Thy Strong Word from KFUO Radio

What happens when the wicked prosper? When those who mock God build empires, live in luxury, and die in peace, while the faithful struggle and suffer? What do we do when life, and even the concepts of fairness and justice refuse to fit into the neat little boxes we’ve constructed for them? That’s exactly what Job takes up in chapter 21. After enduring yet another round of “Job, you must have done something to deserve this,” he finally pushes back—hard. He challenges the shallow theology of his friends, forcing us to wrestle with the reality that, in this life, the wicked often flourish while the righteous weep. The Rev. John Lukomski, co-host of Wrestling with the Basics on KFUO Radio, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study Job 21. Find Wrestling with the Basics at kfuo.org/WrestlingWithTheBasics. Why do the righteous suffer? That’s the burning question at the heart of the book of Job—one of the most profound and challenging books in all of Scripture. From a Lutheran perspective, Job’s story isn’t just about a man enduring unimaginable hardship; it’s about wrestling with God’s will, grappling with well-meaning but misguided advice, and ultimately finding comfort in God’s grace rather than human understanding. As Job’s friends offer simplistic answers, Job demands the truth, and God’s response reminds us of His infinite wisdom and mercy. Through it all, we see glimpses of Christ—the truly innocent sufferer—who redeems our pain and points us to the cross, where suffering meets salvation. Join us as we journey through Job, confronting tough questions about faith, suffering, and God's mysterious ways with hope grounded in Christ alone. Thy Strong Word, hosted by Rev. Dr. Phil Booe, pastor of St. John Lutheran Church of Luverne, MN, reveals the light of our salvation in Christ through study of God’s Word, breaking our darkness with His redeeming light. Each weekday, two pastors fix our eyes on Jesus by considering Holy Scripture, verse by verse, in order to be strengthened in the Word and be equipped to faithfully serve in our daily vocations. Submit comments or questions to: thystrongword@kfuo.org.

There’s a certain kind of rage that comes from feeling like justice has been denied. We see it in the world today—outrage over corruption, frustration when the wicked seem to prosper, and the deep longing for wrongs to be made right. But what happens when that thirst for justice turns into self-righteous fury? That’s where we find Zophar in Job 20. He’s not interested in nuance. He’s not here to comfort Job. He’s here to deliver a scathing sermon on the inevitable downfall of the wicked. But is Zophar right? Do the wicked always suffer in this life? Does God’s justice operate on a simple “you sin, you suffer” timeline? And what happens when our desire for retribution makes us blind to the suffering of another? The Rev. Dr. Vernon Wendt, intentional interim pastor at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Steger, IL and St. Paul’s Ev. Lutheran Church in Chicago Heights, IL, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study Job 20. Why do the righteous suffer? That’s the burning question at the heart of the book of Job—one of the most profound and challenging books in all of Scripture. From a Lutheran perspective, Job’s story isn’t just about a man enduring unimaginable hardship; it’s about wrestling with God’s will, grappling with well-meaning but misguided advice, and ultimately finding comfort in God’s grace rather than human understanding. As Job’s friends offer simplistic answers, Job demands the truth, and God’s response reminds us of His infinite wisdom and mercy. Through it all, we see glimpses of Christ—the truly innocent sufferer—who redeems our pain and points us to the cross, where suffering meets salvation. Join us as we journey through Job, confronting tough questions about faith, suffering, and God's mysterious ways with hope grounded in Christ alone. Thy Strong Word, hosted by Rev. Dr. Phil Booe, pastor of St. John Lutheran Church of Luverne, MN, reveals the light of our salvation in Christ through study of God’s Word, breaking our darkness with His redeeming light. Each weekday, two pastors fix our eyes on Jesus by considering Holy Scripture, verse by verse, in order to be strengthened in the Word and be equipped to faithfully serve in our daily vocations. Submit comments or questions to: thystrongword@kfuo.org.

"He opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God..." (2 Thessalonians 2:4). For centuries, these words have ignited fierce debate—who is this figure, this Man of Lawlessness? The Reformers had no doubt: the papacy itself bore the mark of Antichrist, not because of personal corruption, but because it placed human authority above the gospel of Christ. Lutherans continue to confess this today, but do we fully understand the implications of this doctrine? Is the Antichrist a single, future tyrant, a system of deception, or something far more subtle—an enemy of Christ present in every age? Perhaps it’s all of the above. Rev. Dr. Charles A. Gieschen, provost and professor of exegetical theology at Concordia Theological Seminary in Ft. Wayne, IN, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to discussthe doctrine of Antichrist. Thy Strong Word, hosted by Rev. Dr. Phil Booe, pastor of St. John Lutheran Church of Luverne, MN, reveals the light of our salvation in Christ through study of God’s Word, breaking our darkness with His redeeming light. Each weekday, two pastors fix our eyes on Jesus by considering Holy Scripture, verse by verse, in order to be strengthened in the Word and be equipped to faithfully serve in our daily vocations. Submit comments or questions to: thystrongword@kfuo.org.

Put yourself in Job’s place. You’ve lost everything—your family, your home, your health. Your so-called friends surround you, not with comfort, but with accusations. And worst of all, you feel like even God has turned against you. That’s where we find Job in chapter 19. He’s feeling battered, abandoned, and accused. Yet in the middle of his suffering, he delivers one of the most powerful declarations of faith in all of Scripture: “I know that my Redeemer lives.” How does Job go from despair to hope in the span of one chapter? And what does his bold confession teach us about suffering, redemption, and the God who never abandons His people? The Rev. Robert Smith, pastor emeritus in Ft. Wayne, IN, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study Job 19. Why do the righteous suffer? That’s the burning question at the heart of the book of Job—one of the most profound and challenging books in all of Scripture. From a Lutheran perspective, Job’s story isn’t just about a man enduring unimaginable hardship; it’s about wrestling with God’s will, grappling with well-meaning but misguided advice, and ultimately finding comfort in God’s grace rather than human understanding. As Job’s friends offer simplistic answers, Job demands the truth, and God’s response reminds us of His infinite wisdom and mercy. Through it all, we see glimpses of Christ—the truly innocent sufferer—who redeems our pain and points us to the cross, where suffering meets salvation. Join us as we journey through Job, confronting tough questions about faith, suffering, and God's mysterious ways with hope grounded in Christ alone. Thy Strong Word, hosted by Rev. Dr. Phil Booe, pastor of St. John Lutheran Church of Luverne, MN, reveals the light of our salvation in Christ through study of God’s Word, breaking our darkness with His redeeming light. Each weekday, two pastors fix our eyes on Jesus by considering Holy Scripture, verse by verse, in order to be strengthened in the Word and be equipped to faithfully serve in our daily vocations. Submit comments or questions to: thystrongword@kfuo.org.

Have you ever poured out your heart to someone, only to be met with cold logic or worse—condescension? You’re searching for hope, but instead of compassion, you get a lecture. That’s exactly where we find Job in chapter 17. He’s worn down, clinging to whatever shred of hope he can find, but his so-called friends? They’re doubling down. Bildad steps up in chapter 18, and instead of offering comfort, he lashes out—painting Job’s suffering as the inevitable fate of the wicked. No grace, no mercy, just more accusations. But is Job really without hope? And why do his friends insist on seeing suffering as proof of sin? The Rev. Roger Mullet, pastor of Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Buffalo, WY, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study Job 17 and 18. Why do the righteous suffer? That’s the burning question at the heart of the book of Job—one of the most profound and challenging books in all of Scripture. From a Lutheran perspective, Job’s story isn’t just about a man enduring unimaginable hardship; it’s about wrestling with God’s will, grappling with well-meaning but misguided advice, and ultimately finding comfort in God’s grace rather than human understanding. As Job’s friends offer simplistic answers, Job demands the truth, and God’s response reminds us of His infinite wisdom and mercy. Through it all, we see glimpses of Christ—the truly innocent sufferer—who redeems our pain and points us to the cross, where suffering meets salvation. Join us as we journey through Job, confronting tough questions about faith, suffering, and God's mysterious ways with hope grounded in Christ alone. Thy Strong Word, hosted by Rev. Dr. Phil Booe, pastor of St. John Lutheran Church of Luverne, MN, reveals the light of our salvation in Christ through study of God’s Word, breaking our darkness with His redeeming light. Each weekday, two pastors fix our eyes on Jesus by considering Holy Scripture, verse by verse, in order to be strengthened in the Word and be equipped to faithfully serve in our daily vocations. Submit comments or questions to: thystrongword@kfuo.org.

Job has heard enough. Speech after speech, his so-called friends have offered their wisdom—accusing, correcting, assuming they understand his suffering better than he does. But in Job 16, he fires back with words that cut through their empty comfort:" Miserable comforters are you all." He doesn’t just reject their advice—he exposes their failure. Instead of bringing relief, they’ve only deepened his pain. And as Job turns his focus back to God, his words take on a new tone. He sees himself as crushed, attacked, even hunted by the very One he longs to trust. He speculates that God must hate him, but amid his agony, a flicker of hope remains. The Rev. Robert Moeller, Jr., pastor of St. John's Lutheran Church in Britton, SD and St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Ferney, SD, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study Job 16. Why do the righteous suffer? That’s the burning question at the heart of the book of Job—one of the most profound and challenging books in all of Scripture. From a Lutheran perspective, Job’s story isn’t just about a man enduring unimaginable hardship; it’s about wrestling with God’s will, grappling with well-meaning but misguided advice, and ultimately finding comfort in God’s grace rather than human understanding. As Job’s friends offer simplistic answers, Job demands the truth, and God’s response reminds us of His infinite wisdom and mercy. Through it all, we see glimpses of Christ—the truly innocent sufferer—who redeems our pain and points us to the cross, where suffering meets salvation. Join us as we journey through Job, confronting tough questions about faith, suffering, and God's mysterious ways with hope grounded in Christ alone. Thy Strong Word, hosted by Rev. Dr. Phil Booe, pastor of St. John Lutheran Church of Luverne, MN, reveals the light of our salvation in Christ through study of God’s Word, breaking our darkness with His redeeming light. Each weekday, two pastors fix our eyes on Jesus by considering Holy Scripture, verse by verse, in order to be strengthened in the Word and be equipped to faithfully serve in our daily vocations. Submit comments or questions to: thystrongword@kfuo.org.

Job has spoken his mind. He has challenged his friends, questioned their wisdom, and even dared to press God for answers. But now, Eliphaz steps back in—and he’s had enough. The gloves come off. No more soft words, no more attempts at gentle correction. Eliphaz calls Job arrogant, accuses him of undermining true wisdom, and doubles down on the old argument: The wicked suffer, Job. So, if you’re suffering you must be wicked. It’s logical, but is Eliphaz defending God, or just defending his own faulty beliefs? The Rev. Paul Cain, pastor of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Sheridan, WY, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study Job 15. Why do the righteous suffer? That’s the burning question at the heart of the book of Job—one of the most profound and challenging books in all of Scripture. From a Lutheran perspective, Job’s story isn’t just about a man enduring unimaginable hardship; it’s about wrestling with God’s will, grappling with well-meaning but misguided advice, and ultimately finding comfort in God’s grace rather than human understanding. As Job’s friends offer simplistic answers, Job demands the truth, and God’s response reminds us of His infinite wisdom and mercy. Through it all, we see glimpses of Christ—the truly innocent sufferer—who redeems our pain and points us to the cross, where suffering meets salvation. Join us as we journey through Job, confronting tough questions about faith, suffering, and God's mysterious ways with hope grounded in Christ alone. Thy Strong Word, hosted by Rev. Dr. Phil Booe, pastor of St. John Lutheran Church of Luverne, MN, reveals the light of our salvation in Christ through study of God’s Word, breaking our darkness with His redeeming light. Each weekday, two pastors fix our eyes on Jesus by considering Holy Scripture, verse by verse, in order to be strengthened in the Word and be equipped to faithfully serve in our daily vocations. Submit comments or questions to: thystrongword@kfuo.org.

There comes a point when suffering hardens into resolve. Job has reached it. He’s done entertaining the shallow wisdom of his friends, done listening to their misguided attempts to defend God at his expense. He turns to them with cutting words: “You are worthless physicians, all of you.” He doesn’t just reject their counsel—he calls them out as frauds. Then, he does something even bolder. He shifts his focus to God, he demands an audience, insisting on answers to this perceived injustice. But as the chapter unfolds, Job’s defiance gives way to something deeper—an aching reflection on the brevity of life, the certainty of death, and the nagging question with which all men must wrestle: Is there any hope beyond the grave? The Rev. Jared Nies, Senior Pastor of St. Paul Lutheran Church and School in Lapeer, MI, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study Job 13 and 14. Why do the righteous suffer? That’s the burning question at the heart of the book of Job—one of the most profound and challenging books in all of Scripture. From a Lutheran perspective, Job’s story isn’t just about a man enduring unimaginable hardship; it’s about wrestling with God’s will, grappling with well-meaning but misguided advice, and ultimately finding comfort in God’s grace rather than human understanding. As Job’s friends offer simplistic answers, Job demands the truth, and God’s response reminds us of His infinite wisdom and mercy. Through it all, we see glimpses of Christ—the truly innocent sufferer—who redeems our pain and points us to the cross, where suffering meets salvation. Join us as we journey through Job, confronting tough questions about faith, suffering, and God's mysterious ways with hope grounded in Christ alone. Thy Strong Word, hosted by Rev. Dr. Phil Booe, pastor of St. John Lutheran Church of Luverne, MN, reveals the light of our salvation in Christ through study of God’s Word, breaking our darkness with His redeeming light. Each weekday, two pastors fix our eyes on Jesus by considering Holy Scripture, verse by verse, in order to be strengthened in the Word and be equipped to faithfully serve in our daily vocations. Submit comments or questions to: thystrongword@kfuo.org.

There’s a kind of confidence that comes easy when you’re not the one suffering. Zophar has it—bold, unwavering, and a little smug. He tells Job that God is beyond his understanding, that Job’s suffering is deserved, and that, frankly, he should be grateful it isn’t worse. But Job isn’t buying it. He fires back, dripping with sarcasm: “Oh, you guys are so wise. If you died, wisdom itself would perish from the earth.” Then, he points to creation itself—birds, beasts, and even the fish in the sea—to make his case: God’s power is absolute, but that doesn’t mean Zophar understands it any better than he does. The Rev. Jim Daub, pastor of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Havelock, NC, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study Job 10 and 11. Why do the righteous suffer? That’s the burning question at the heart of the book of Job—one of the most profound and challenging books in all of Scripture. From a Lutheran perspective, Job’s story isn’t just about a man enduring unimaginable hardship; it’s about wrestling with God’s will, grappling with well-meaning but misguided advice, and ultimately finding comfort in God’s grace rather than human understanding. As Job’s friends offer simplistic answers, Job demands the truth, and God’s response reminds us of His infinite wisdom and mercy. Through it all, we see glimpses of Christ—the truly innocent sufferer—who redeems our pain and points us to the cross, where suffering meets salvation. Join us as we journey through Job, confronting tough questions about faith, suffering, and God's mysterious ways with hope grounded in Christ alone. Thy Strong Word, hosted by Rev. Dr. Phil Booe, pastor of St. John Lutheran Church of Luverne, MN, reveals the light of our salvation in Christ through study of God’s Word, breaking our darkness with His redeeming light. Each weekday, two pastors fix our eyes on Jesus by considering Holy Scripture, verse by verse, in order to be strengthened in the Word and be equipped to faithfully serve in our daily vocations. Submit comments or questions to: thystrongword@kfuo.org.

We live in a world obsessed with "fairness." We demand justice, equity, a balance scale where everyone gets what they think they deserve. But what if God actually gave us what we deserved? What if He held us to the standard of His perfect law? Job, overwhelmed by suffering, continues to cry out in today's passage, "He is not a man like me that I might answer him, that we should come to trial together." He knows he can't stand before a holy God and plead his case. Could it be that our obsession with "fairness" blinds us to the reality of our own sin and the depth of God's mercy? The Rev. Matthew Wurm, pastor of Mount Calvary Lutheran Church in Brookings, SD, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study Job 9:23-10:22. Why do the righteous suffer? That’s the burning question at the heart of the book of Job—one of the most profound and challenging books in all of Scripture. From a Lutheran perspective, Job’s story isn’t just about a man enduring unimaginable hardship; it’s about wrestling with God’s will, grappling with well-meaning but misguided advice, and ultimately finding comfort in God’s grace rather than human understanding. As Job’s friends offer simplistic answers, Job demands the truth, and God’s response reminds us of His infinite wisdom and mercy. Through it all, we see glimpses of Christ—the truly innocent sufferer—who redeems our pain and points us to the cross, where suffering meets salvation. Join us as we journey through Job, confronting tough questions about faith, suffering, and God's mysterious ways with hope grounded in Christ alone. Thy Strong Word, hosted by Rev. Dr. Phil Booe, pastor of St. John Lutheran Church of Luverne, MN, reveals the light of our salvation in Christ through study of God’s Word, breaking our darkness with His redeeming light. Each weekday, two pastors fix our eyes on Jesus by considering Holy Scripture, verse by verse, in order to be strengthened in the Word and be equipped to faithfully serve in our daily vocations. Submit comments or questions to: thystrongword@kfuo.org.