Title: Wishes After Death/Job 14:7-17
Content Job 14:7-17
wishes after death
--There was a Jew who ran a small shop. Unfortunately, he fell terribly ill and was now in a very pitiful state with only death near. As he approached his deathbed, the whole family mourned and sat solemnly around the merchant's head. After a while, the dying merchant barely speaks in a voice that seems to be out of breath.
"Honey, where are you?", "I'm here. Heuk heuk..."
"First, where are you?" "Father, here it is." "Second, where are you?" "Father, I'm here." "Maknae, where are you?" "Father, I'm here too."
Then the merchant suddenly shouted with all his might.
"Then who the hell is guarding the store?"
It is the image of a merchant who is worried about the store even when death is imminent.
It makes us think and smile. We all know that one day we will surely die.
Are we really thinking about death?
From this point of view, the view of death described by Job in the text is truly realistic. At the time, Job was almost giving up his life. Realistically, death was a cold cut off from life, the end of life, and a state in which nothing could be hoped for any more. Yet, even in the face of such a tragic death, Job was looking forward to the hope beyond death.
Job complains that trees can grow and grow even when they are cut down, but humans are inferior to trees because once they die, they are destroyed. However, Job recalls his past communion with God and asks him to hide himself in Hades, believing that the happiness after death is far better than the sufferings of the present (13). Although it is not clear, Job has a hope that God will put him in hell until the wrath has passed, and then will raise him up again at the end of time.
Looking at Job's faith, we try to seek grace.
##### 1. Job begged to be hidden in Hades
Most of the ancient Israelites had the idea that when a person dies, he goes down to 'Sheol', or Hades. So, Hades is not a place like paradise or hell as we think of it now, but a place that was considered to be a place where everyone goes down when they die, whether they are evil or good. But Job first confesses in verse 13, "You have hidden me in hell."
In the face of death, he concluded that death is a complete annihilation, a state in which the energy of life is completely cut off. But here he prayed that he would hide himself in Hades.
--There's a huge difference between being completely annihilated and being hidden. This is because the former means nothing, but the latter means existence.
The one who has resigned himself to utter nothingness cannot and need not pray to hide himself. Concealment only becomes when something exists. Going one step further, the hidden things become the property of the hidden ones. In this way, it can be said that Job prayed that he would still belong to God after his death.
how are we How much trust do you really have after death?
##### 2. Job prayed for rest from his wrath
Then, in verse 13, Job prayed, "Hide me until the wrath of the Lord rests...". This is connected to the words of verse 17 of the text, “You seal up my iniquities in your pocket and bind up my iniquities.” More specifically, it was a prayer for forgiveness of your sins.
In the past, Moses had prayed in a direct connection between sin and death, and it became the common belief of the ancient people of Israel. In this way, it is clear that Job's plea for God to rest his wrath was to forgive his sins and at the same time save him from perfect death. Because a forgiven person can never die.
That's right. Job prayed to God that he would never die even if he went down to hell. It is truly astonishing that he prayed such a prayer in the midst of a time when the notion of the afterlife was vague.
But we must not only pray such a prayer, but also believe that even if we die, we will live forever.
--There is a confession in the Apostles' Creed that we believe in eternal life. Is that really our belief?
##### 3. Job prayed to be remembered on an appointed day
Then Job prayed in verse 13, “Set a time for me and remember me.”
This is clearly an expectation of the Resurrection. So, in reality, death can only be death at face value, but nevertheless, Job expected that he would rise again on the day set by God. Again, how amazing it is that Job prayed such a prayer in a time when the hope of the future was not clear.
Do we have such a vision and hope?
Saints!
Despite the fact that everyone is inevitably subject to death, in reality, most people do not realize it, and when they die, the world after that is dark and often struggles.
However, as followers of Christ, we should be able to live proudly and die proudly with a clear view of life.