Sharper Iron — There Is a Redeemer – Job 15:1-35: Bullying Rhetorical Questions
Eliphaz begins his second speech to Job by accusing Job of spouting off wisdom no better than the wind. Although Eliphaz is convinced Job knows neither the fear nor the council of God, Eliphaz believes he does know such wisdom. Through bullying rhetorical questions, Eliphaz attempts to put Job in his place as one who must be among the wicked. If Job will just listen, Eliphaz claims, Job will learn how things truly go for the wicked in this life. In learning that, Eliphaz believes Job will learn to repent so that his life can be turned around.
Rev. Peter Ill, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Millstadt, IL, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Job 15:1-35.
“There Is a Redeemer” is a series on Sharper Iron that studies the book of Job. The suffering of Job raises important questions. Does man fear God for no reason? Shall we receive good from God, and shall we not receive evil? Who can be an arbiter for man? As this book of wisdom literature wrestles with such questions, God reveals to us that He is our Living Redeemer whom we are right to fear, love, and trust above all things.
Sharper Iron, hosted by Rev. Timothy Appel, looks at the text of Holy Scripture both in its broad context and its narrow detail, all for the sake of proclaiming Christ crucified and risen for sinners. Two pastors engage with God’s Word to sharpen not only their own faith and knowledge, but the faith and knowledge of all who listen. Pastor Appel serves at Faith Lutheran Church in Godfrey, IL. Learn more at flcgodfrey.org. Submit comments or questions to: listener@kfuo.org
Sharper Iron is underwritten by Lutheran Church Extension Fund. Together in faith, LCEF helps to start, sustain and strengthen LCMS ministries through financial and strategic partnerships. Visit lcef.org.
Job 15:1-35
Eliphaz Accuses: Job Does Not Fear God
[1] Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said:
[2] “Should a wise man answer with windy knowledge,
and fill his belly with the east wind?
[3] Should he argue in unprofitable talk,
or in words with which he can do no good?
[4] But you are doing away with the fear of God
and hindering meditation before God.
[5] For your iniquity teaches your mouth,
and you choose the tongue of the crafty.
[6] Your own mouth condemns you, and not I;
your own lips testify against you.
[7] “Are you the first man who was born?
Or were you brought forth before the hills?
[8] Have you listened in the council of God?
And do you limit wisdom to yourself?
[9] What do you know that we do not know?
What do you understand that is not clear to us?
[10] Both the gray-haired and the aged are among us,
older than your father.
[11] Are the comforts of God too small for you,
or the word that deals gently with you?
[12] Why does your heart carry you away,
and why do your eyes flash,
[13] that you turn your spirit against God
and bring such words out of your mouth?
[14] What is man, that he can be pure?
Or he who is born of a woman, that he can be righteous?
[15] Behold, God puts no trust in his holy ones,
and the heavens are not pure in his sight;
[16] how much less one who is abominable and corrupt,
a man who drinks injustice like water!
[17] “I will show you; hear me,
and what I have seen I will declare
[18] (what wise men have told,
without hiding it from their fathers,
[19] to whom alone the land was given,
and no stranger passed among them).
[20] The wicked man writhes in pain all his days,
through all the years that are laid up for the ruthless.
[21] Dreadful sounds are in his ears;
in prosperity the destroyer will come upon him.
[22] He does not believe that he will return out of darkness,
and he is marked for the sword.
[23] He wanders abroad for bread, saying, ‘Where is it?’
He knows that a day of darkness is ready at his hand;
[24] distress and anguish terrify him;
they prevail against him, like a king ready for battle.
[25] Because he has stretched out his hand against God
and defies the Almighty,
[26] running stubbornly against him
with a thickly bossed shield;
[27] because he has covered his face with his fat
and gathered fat upon his waist
[28] and has lived in desolate cities,
in houses that none should inhabit,
which were ready to become heaps of ruins;
[29] he will not be rich, and his wealth will not endure,
nor will his possessions spread over the earth;
[30] he will not depart from darkness;
the flame will dry up his shoots,
and by the breath of his mouth he will depart.
[31] Let him not trust in emptiness, deceiving himself,
for emptiness will be his payment.
[32] It will be paid in full before his time,
and his branch will not be green.
[33] He will shake off his unripe grape like the vine,
and cast off his blossom like the olive tree.
[34] For the company of the godless is barren,
and fire consumes the tents of bribery.
[35] They conceive trouble and give birth to evil,
Although a mathematics degree may not be incredibly helpful to (proudly born-and-raised Texan) Rev. Timothy Appel while hosting Sharper Iron, his love of CFW Walther and the season of Easter will come in handy. His Call is shepherding the flock at Faith Lutheran Church in Godfrey, Illinois, and he’s also husband to wife Kristin and dad to their growing basketball team of children. When he’s not carrying out pastoral duties, you may find him reading “The Lord of the Rings,” snacking on Reese’s peanut butter cups, playing dominoes with his boys, or studying up on Texas history (including Sam Houston, of course).
