Job 14 – Mishkan Daviyd

Job 14 is a bright light of hope for Job and mankind as well. Job alludes to the hope he has in God’s plan for mankind. It is hope for us today and great joy for the world in the future. It explains why Job was willing rest in Sheol until the appointed time. It is a hope few realize, but a hope we all need to cling to. Job and all the prophets of the Bible speak of this hope including those in the New Testament.

Job 14:1

¹Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble.

Job starts off this chapter in the stark realization of our lives. We are born in this world and our lives are short in comparison to that of God. Yet our lives are filled with trouble. Not that trouble should always result in sorrow, but no one lives a life without obstacles. This is the world that mankind is born into, a world filled with ups and downs. Unfortunately, man worsens this condition by choosing to lead their own lives rather than follow God’s pathway.

Even the believer who walks with God will find that life is fraught with strife. Paul declared in Acts 14:22.

²²Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.

For the believer there will be tribulation. This can result in growth if one so chooses and the effects of tribulation become less. Whether one seeks the life of God or walks with the world, there will be tribulation. The difference is, will God be one’s strength and joy, or will they lose faith and continue to stumble?

Next, Job speaks of the curse that is upon mankind in Job 14:2-4:

²He cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down: he fleeth also as a shadow, and continueth not. ³And dost thou open thine eyes upon such an one, and bringest me into judgment with thee? ⁴Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? not one.

We are born with a curse in us. Unless God changes something, we will not rise in the resurrection. Simply stated in Hebrews 9:27A.

²⁷And as it is appointed unto men once to die,

All have an appointment with death, none will cheat death. All of mankind is born with the curse of Adamic death in them.

What Job states in Job 14:4 is an admission that mankind can not save itself. We are all born unclean and on our own we can not save ourselves. Only God can bring the clean out of the unclean through new birth.

Job 14:5-6

⁵Seeing his days are determined, the number of his months are with thee, thou hast appointed his bounds that he cannot pass; ⁶Turn from him, that he may rest, till he shall accomplish, as an hireling, his day.

Job stated that our time on earth is set, we cannot exceed it. We can only shorten our time through our own foolishness. There is tribulation and again through our foolishness, we increase it because we chose unwisely. If we choose a path other than the one God would choose for us, life can become a burden. In this short life, if God is not for us, we can come to an end at any time. Life is unpredictable outside of God. If we do not choose God, God does not choose us.

Job 14:7-11

⁷For there is hope of a tree, if it be cut down, that it will sprout again, and that the tender branch thereof will not cease. ⁸Though the root thereof wax old in the earth, and the stock thereof die in the ground; ⁹Yet through the scent of water it will bud, and bring forth boughs like a plant. ¹⁰But man dieth, and wasteth away: yea, man giveth up the ghost, and where is he? ¹¹As the waters fail from the sea, and the flood decayeth and drieth up:

When a tree dies there is hope that it will sprout again. Even though the root may look old and the remainder appear to die, there is hope that from its death a new tree will spring to life. Many of us have seen an entire forest appear to be dead or ravaged with fire; only to come back to life at a later time. When new trees are springing to life, it is as if the life has come from the dead tree.

It seems as if Job has hope for a tree, yet very little for man beyond this lifetime. That is an incorrect understanding of Job’s word. Job is not contrasting, he is making a comparison. Job stated concerning man in Job 14:12.

¹²So man lieth down, and riseth not: till the heavens be no more, they shall not awake, nor be raised out of their sleep

What Job stated in Job 14:12 seems to flow with what he just previously stated in Job 14:7-11. Throughout history many would agree that this life ends with no rebirth. Man dies and remains dead. However in the middle of it all, Job stated, Job 14:12B.

^12Btill the heavens be no more

Why would Job state that man lies down and until a time comes. Job is indicating that there is a time in the future, when mankind will arise. We have to remember what God stated about Job in Job 42. God stated that Job spoke rightly concerning Him. As such, we cannot merely disregard Job’s word. Even Paul stated in Acts 24:15.

¹⁵And have hope toward God, which they themselves also allow, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust.

In the future, there is a resurrection of both the just and unjust. Job is alluding to this as will be apparent later in the chapter. Job is referring to a time in the future when all would rise up. Yeshua stated similarly in John 5:28-29.

²⁸Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, ²⁹And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.

Job is speaking of something that possibly few of his time understood. Even today, many are unaware of God’s overall plan for mankind. We need to open our minds to the possibility that God may have a plan for the future different than we perceive or have been taught. When Yeshua came the first time, few were really in tune with what was going to happen. Are believers today that much more spiritually aware of God’s Word?

Job continues in this line of thought. We must remember this is coming from a man who lived before the common era. Long before Yeshua walked the face of this earth. The Book of Job is considered by many to be the oldest book of the Bible. Long before Moses wrote the Torah, Job stated in Job 14:13.

¹³O that thou wouldest hide me in the grave, that thou wouldest keep me secret, until thy wrath be past, that thou wouldest appoint me a set time, and remember me!

Job longed for death not to go to a fiery torment, but to end his suffering. Job knew that at death, he would have rest from all his troubles. He would go to the same place as all those who lived prior to him. All would go to Sheol (7585) to rest. Yet here Job speaks of a time after he has died when God would remember him. God has an appointed time that He would remember not just Job, but all those who have gone to the grave. As it is written in John 5:25

²⁵Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live.

There is coming a time when the dead will hear Yeshua’s voice and rise. Is this just those that were saved in this lifetime? Much more, again Yeshua’s words in John 5:28-29.

In this passage, Yeshua speaks of both the good and the bad rising. If Job was to be part of the resurrection of damnation, why would he be looking forward to a time of damnation? Possibly Job knows something that so few of us have heard or understand.

Job was born prior to the first coming, Job could not have salvation. That is clear from what Peter declared in Acts 4:12.

¹²Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

Salvation only comes through the one name, Yeshua. Peter stated that there was no other way to be saved. If this is true, then why did Job look forward to this time. Because Job knew something that many of the prophets knew. Later in the Book of Job, God will authenticate Job’s words.

Job 14:14

¹⁴If a man die, shall he live again? all the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come.

Now Job is telling us that in the future a change will occur. Job who longed for death understood at death he goes to Sheol (7585). He waits there until the appointed time, when God will cause both the just and unjust to rise.

It is important that this statement be examined, Job 14:14A.

^14AIf a man die, shall he live again?

One ought to consider this question carefully. Can a man who did not know Yeshua either because he died prior to the resurrection, he did not ever hear the name or was not saved, will he live again? Job is not asking the question, he has the answer. Job has known the answer from the beginning. This is why Job preferred the rest of Sheol (7585) to that of the misery of his present life.

Job 14:14B

^14Ball the days of my appointed time will I wait,

Paul and Yeshua spoke of a future resurrection for all mankind. Job is not the only individual in the Hebrew Scriptures to speak of this time. The writer of Hebrews speaks of others who look forward to a future, Hebrews 11:35.

³⁵Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection:

There were others that knew of a future time coming. They were waiting for a better resurrection in the future. A better resurrection is better than the resurrection some saw in their lifetime. The one they saw is called the early resurrection, as referred to in 2 Kings 4:35.

³⁵Then he returned, and walked in the house to and fro; and went up, and stretched himself upon him: and the child sneezed seven times, and the child opened his eyes.

This is when Elisha brought the young man back to life. This is just one example of the early resurrection. It is when one dies, but comes back to life. It is not the resurrection that Yeshua experienced. Those that experienced the early resurrection will return to the grave as Lazarus did, they will die again. Now the resurrection in Hebrews11:35 is the resurrection that Job is awaiting. It is to occur in the future, when Yeshua returns. When every eye will see Him.

Job 14:14C

^14Ctill my change come.

This is similar to what the Psalmist stated in Psalm 17:15.

¹⁵As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness.

When the Psalmist stated to awake, he is not referring to the time he sleeps in his bed. The Psalmist is referring to the time when he awakes from his rest in Sheol (7585). To arise in God’s likeness, a change would have to occur.

Now there are many in Christianity who believe that King David who wrote this psalm is in heaven with God today. However, for that to be possible, one would have to ignore Yeshua’s words in John 3:13.

¹³And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.

John 3:13 is not a difficult verse to understand. Yeshua is telling us that no one, including King David, had gone to heaven at the time Yeshua was walking the earth. This would include Enoch and Elijah. Yeshua stated,

^13AAnd no man hath ascended up to heaven,

Who are you going to believe? All the various theologians and preachers out there, or your Messiah? He stated, “no man”. Further, Peter stated on of the Day of Pentecost in Acts that David is not in heaven, Acts 2:34.

³⁴For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand,

David is not in heaven. Who are you going to believe, Yeshua and the Word of God or someone else?

Too often today, people believe doctrines or concepts that are partially based on the Bible. Doctrines must be true to the complete word throughout the Bible. One can believe in a doctrine that is not support throughout the Bible, but that can result in a life less than satisfying. We must stay within the boundaries of the Bible consistently.

We cannot pick and choose what we believe in the Bible. Either the Bible is the Word of God or it is not. If it is not, then it is man’s writings and it is just some fairy tale. Peter said it is not a fable in 2 Peter 1:16.

¹⁶For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Yeshua Messiah, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty.

We have to be “all in” or we are “all out”. We have to believe every word of the Bible or it is just cunningly devised fables. Do not be the one that Yeshua will tell something similar to Luke 6:46.

⁴⁶And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?

As such, we have no option but to believe that David, Job and many others were awaiting a future event. Job continues with this thought in Job 14:15.

¹⁵Thou shalt call, and I will answer thee: thou wilt have a desire to the work of thine hands.

Job looks forward to the future resurrection, when God will call his name. During that time, Job and many others will rise from the grave, John 5:29.

²⁹And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.

In the future Millennium, there will be a number of events occurring that would astound the average believer. Peter alludes to this in Acts 3:20-21

²⁰And he shall send Yeshua Messiah, which before was preached unto you: ²¹Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.

In Acts 3:20, Obviously Peter is speaking of the second coming of Messiah. However, Peter calls it the Restitution of All Things rather than the Second Coming or the millennium.

What is important here is this word restitution. It is only used once in the Bible and has a unique meaning. Restitution means restoration of a true theocracy, restoration of the perfect state before the fall. It is referring to restoration of estates to the rightful owners or a balancing of accounts, as in a total restoration to the original party. In translations other than the King James, it is often translated refreshing or reformation. These do not have the same meaning as restitution.

Restitution is a total restoration to the former. It can be compared to the difference between filling a pot hole as opposed to scraping the entire road up and laying a new bed of asphalt. Restitution is a whole new beginning. In Biblical terms, it refers to God scraping this world clean, and ruling and reigning in the perfect theocracy. Again Acts 3:21.

²¹Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.

Yeshua is in heaven until the restitution of all things begins. Further, Peter stated that this is spoken of by all the prophets. Therefore this should not be news to those who study the Bible faithfully. If it is new, then you have to ask yourself, what have you been missing, Acts 3:22-23.

²²For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you. ²³And it shall come to pass, that every soul, which will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people.

In Acts 3:23, Peter stated every soul which will not hear the prophet will be destroyed. Peter is very specific here. It is important when we read and study the Bible, we pay close attention to the exact words and their meaning, and not necessarily what we have been taught.

Peter stated will not, as opposed to cannot. It means that there is a refusal as opposed to a lack of opportunity. This implies that every individual is given the opportunity. Even if they were born in Africa, Asia or any other region of the world, where a Christian missionary never preached. It also includes all those who died prior to the cross. Therefore, all will be given the opportunity and will be required to decide.

In Acts 3, Peter is actually quoting from Deuteronomy 18, where it speaks about the prophet like Moses, Deuteronomy 18:15.

¹⁵The LORD thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken;

The significant part of this passage is that individuals must hearken unto this prophet, Deuteronomy 18:18.

¹⁸I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him.

God would put His words in the mouth of this prophet. This is the prophet like Moses, there is only one possibility. Only Yeshua could be this prophet.

Deuteronomy 18:19

¹⁹And it shall come to pass, that whosoever will not hearken unto my words which he shall speak in my name, I will require it of him.

God stated if one does not hearken, God will require of the individual. This is what Peter had stated in Acts 3. To require means to pay a penalty.

And it is not whoever can hear him, it is those that will not hearken. For the Children of Israel, this puts them in a bit of a dilemma. Because in Deuteronomy 34:10 it is recorded.

¹⁰And there arose not a prophet since in Israel like unto Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face,

There was not a prophet like Moses at that time. Therefore, how could an individual hearken unto the Prophet?

One individual stated that the prophet like Moses was Joshua. However, it is recorded in Deuteronomy 34:9.

⁹And Joshua the son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom; for Moses had laid his hands upon him: and the Children of Israel hearkened unto him, and did as the LORD commanded Moses.

This is right before stating that there was not a prophet like Moses; therefore, Joshua was not the prophet like Moses.

So the Children of Israel in Deuteronomy 18 were in a serious dilemma. How could they hearken unto a prophet like Moses, when most of them died before the prophet spoke? You can go through the entire Hebrew Scriptures and no prophet knew God face to face as Moses did. Then in Acts, Stephen a Jewish believer quotes from Deuteronomy 18 in Acts 7:37.

³⁷This is that Moses, which said unto the children of Israel, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear.

It should be common knowledge among believers that Yeshua is the prophet like Moses. However, the dilemma for the Children of Israel of Deuteronomy 18 continues. When Yeshua came, the people Moses was speaking to had been dead for over 1500 years. How could these people hearken to the prophet like Moses, when they are dead? Remember, God said you have to hear him, one must hearken to the prophet like Moses.

Why would Moses state this in Deuteronomy 18? Because God told him to and because it was true. This is not some fantasy, this is the Bible, the word of God.

Isaiah 55:8-11

⁸For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. ⁹For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. ¹⁰For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: ¹¹So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

God is not like us. His word does not return void. God has the answer to this dilemma in the Greek Scriptures. It is during the Restitution of All Things that this is resolved. As we continue through the Book of Job, Job will speak of this again.

What is being referred to here by Job, Peter and Moses, is what makes our gospel the real good news. It is during the second coming, when all these people Moses spoke to will be resurrected and have a chance to hear. I know that this may be far different than what most may claim, but this is what the Bible declares.

Acts 3:24-26

²⁴Yea, and all the prophets from Samuel and those that follow after, as many as have spoken, have likewise foretold of these days. ²⁵Ye are the children of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying unto Abraham, And in thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed. ²⁶Unto you first God, having raised up his Son Yeshua, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities.

Again Peter stated that all the prophets spoke of this event. In Acts 3:25, Peter reminds us of an important promise of God from Genesis 12:2-3.

²And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: ³And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.

If you have ever wondered how all the families of the earth will be blessed by Abraham, the Restitution of All Things answers this question as well. Because the restitution of all things that is spoken of by all the prophets of the Bible, effects all those living today, those in the past, and those in the future to come. It is the overlooked portion of the gospel, that makes the gospel the good news that includes all descendants of Adam’s race. It answers the question, what happens to people that have never heard of Yeshua through the testimony of the Holy Spirit, past, present and future.

It has been my experience that this question burns in the minds of most truth seekers. Job understood this issue and knew the answer, we should too. This is discussed further in Job 19.

Job 14:16

¹⁶For now thou numberest my steps: dost thou not watch over my sin?

Job returns to the time he is living. The sin that Job is referring to is not the sin that so many assume that Job has committed. It is the sin we all have. Job as perfect and upright as God stated he was in Job 1 and 2 fell short, Romans 3:23.

²³For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

All of us fall short of the glory. It is only because of God and His grace that we exist on this earth. All of us are born with Adamic sin, because of what Adam did in the Garden and only because of God’s allowance, do any of us exist.

Job 14:17-19

¹⁷My transgression is sealed up in a bag, and thou sewest up mine iniquity. ¹⁸And surely the mountain falling cometh to nought, and the rock is removed out of his place. ¹⁹The waters wear the stones: thou washest away the things which grow out of the dust of the earth; and thou destroyest the hope of man.

Just as water slowly but surely wears away a rock because of erosion, our lives are worn away in this lifetime. Try as we might, the world will wear us away. We have absolutely no hope in this lifetime of achieving total perfection. Our hope should be in the life to come.

Job continues in Job 14:20-22

²⁰Thou prevailest for ever against him, and he passeth: thou changest his countenance, and sendest him away. ²¹His sons come to honour, and he knoweth it not; and they are brought low, but he perceiveth it not of them. ²²But his flesh upon him shall have pain, and his soul within him shall mourn.

All men will experience tribulation in this lifetime and die. During Job’s lifetime, what happens to one’s children is not known, because the parent goes to Sheol (7585) in a state of unconscious rest. This is the way of man, we go to the ground and do not know what happens afterward. We remain there, until God decides otherwise. Until the appointed time of the restitution of all things.

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