Sharper Iron — There Is a Redeemer – Job 9:1-35: If I Only Had an Arbiter
As Job responds to Bildad, Job knows that God is just—but he wonders how many can be just before God. He knows that God is the Creator who is far more powerful than any person, but Job cannot interact with God or see what He is doing. Job knows that God will win in a fight every time, and that is what Job feels God is doing against him at this very moment. Job longs for an arbiter to mediate between himself and God, but he does not know who the arbiter might be. In the fullness of time, God has given us this Mediator—Jesus Christ.
Rev. Andy Jagow, pastor at the Lutheran Church of Our Savior in Rehoboth Beach, DE, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Job 9:1-35.
“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 9:1-35
Job Replies: There Is No Arbiter
[1] Then Job answered and said:
[2] “Truly I know that it is so:
But how can a man be in the right before God?
[3] If one wished to contend with him,
one could not answer him once in a thousand times.
[4] He is wise in heart and mighty in strength—
who has hardened himself against him, and succeeded?—
[5] he who removes mountains, and they know it not,
when he overturns them in his anger,
[6] who shakes the earth out of its place,
and its pillars tremble;
[7] who commands the sun, and it does not rise;
who seals up the stars;
[8] who alone stretched out the heavens
and trampled the waves of the sea;
[9] who made the Bear and Orion,
the Pleiades and the chambers of the south;
[10] who does great things beyond searching out,
and marvelous things beyond number.
[11] Behold, he passes by me, and I see him not;
he moves on, but I do not perceive him.
[12] Behold, he snatches away; who can turn him back?
Who will say to him, ‘What are you doing?’
[13] “God will not turn back his anger;
beneath him bowed the helpers of Rahab.
[14] How then can I answer him,
choosing my words with him?
[15] Though I am in the right, I cannot answer him;
I must appeal for mercy to my accuser.
[16] If I summoned him and he answered me,
I would not believe that he was listening to my voice.
[17] For he crushes me with a tempest
and multiplies my wounds without cause;
[18] he will not let me get my breath,
but fills me with bitterness.
[19] If it is a contest of strength, behold, he is mighty!
If it is a matter of justice, who can summon him?
[20] Though I am in the right, my own mouth would condemn me;
though I am blameless, he would prove me perverse.
[21] I am blameless; I regard not myself;
I loathe my life.
[22] It is all one; therefore I say,
‘He destroys both the blameless and the wicked.’
[23] When disaster brings sudden death,
he mocks at the calamity of the innocent.
[24] The earth is given into the hand of the wicked;
he covers the faces of its judges—
if it is not he, who then is it?
[25] “My days are swifter than a runner;
they flee away; they see no good.
[26] They go by like skiffs of reed,
like an eagle swooping on the prey.
[27] If I say, ‘I will forget my complaint,
I will put off my sad face, and be of good cheer,’
[28] I become afraid of all my suffering,
for I know you will not hold me innocent.
[29] I shall be condemned;
why then do I labor in vain?
[30] If I wash myself with snow
and cleanse my hands with lye,
[31] yet you will plunge me into a pit,
and my own clothes will abhor me.
[32] For he is not a man, as I am, that I might answer him,
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).
