I never much cared for English class. It was probably the sentence structure that did me in. I still can’t tell you the meaning behind an imperative, participle or conjunctions. Maybe I was just bored with the details. I mean, I know how to speak. Shut up already! Yes, that was my young naiveté. I didn’t understand the power of words. I wasn’t willing to slow down enough to study the details so that I could later appreciate and employ the tools for myself. For example, do you know how words are constructed? Let’s look at one simple add on to a verb. Do you know what happens when you add “er” to a verb?
Consider that I build houses. It’s my occupation. When we add “er” to the word, build, I become a builder. Simple, right? While this feels like a silly exercise, I have to admit that noticing the two words build and builder together, give me a better picture of who I am. In fact, when I say that I am a builder, you get a certain picture in your head of what that looks like and how I will act. That is your picture of “builder.” Do you need one?
Don’t be offended. This is not a commercial for my building services, but I do know that if you want to build a house, it’s likely that you will consider hiring a builder. That is, if you think you need the services of a builder. I am always amazed at the people that don’t think they need any help. Apparently, they are experts in building. On the other hand, many people realize that they are not able to build a home themselves. If that is you, I hopeful that you would choose me. Then, I would be your builder. When people ask you who I am, you will respond, “he is my builder.” It is a valid description of who I am and what I do.
If today, someone asked you who Jesus is, what would you say? There are countless descriptions. He is hope, he is love, he is the Christ. Have you ever called him a redeemer? A redeemer pays debts. Or, according to google dictionary, he “gains possession of [us] in exchange for payment.” Fitting. Right? Thing is, he doesn’t become a redeem-er, until someone allows him to do the work. Do you need it? Or, are you an expert at redeeming yourself? Here’s the thing. When you do finally call in the expert to root out the stubborn weeds of sin and darkness, he is ready. In fact, he wants to be your redeemer. In the end, you will describe Jesus as “my redeemer.”
Today’s scriptures are writing from both David and Job. Each of them, for their own reasons, found redemption in God. When calling upon him, or describing him, they use the phrase “my redeemer.”
Psalms 19:14 (ESV) Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.
Job 19:25 – For I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last he will stand upon the earth