Sharper Iron — There Is a Redeemer – Job 20:1-29: Confessional Enthusiasm Is Bad
Zophar speaks out of his own spirit of understanding without measuring his ideas against the Word of God given by the Holy Spirit. Zophar admits that the wicked sometimes prosper, but their joy is only momentary. Zophar lines up one example after another as evidence for his point. Along the way, he makes a veiled identification and accusation of Job’s sin against the poor. Zophar sees that the wicked man’s inheritance from God is suffering, and because Job is suffering, Zophar concludes that Job must be among the wicked.
Rev. John Bussman, pastor at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church and School in Cullman, AL, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Job 20:1-29.
“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 20:1-29
Zophar Speaks: The Wicked Will Suffer
[1] Then Zophar the Naamathite answered and said:
[2] “Therefore my thoughts answer me,
because of my haste within me.
[3] I hear censure that insults me,
and out of my understanding a spirit answers me.
[4] Do you not know this from of old,
since man was placed on earth,
[5] that the exulting of the wicked is short,
and the joy of the godless but for a moment?
[6] Though his height mount up to the heavens,
and his head reach to the clouds,
[7] he will perish forever like his own dung;
those who have seen him will say, ‘Where is he?’
[8] He will fly away like a dream and not be found;
he will be chased away like a vision of the night.
[9] The eye that saw him will see him no more,
nor will his place any more behold him.
[10] His children will seek the favor of the poor,
and his hands will give back his wealth.
[11] His bones are full of his youthful vigor,
but it will lie down with him in the dust.
[12] “Though evil is sweet in his mouth,
though he hides it under his tongue,
[13] though he is loath to let it go
and holds it in his mouth,
[14] yet his food is turned in his stomach;
it is the venom of cobras within him.
[15] He swallows down riches and vomits them up again;
God casts them out of his belly.
[16] He will suck the poison of cobras;
the tongue of a viper will kill him.
[17] He will not look upon the rivers,
the streams flowing with honey and curds.
[18] He will give back the fruit of his toil
and will not swallow it down;
from the profit of his trading
he will get no enjoyment.
[19] For he has crushed and abandoned the poor;
he has seized a house that he did not build.
[20] “Because he knew no contentment in his belly,
he will not let anything in which he delights escape him.
[21] There was nothing left after he had eaten;
therefore his prosperity will not endure.
[22] In the fullness of his sufficiency he will be in distress;
the hand of everyone in misery will come against him.
[23] To fill his belly to the full,
God will send his burning anger against him
and rain it upon him into his body.
[24] He will flee from an iron weapon;
a bronze arrow will strike him through.
[25] It is drawn forth and comes out of his body;
the glittering point comes out of his gallbladder;
terrors come upon him.
[26] Utter darkness is laid up for his treasures;
a fire not fanned will devour him;
what is left in his tent will be consumed.
[27] The heavens will reveal his iniquity,
and the earth will rise up against him.
[28] The possessions of his house will be carried away,
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).
