Rev. Dustin Beck, pastor at Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Warda, TX, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Ezekiel 36:16-38. The LORD tells His people that their idolatry has defiled them and profaned His name among the nations. Their uncleanness has made them unfit to enter into His presence for worship, and their profaning of His name has led the nations to speak poorly of the LORD. The LORD promises that He will act to remedy both situations--not because His people deserve it, but for the sa...
Nov 08, 2021•55 min
Rev. David Boisclair, pastor at Bethesda and Faith Lutheran Churches in north St. Louis County, MO, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Ezekiel 36:1-15. The prophecy against the mountains of Israel in Ezekiel 6 and the prophecy against Mount Seir in Ezekiel 35 provide the background for this section. Now that the LORD has spoken judgment upon His people’s enemies both from within and without, He turns with words of restoration and redemption for His people. Their enemies had sought to harm th...
Nov 05, 2021•55 min
Rev. AJ Espinosa, pastor at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Irvine, CA, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Ezekiel 35:1-15. The LORD tells Ezekiel to set his face against Mount Seir, that is, the people of Edom. They have nurtured their enmity toward the people of Israel since the days of Esau and Jacob. Now that Babylon has laid waste to Jerusalem, the people of Edom have only kicked Israel while they were down. Edom assumed that the LORD had left the land and began to take possession of it. ...
Nov 04, 2021•55 min
Rev. Jacob Dandy, pastor at Zion Lutheran Church and School in Terra Bella, CA, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Ezekiel 34:1-31. As Ezekiel’s ministry begins to transition to words of comfort and restoration for the people of God in exile, he takes up the familiar image of the shepherd. Various leaders of Israel were to function similarly to shepherds, but the LORD proclaims that these leaders have been faithless. Instead of caring for the people, they have been neglecting and abusing the...
Nov 03, 2021•55 min
Rev. Jeremiah Johnson, pastor at Glory of Christ Lutheran Church in Plymouth, MN, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Ezekiel 33:1-33. The LORD reminds Ezekiel of the call to be a faithful watchman, crying out the warning even to those who do not listen. The LORD does not desire such stubbornness, however. To His people who ask how they will live, He asks why they would die. The LORD desires that the wicked turn from evil to the righteousness that comes through faith. This happens, not due to...
Nov 02, 2021•56 min
Rev. Jason Schockman, associate pastor at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Oconomowoc, WI, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Ezekiel 32:1-32. The lament that the LORD gives Ezekiel to sing over Pharaoh is full of satire and mockery toward this king who tried to exalt himself. The description of Pharaoh as a dragon calls to mind the old evil foe who makes war against the people of God. The fact that the LORD promises such a complete victory over this dragon brings comfort not only to the people...
Nov 01, 2021•56 min
Rev. Ryan Ogrodowicz, associate pastor and headmaster at Grace Lutheran Church and School in Brenham, TX, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Ezekiel 31:1-18. The LORD speaks against Pharaoh particularly. If he would compare himself to Assyria in greatness, the LORD invites Pharaoh to consider that nation’s outcome. On the one hand, Assyria grew up as a well-nourished tree, providing a home for all kinds of people. This was the LORD’s doing. Yet Assyria received these gifts with pride instead...
Oct 29, 2021•56 min
Rev. Sam Beltz, pastor at St. John Lutheran Church in Oskaloosa, IA, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Ezekiel 30:1-26. The LORD calls upon Ezekiel to take up a lament for the people of Egypt. The destruction that awaits Egypt and all her allies on the day of the LORD will be absolutely awful. The LORD is the One to bring His condemnation upon Egypt for its gross idolatry; He will use the ruthless king of Babylon, Nebuchadnezzar, to do His work. In this way, He will show that He is the LORD...
Oct 28, 2021•56 min
Rev. Stephen Preus, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Ottumwa, IA, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Ezekiel 29:1-21. The seventh and longest of Ezekiel’s oracles against the Gentiles is directed against Egypt. Pharaoh proudly considered himself the dragon who owned the Nile, but the LORD proves him to be little more than a helpless crocodile easily dragged out of the river by fishermen. Egypt also receives condemnation for their worthless help of Israel; Egypt regularly proved to be use...
Oct 27, 2021•56 min
Rev. Carl Roth, pastor at Grace Lutheran Church in Elgin, TX, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Ezekiel 28:1-26. Ezekiel’s words against Tyre conclude by singling out the prince of Tyre. The LORD had blessed him with plenteous wisdom and wealth, but rather than receiving these gifts in thanksgiving to the true God, the prince of Tyre proudly considered himself a god. His destruction will humble his self-exaltation. As the LORD describes the downfall of the prince of Tyre, elements seem to b...
Oct 26, 2021•56 min
Rev. David Boisclair, pastor at Bethesda and Faith Lutheran Churches in north St. Louis County, MO, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Ezekiel 27:1-36. Ezekiel takes up a lament for the city of Tyre that begins by extolling its great wealth and economic prowess. Tyre is compared to the most wonderful of ships, both in construction and manpower. The list of Tyre’s trading activity is extensive, yet begins to reveal Tyre’s sins of pride and greed that led to sins against their neighbors as wel...
Oct 25, 2021•54 min
Rev. Zelwyn Heide, pastor at St. Peter Lutheran Church in Hannover, ND and Zion Lutheran Church in New Salem, ND, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Ezekiel 26:1-21. Ezekiel’s oracle against Tyre is lengthy, perhaps a reminder that they have ruined their once-friendly relationship with the people of God. Tyre sought to take economic advantage of Jerusalem’s overthrow, and so the LORD brings Nebuchadnezzar against the city. Nebuchadnezzar puts the city and its colonies under his control, as t...
Oct 22, 2021•54 min
Rev. Shawn Linnell, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Blair, NE, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Ezekiel 25:1-17. Ezekiel begins a series of seven oracles against Gentile nations. Though these texts might at times be difficult for modern readers, they are a helpful reminder of God’s reign over every nation and His desire to call all people to repentance and faith in Jesus. Ammon is called to account for its mockery of the fall of Jerusalem. Moab is condemned for failing to recognize th...
Oct 21, 2021•56 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 Ezekiel 24:1-27. The LORD tells Ezekiel to write down the name of the day that Nebuchadnezzar began his siege of Jerusalem as a day that the people would later observe by fasting. The prophet spoke the LORD’s parable concerning a pot filled with choice pieces of meat that boils until the water is all gone and everything is burned up. Tho...
Oct 20, 2021•54 min
Rev. Chris Hull, pastor at Zion Lutheran Church in Tomball, TX, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Ezekiel 23:1-49. Ezekiel tells the adulterous history of Samaria and Jerusalem, the capitals of Israel and Judah. He gives them the names Oholah and Oholibah in reference to the way they mistreated the true worship of the LORD in the temple. Samaria fell into idolatry of the Assyrians and received the LORD’s judgment in her destruction at their hand. Rather than learning from the example of her...
Oct 19, 2021•54 min
Rev. Mark Stirdivant, pastor at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Yucaipa, CA, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Ezekiel 22:1-31. The LORD calls His own city Jerusalem “the bloody city,” which surely shocked the people of God. The LORD shows His judgment to be true as He identifies a long list of ways His people have broken His commandments, abusing their neighbors and abusing their God. All of these sins find their center in the way the list concludes: Israel has forgotten the LORD. The LOR...
Oct 18, 2021•56 min
Rev. Matthew Tassey, pastor at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Shawnee, OK, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Ezekiel 21:18-32. Nebuchadnezzar will be coming toward Canaan soon, and he will have to decide whether to attack Judah or Ammon first. The LORD tells Ezekiel to make a signpost marking the ways to the two capital cities. The LORD will use even the pagan means of divination in order to direct Nebuchadnezzar to bring the sword of the LORD against Jerusalem first. Although the people of Ju...
Oct 15, 2021•54 min
Rev. David Fleming, associate pastor at Our Savior Lutheran Church in Grand Rapids, MI and Executive Director of Spiritual Care with DOXOLOGY , joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Ezekiel 20:45-21:17. Learn more about DOXOLOGY at doxology.us . The LORD continues to speak words of judgment to His people through His prophet. Though these words may be hard to hear and read, they are an act of the LORD’s love to call His people back to Himself in repentance and faith. The LORD speaks of a fire th...
Oct 14, 2021•52 min
Rev. Sam Wirgau, pastor at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Ossian, IN, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Ezekiel 20:27-44. Ezekiel concludes his walk through Israel’s history by recounting their idolatrous time in the land before turning to address the elders in front of him. “What about you?” he asks. “Which way will you follow?” If they follow after the defilement of their fathers, they have no reason to expect that they can inquire of the LORD. Yet the LORD will be faithful to His promise. ...
Oct 13, 2021•51 min
Rev. Peter Ill, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Millstadt, IL, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Ezekiel 20:1-26. Five years before the destruction of the temple, some of the elders of Israel come to Ezekiel to inquire of the LORD. In response, the LORD instructs Ezekiel to recite the history of the abominations of their fathers. Each cycle includes the LORD’s promise, the people’s rebellion, the LORD’s decision to pour out His wrath, and the LORD’s restraining of His anger for the sak...
Oct 12, 2021•52 min
Rev. Brian Flamme, pastor at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Roswell, NM, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Ezekiel 19:1-14. The LORD gives Ezekiel a lament for the princes of Israel; these wicked men do not deserve the title of king. The lament uses the images of a lion and a vine, both drawn from Jacob’s blessing to Judah in Genesis 49. The two lion cubs picture Jehoahaz and Jehoiachin, two wicked kings of Judah; the vine pictures the final kings of Judah more generally. Through their idolatr...
Oct 11, 2021•52 min
Rev. Joel Heckmann, pastor at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Okarche, OK, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Ezekiel 18:1-32. The LORD upholds His justice and righteousness in the face of His people’s false accusations against Him. He does not punish the wrong generation; the one who sins is the one who dies. From one generation to the next, the LORD causes His Word to be proclaimed to fathers, sons, and grandsons. Those who hear it in Holy Spirit-given faith are accounted righteous in His si...
Oct 08, 2021•56 min
Rev. Nate Hill, pastor at St. Michael’s Lutheran Church in Winchester, TX, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Ezekiel 17:1-24. The LORD gives Ezekiel an allegory that recites the recent history of the kings of Judah. The first great eagle breaks off the top of a cedar and plants a seed in its place. This is a picture of Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon carrying King Jehoiachin of Judah into exile and replacing him with Zedekiah. The seed grows into a low spreading vine that eventually turns toward ...
Oct 07, 2021•55 min
Rev. Tim Koch, pastor at Emanuel Lutheran Church in Milbank, SD, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Ezekiel 16:35-63. The LORD has exposed His people as an unfaithful bride; now He speaks judgment upon His people for their adulterous idolatry. He will show Judah and Jerusalem how worthless their idols really are. Not only will the LORD expose His people’s “lovers” as enemies, but He will show them what it means to make Him as an enemy as He satisfies His wrath against them. Though Jerusalem ...
Oct 06, 2021•54 min
Rev. Clint Poppe, pastor at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Lincoln, NE, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Ezekiel 16:1-34. Ezekiel begins an extended sermon that centers around the image of marriage to describe the history of the LORD’s interactions with His people Israel. Israel had no reason for anyone to desire it; in fact, every nation abandoned Israel as worthless. Yet the LORD in His grace saw Israel and made her His own. He nurtured her and committed Himself to her as her husband. ...
Oct 05, 2021•56 min
Rev. Sean Kilgo, pastor at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Lawrence, KS, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Ezekiel 15:1-8. Ezekiel’s sermon in this chapter is based on the familiar image of Israel as the LORD’s vineyard. He had done absolutely everything for His people by His grace, yet they had not produced the fruit of repentance that He had desired. What good is such a grape vine? The wood cannot be used to build anything; it can only be burned. That was the judgment that awaited the people ...
Oct 04, 2021•52 min
Rev. Stephen Preus, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Vinton, IA, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Ezekiel 14:1-23. When certain elders of Israel appear before Ezekiel to ask him a question, the LORD reveals to His prophet the true intentions of their hearts. These men are idolaters at heart; therefore, they deserve and should not expect any answer from the LORD. Yet the LORD does speak to them through His prophet; He gives them a word that speaks judgment against their idolatry and cal...
Oct 01, 2021•55 min
Rev. David Appold, pastor at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Paducah, KY, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Ezekiel 13:1-23. False prophets plague the people of God even in exile in Babylon. These false prophets are not preaching in the name of an idol. Instead, they are preaching in the name of the LORD, but they are preaching their own lying ideas rather than the truth of His Word. Their lies give the people a false sense of comfort and security. The false prophets say that there will be pe...
Sep 30, 2021•54 min
Rev. Dr. Adam Koontz, assistant professor of exegetical theology at Concordia Theological Seminary in Ft. Wayne, IN, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Ezekiel 12:1-28. Ezekiel is given two more action prophecies. First, he packs his bags and digs through a wall in order to portray the coming exile of the people of Jerusalem. This will affect even King Zedekiah, whom Ezekiel refuses to acknowledge as the legitimate successor to David’s throne. Second, Ezekiel eats his bread and drinks his wa...
Sep 29, 2021•56 min
Rev. Dr. Adam Filipek, pastor at Holy Cross and Immanuel Lutheran Churches in Lidgerwood, ND, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Ezekiel 11:1-25. Ezekiel’s vision of events in Jerusalem concludes. He hears the wicked leaders in Jerusalem claim that they are safe in Jerusalem as the cream of God’s crop. The LORD turns their slogan upside down and promises that they will fall by the sword that they have feared. When Ezekiel sees one of these leaders die in the midst of his vision, he cries out...
Sep 28, 2021•53 min
