Rev. Gaven Mize, pastor at Augustana Evangelical Lutheran Church in Hickory, NC, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Ezekiel 10:1-22. Ezekiel again sees the four living creatures and now recognizes that they are cherubim. They are bearing the throne of the LORD as Ezekiel sees the glory of the LORD move farther away from the Holy of Holies. The LORD’s self-imposed exile from His temple, combined with His instruction to the man clothed in linen to scatter burning coals over Jerusalem, is a sig...
Sep 27, 2021•54 min
Rev. Caleb Adams, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Bend, OR, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Ezekiel 9:1-11. Ezekiel’s vision of events in Jerusalem continues. He sees the beginning of the LORD’s departure from His own house. Though the LORD will not hear the cries of His people, He still cries out to Ezekiel concerning the executioners who are coming into Jerusalem. These six figures are likely angels. They come from the north, the normal direction of the enemies of God’s people, in ...
Sep 24, 2021•55 min
Rev. Andy Wright, pastor at St. John Lutheran Church in Keystone, IA, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Ezekiel 8:1-18. Fourteen months after Ezekiel’s call to be a prophet, he has come to be known as a prophet among the exiles. He receives another vision from God, in which the LORD gives Ezekiel a glimpse into the wickedness happening in the temple in Jerusalem. The prophet sees four abominations that increase in evil. The north gate stands open to Canaanite idolatry, and an image of jealo...
Sep 23, 2021•56 min
Rev. Andrew Preus, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in New Haven, MO, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Ezekiel 7:1-27. Ezekiel preaches with great urgency concerning the coming judgment of the LORD. He will bring the end upon His people; He will visit them with His disaster. His day is coming quickly; His appointed time has come. The people of Judah have forsaken the way of the LORD and turned to the way of idolatry, and so He will bring His anger upon them. No amount of wealth will save ...
Sep 22, 2021•55 min
Rev. John Bussman, pastor at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Cullman, AL, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Ezekiel 6:1-14. In the plains of Babylon, memories of the mountains of Israel brought yearning memories to mind for the exiles. Yet Ezekiel is told to preach against the mountains of Israel, for these high places were often the site of idolatrous worship. The prophet speaks with biting sarcasm concerning these idols, referring to them as excrement. Those who trust in such worthlessness ...
Sep 21, 2021•55 min
Rev. Rick Jones, chaplain and director of spiritual life at the Dakota Boys and Girls Ranch in Minot, ND, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Ezekiel 5:1-17. Priests were not to cut their hair, and yet the LORD tells Ezekiel to do precisely that as a part of another action prophecy. Each third of the prophet’s hair showed forth what would happen to the people of Jerusalem in the upcoming destruction of the city. A third of the people would die by pestilence and famine in the city, a third of ...
Sep 20, 2021•54 min
Rev. Steve Andrews, pastor at St. Matthew Lutheran Church in Lee’s Summit, MO, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Ezekiel 4:1-17. The LORD gives Ezekiel an action prophecy in order to preach to His people concerning the coming siege and destruction of Jerusalem. First, Ezekiel is to build a model of Jerusalem under siege and then lie on his sides for designated periods of time. Second, Ezekiel is to eat and drink a strictly rationed diet of bread and water for the duration of this action pro...
Sep 17, 2021•55 min
Rev. Matt Ulmer, pastor at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Bishop, TX, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Ezekiel 3:12-27. The Spirit of the LORD lifts Ezekiel away and transports him to the exiles at Tel-abib. Ezekiel’s bitterness and anger may indicate his recognition of the difficult task that is ahead of him and his sharing of the LORD’s anger against the sin of Israel. His seven day time of being overwhelmed may be indicative of the seven day period during a priest’s ordination. At the end ...
Sep 16, 2021•55 min
Rev. Mark Squire, pastor at Immanuel Lutheran Church in St. Ansgar, IA, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Ezekiel 2:1-3:11. Seeing the glory of the LORD left Ezekiel fallen on his face; now the LORD speaks to Ezekiel, and the Spirit lifts the prophet to his feet. By addressing Ezekiel as “son of man,” the LORD emphasizes both the prophet’s humanity and the LORD’s own status as God over all. The LORD calls Ezekiel to be a prophet to the rebellious house of Israel. They have not listened to t...
Sep 15, 2021•54 min
Rev. Kyle Mietzner, pastor at Zion Lutheran Church in Anchorage, AK, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Ezekiel 1:4-28. Ezekiel’s prophetic ministry begins with a fantastic vision of the glory of the LORD. At times, the awesome details the prophet describes concerning such amazing sights like the four living creatures and their wheels are hard to picture. Yet the LORD’s intention in coming to Ezekiel in this way remains clear. Although the prophet and other citizens of Judah find themselves ...
Sep 14, 2021•56 min
Rev. Dr. Daniel Paavola, professor of theology and chair of the theology department at Concordia University, Wisconsin, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Ezekiel 1:1-3. The LORD called Ezekiel to be a prophet in exile. When he was thirty years old, the year Ezekiel should have begun his full priestly duties in the temple in Jerusalem, the LORD showed His glory to Ezekiel, even though he was in Babylon. Ezekiel’s priestly background colors much of his ministry, as the LORD shows Ezekiel that...
Sep 13, 2021•54 min
“The Faithful Watchman” is a mini-series on Sharper Iron that goes through the book of Ezekiel. Just when Ezekiel should have begun his service as priest in the temple in Jerusalem, the LORD called him to be a prophet in exile in Babylon. Through fantastic visions and attention-grabbing action prophecies, the prophet Ezekiel is a faithful watchman who proclaims the word of the LORD to bring people to repentance over their sins and to faith in the coming Savior, Jesus Christ, the glory of the LOR...
Sep 13, 2021•3 min
Rev. Tim Storck, pastor at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Chesterfield Township, MI, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Zephaniah 3:9-20. After so many words of dark judgment, Zephaniah closes his prophecy with words of joyous salvation. The LORD promises to transform His people’s speech to call upon Him in true faith. These worshipers will come from the farthest places as the LORD gathers His people to Himself. He will remove their shame as He brings down the prideful but exalts the lowly...
Sep 10, 2021•54 min
Rev. Jacob Dandy, pastor at Zion Lutheran Church and School in Terra Bella, CA, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Zephaniah 3:1-8. On the heels of preaching against several foreign nations, Zephaniah sets his sights on the rebellious, defiled, and oppressing city. Surely to the people’s surprise, the prophet was not still speaking about Nineveh; he was speaking about Jerusalem. They had hardened their hearts against the LORD’s Word, leading to the pollution of their vocations in civil and r...
Sep 09, 2021•54 min
Rev. Andrew Jagow, pastor at Bethany Lutheran Church in Alexandria, VA, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Zephaniah 2:4-15. Zephaniah looks toward each point of the compass in order to proclaim the Word of the LORD to the nations around Judah. To the west, the LORD tells the Philistines that the day of the LORD will bring desolation. To the east, the LORD condemns Moab and Ammon for their prideful boasting against His people. To the south, the LORD tells the Cushites that they will be slain...
Sep 08, 2021•54 min
Rev. Dr. Phil Booe, pastor at St. John Lutheran Church in Luverne, MN, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Zephaniah 1:14-2:3. To the complacent people of Judah, Zephaniah proclaims that the wrath of God is real and is coming on the day of the LORD. Though Judah looked for that day to be one of victory for them, their idolatry means that it will be one of destruction and defeat. The LORD will bring this upon them, and fortifications, technology, and money will provide no escape. Instead, the ...
Sep 07, 2021•54 min
Rev. Philip Hoppe, pastor at Peace Lutheran Church in Finlayson, MN and St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Bruno, MN, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Zephaniah 1:1-13. Zephaniah served as a prophet during the reign of Josiah, the faithful king of Judah. Although he does not name Babylon, Zephaniah speaks very clearly concerning the judgment that the LORD will bring through this foreign nation. Zephaniah’s ministry begins with words of utter condemnation. His language echoes the language of the...
Sep 06, 2021•54 min
Rev. Dr. Ryan Tietz, associate professor of exegetical theology and dean of students at Concordia Theological Seminary in Ft. Wayne, IN, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Habakkuk 3:16-19. Habakkuk’s psalm concludes with his “Job moment.” The prophet recognizes that the LORD Himself has answered, and Habakkuk trembles. God is God, and the prophet is not; who is Habakkuk that the LORD should reveal His Word and will to him? Yet Habakkuk banks on the hope that the LORD has given. The LORD wil...
Sep 03, 2021•54 min
Rev. Dr. Reed Lessing, professor of theology and ministry at Concordia University in St. Paul, MN, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Habakkuk 3:1-15. Habakkuk closes his book with a psalm that puts the LORD’s Word concerning the life of faith into practice. Drawing imagery from the LORD’s previous deliverance for His people in the Exodus, He calls upon the LORD to act in such mercy yet again. As the LORD veiled His power in the pillar of fire and cloud, so Habakkuk expects the LORD to act w...
Sep 02, 2021•55 min
Rev. Bryan Wolfmueller, pastor at St. Paul and Jesus Deaf Lutheran Churches in Austin, TX, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Habakkuk 2:6-20. The LORD gives Habakkuk a song of taunts to sing in defiance against Babylon. Although Babylon will bring great destruction against Judah and Jerusalem, the LORD will not fail to keep His promises for his people. The greed, wickedness, violence, and idolatry of Babylon will not stand forever. Their twofold ignorance concerning their own sin and concer...
Sep 01, 2021•54 min
Rev. Jason M. Kaspar, pastor at Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church in La Grange, TX, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Habakkuk 1:12-2:5. Habakkuk responds to the Word of God by confessing faith in the LORD as the everlasting God, the Holy One who keeps His promises to His people. Yet Habakkuk still questions why the LORD would use the idolatrous Babylonians to sweep away the righteous together with the wicked. Rather than rationalizing away his question or attempting to justify God, the prophet s...
Aug 31, 2021•56 min
Rev. Dan Speckhard, pastor at St. Peter Lutheran Church and School in North Judson, IN, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Habakkuk 1:1-11. Habakkuk was a contemporary of the prophet Jeremiah, yet his book approaches the time period prior to the fall of Jerusaelm from a unique angle. Habakkuk digs into topics that are quite applicable to Christians of every age: the justice of the LORD, the timing of the LORD, and the faithfulness of the LORD. The book opens with a dialogue between the proph...
Aug 30, 2021•54 min
Rev. Dr. Paul Raabe, retired professor of exegetical theology from Concordia Seminary, St. Louis and current professor of Biblical studies at Grand Canyon University in Phoenix, AZ, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study the book of Obadiah. Although the book of Obadiah is the shortest in the Old Testament, it is packed with important Biblical themes. Obadiah’s prophecy covers two main topics: the coming destruction of Edom and the restoration of Israel. Parallel passages regarding Edom from the...
Aug 27, 2021•55 min
“Majoring in Minors” is a mini-series on Sharper Iron that goes through the books of Obadiah, Habakkuk, and Zephaniah. These three prophets all spoke the Word of God in the days leading up to the fall of Jerusalem at the hand of the Babylonians. Through their unique emphases, these men proclaimed the same message of repentance of sins and faith in the LORD, pointing ultimately toward their prophecies’ fulfillment: Jesus Christ. Sharper Iron, hosted by Rev. Timothy Appel, looks at the text of Hol...
Aug 27, 2021•3 min
Rev. Matt Ulmer, pastor at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Bishop, TX, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Lamentations 5:1-22. The closing chapter of Lamentations ties the themes from the entire book together in a prayer directed to the LORD. The people call upon Him to remember them; this is not merely mental recollection, but a request that the LORD would act for their good once again. The people lament their great suffering from the loss of their homeland, the exile of the Davidic king, and t...
Aug 26, 2021•55 min
Rev. James Preus, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Ottumwa, IA, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Lamentations 3:40-66. Jeremiah calls upon the people to return to the LORD in repentance. Together they lament that their transgressions have brought the LORD’s punishment upon them. This has happened because they have rejected the preaching of Jeremiah and persecuted him instead. Jeremiah recounts his suffering at their hands, yet prays for the LORD’s justice. Jeremiah’s experience mirrors...
Aug 25, 2021•54 min
Rev. Dr. Nathan Jastram, professor of theology at Concordia University Wisconsin, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Lamentations 4:1-11. In the fourth poem in Lamentations, Jeremiah describes in painful detail the horrific suffering the people experienced during the siege and fall of Jerusalem. Although they had the preaching of Jeremiah to warn them, they hardened their hearts against the Word of the LORD, a greater sin than even Sodom had committed. For this great sin, the LORD had sent t...
Aug 24, 2021•55 min
Rev. James Preus, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Ottumwa, IA, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Lamentations 3:40-66. Jeremiah calls upon the people to return to the LORD in repentance. Together they lament that their transgressions have brought the LORD’s punishment upon them. This has happened because they have rejected the preaching of Jeremiah and persecuted him instead. Jeremiah recounts his suffering at their hands, yet prays for the LORD’s justice. Jeremiah’s experience mirrors...
Aug 23, 2021•55 min
Rev. Carl Roth, pastor at Grace Lutheran Church in Elgin, TX, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Lamentations 3:19-39. This text is the center of the book of Lamentations, structurally and theologically. In the midst of the afflictions experienced in the fall of Jerusalem, Jeremiah calls to mind the never-ending mercy of the LORD. This is more than the joy of each sunrise; this is the joy of the resurrection that Jesus has won for us. This hope sustains the people of God as they wait for His...
Aug 20, 2021•55 min
Rev. Sean Daenzer, director of worship for The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod and chaplain for the International Center, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Lamentations 3:1-18. The third poem in Lamentations begins in a way that invites the question: “Who is the man?” Certainly Jeremiah and any individual resident of Jerusalem could lament in the way this poem begins. Each one recognized the calamity God had brought upon Judah for her idolatry and rebellion. The LORD had brought darkness upo...
Aug 19, 2021•54 min
