Sharper Iron — There Is a Redeemer - Job 14:1-22: God, Seal My Sins in a Bag!

As Job continues his speech in response to Zophar, Job continues to cry out to God. Job knows his life is short; why is God paying so much attention to him? Job sees more hope for a tree that has been cut down than for himself. Yet even in such a low moment, Job recognizes that if God would hide him in death, God could call him forth from death to life. This is Job’s hope even as he feels God’s face turned against him.

Rev. Caleb Adams, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church and School in Bend, OR, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Job 14:1-22.

To learn more about Trinity in Bend, visit trinitylutheranbend.org.

“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 14:1-22

Job Continues: Death Comes Soon to All

[1] “Man who is born of a woman

is few of days and full of trouble.

[2] He comes out like a flower and withers;

he flees like a shadow and continues not.

[3] And do you open your eyes on such a one

and bring me into judgment with you?

[4] Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean?

There is not one.

[5] Since his days are determined,

and the number of his months is with you,

and you have appointed his limits that he cannot pass,

[6] look away from him and leave him alone,

that he may enjoy, like a hired hand, his day.

[7] “For there is hope for a tree,

if it be cut down, that it will sprout again,

and that its shoots will not cease.

[8] Though its root grow old in the earth,

and its stump die in the soil,

[9] yet at the scent of water it will bud

and put out branches like a young plant.

[10] But a man dies and is laid low;

man breathes his last, and where is he?

[11] As waters fail from a lake

and a river wastes away and dries up,

[12] so a man lies down and rises not again;

till the heavens are no more he will not awake

or be roused out of his sleep.

[13] Oh that you would hide me in Sheol,

that you would conceal me until your wrath be past,

that you would appoint me a set time, and remember me!

[14] If a man dies, shall he live again?

All the days of my service I would wait,

till my renewal should come.

[15] You would call, and I would answer you;

you would long for the work of your hands.

[16] For then you would number my steps;

you would not keep watch over my sin;

[17] my transgression would be sealed up in a bag,

and you would cover over my iniquity.

[18] “But the mountain falls and crumbles away,

and the rock is removed from its place;

[19] the waters wear away the stones;

the torrents wash away the soil of the earth;

so you destroy the hope of man.

[20] You prevail forever against him, and he passes;

you change his countenance, and send him away.

[21] His sons come to honor, and he does not know it;

they are brought low, and he perceives it not.

[22] He feels only the pain of his own body,

and he mourns only for himself.”

Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025. The ESV text may not be quoted in any publication made available to the public by a Creative Commons license. The ESV may not be translated in whole or in part into any other language. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Rev. Timothy Appel

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).