Come Away My Beloved

One of the things that I have found that keeps me more on track with interpreting the Word of God is knowing which covenant the writer is speaking about. Going back to the law caused a lot of problems in the early church and it continues to do so to this day. But there are some of old covenant who though they stood on the other side of the cross were able to see past it to a better covenant. They never lived under it but by eyes of faith they stood looking at it. One of those was Job. Look at this:

Job 19:25-29

25 For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth:

26 And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God:

27 Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me.

28 But ye should say, Why persecute we him, seeing the root of the matter is found in me?

29 Be ye afraid of the sword: for wrath bringeth the punishments of the sword, that ye may know there is a judgment.

(KJV)

He is pressed on every side by the attack of the devil, his wife’s lack of faith and the bitter attacks of his so-called friends. If there was a man who did not need enemies it was Job. His friends were willing to do him in. His wife told him to curse God and die. Except Elihu none of his friends seem to have any love for him or even a rudimentary knowledge of God.

But he looked on past that veil and saw the future. “For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth.” I know that my redeemer liveth. This is a redeemer who is to come. This is one who would stand on the earth some time in the future. It is the one who was dead and is alive. Yet Job sees that redeemer as alive. He continues, “I shall see God… mine eyes shall behold.” Without the book of Revelation, without the Gospels and the letters, and in fact without the Psalms, Proverbs and the prophets Job has seen the reality of God and somehow knows that some day he will be with the Father.

How did he get this kind of knowledge? Sitting in prophecy conferences? Reading the latest conspiracy theory? Reading the “Left Behind” series? Ridiculous to even suggest that, isn’t it? Let me tell you where he got that knowledge. He got it the same way Paul got the revelation of Jesus Christ. He got it the same way John got the much-misunderstood Revelation of Jesus Christ. Check the book of Revelation some time. That is how it starts. It is the Revelation of Jesus Christ. How have those of the faith who have gone before us and many that are alive today gotten the revelation of Jesus?

They got it by learning to know God. They learned it by reading His Word, getting to know him in time of prayer, worship and communion with Him. They got it by listening to Him through his word and through listening to the still small voice that prompts us to “Spend time with me. ‘Come away my beloved.’ Get to know my heart.” It can be bolstered by listening to others of the faith who have gotten that revelation who can guide us, not to know Him, but to aid us in learning to know him.

I am not putting down the conferences and the books. I am putting down the emphasis on them which has driven many to replace the time with Him with time with them. If you think you have not done this, ask this question. “Has this note raised ire in me because he is saying I need to change? Has it ruffled my feathers because I have been immersed in these things?” If it does, I suggest you pull back from these things and spend time with him.