:25). The words find an uncanny
fulfillment in Jesus.

Jesus gave His life to redeem us, to buy us
back from our slavery to sin. His death was the
price of our freedom. But that's not the bottom
line, thank God. As the sun rises on Easter
morning, we can say with Job, "I know that
my Redeemer lives." He lives! Death could not
hold Him. He lives, to finish salvation's work in me.

Hymn writer Samuel Medley often repeated words
and phrases in his songs. Here, what's repeated is
the most important concept: "He lives…He lives…
He lives."

("Resurrection Week" readings are adapted
from The One Year® Book of Hymns by Mark
Norton and Robert Brown, Tyndale House
Publishers (1995). Today's is taken from the
entry for April 2.)