Sharper Iron From Kfuo Radio

Rev. Luke Zimmerman, pastor at Calvary Evangelical Lutheran Church in Mechanicsburg, PA, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Ezekiel 40:28-49. Ezekiel’s vision of the new temple continues into the inner court of the temple. The measurements are again given in precise detail; the repeated use of the numbers 25, 50, and 100 may be a reference to the freedom from slavery given in year of Jubilee. The entrances from the outer court to the inner court are a reminder that the LORD must be the One to provide the way to come near to His holiness; His grace is seen in the fact that He does precisely that through His Son Jesus Christ. “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

Rev. Matt Wietfeldt, Director of Admissions and the Christ Academy program at Concordia Theological Seminary in Ft. Wayne, IN, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Ezekiel 40:1-27. Ezekiel’s book comes to a grand climax and conclusion with the vision he receives of the new temple. In the first part of Ezekiel’s ministry, the LORD condemned His people’s idolatry, prompting Him to leave His temple. Yet after the temple was destroyed, the LORD brought Ezekiel into the second part of his ministry, in which he comforted the people of God with the promise of restoration and rescue. Those promises are brought to fulfillment in Ezekiel’s vision of a new temple, in which the LORD will dwell with His people forever. This vision is not intended as a blueprint for a structure to be built; rather, through this vision the LORD intends to prepare the hearts of His people to receive Christ as Savior when He comes. Ezekiel’s vision of the outer courts of the temple reminds us that through faith in Christ, both Jew and Gent

Rev. Daniel Golden, pastor at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Parkersburg, WV, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Ezekiel 39:1-29. The LORD continues His description of His defeat of the enemies of His Church. Even though a great host attacked the LORD’s people, the LORD’s victory over His enemies is full and complete. All their weapons will be burned in the fire, and all their bodies will be buried. There will be no remnant of the enemy to threaten the remnant of the LORD’s people, and there will be no unholiness to desecrate the LORD’s people. With the enemies of His people completely destroyed, the LORD will bring His people to everlasting peace and security; His face will be hidden from them no longer. This has been fulfilled in the face of Jesus Christ, the incarnate Son of God, even as we wait to see Him face-to-face in the complete fulfillment at the resurrection. “The Faithful Watchman” is a mini-series on Sharper Iron that goes through the book of Ezekiel. Just when Ezekiel should have begun his s

Rev. William Terjesen, pastor at the Lutheran Church of Our Redeemer in Peekskill, NY, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Ezekiel 38:1-23. The LORD has been comforting His people through Ezekiel by giving them promises concerning the Messianic age. Will these promises stand even when the enemies of the LORD and His people attack? The answer is loud and clear: “Yes!” Clues from the text itself and the rest of Holy Scripture lead us to read the account of Gog and Magog as describing the attacks of the Church’s enemies throughout time, culminating with the stronger attacks in the last days. One key point throughout the text is that even these enemies are under the LORD’s direction. Through their attacks, He gains glory for Himself and rescue for His people. In that way, this text should strike fear and repentance into the heart of the LORD’s enemies and bring comfort to the LORD’s people. “The Faithful Watchman” is a mini-series on Sharper Iron that goes through the book of Ezekiel. Just when Ezekiel shou

Rev. Steve Andrews, pastor at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Bishop, TX, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Ezekiel 37:15-28. Although the second half of Ezekiel 37 is likely less familiar than the first, the Gospel promise is just as sweet. The LORD gives Ezekiel the action prophecy of joining two sticks in his hand. This is a picture of how the LORD will unite His divided people once more. The LORD has done this through the tree of the cross, reconciling sinners to Himself and uniting Jews and Gentiles through faith in Christ. Jesus is the fulfillment of the king the LORD promises over His people. Those who trust in Jesus dwell with Him forever under His covenant of peace. “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 fait

Rev. Matt Ulmer, pastor at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Bishop, TX, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Ezekiel 37:1-14. In perhaps the most memorable text from Ezekiel, the LORD shows the prophet a valley full of dry bones. The scene is one of utter death. Though the answer to the LORD’s question seems obvious, Ezekiel puts the ball back in the LORD’s court, showing faith that the LORD can bring life from death. Through the prophetic word spoken by Ezekiel, the LORD does cause the dry bones to live once more. This scene provides a picture of hope and comfort for the exiles of Judah; the LORD will restore them to life in their land once more. This scene provides a picture of hope and comfort to Christians today; He has raised us to new life by the Gospel of His Son, and on the Last Day, when Jesus returns, He will literally call us out of our graves and give us the fullness of eternal life in body and soul for all eternity. “The Faithful Watchman” is a mini-series on Sharper Iron that goes through the bo

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 sake of His own name. He will vindicate Himself before the nations by bringing His people back to their land. He will cleanse His people from their defilement by washing them clean, giving them new hearts, and placing His Spirit within them. This will have effects on the land as well; the once desolate places will flourish once more. This text points to the LORD’s fulfillment in Jesus Christ, who showed the holiness of God’s name in His death and resurrection so that we might have new hearts by being cleansed in the wat

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 them in the aftermath of the Babylonian exile, but now the LORD, as a jealous husband, promises to rescue His people. The land will be restored with blessings even more abundant than Eden. No longer will idolatrous worship reign, nor will famine or drought bring harm to the multitude of the LORD’s people. The picture Ezekiel gives pushes us beyond the return from exile in 539 BC to our Lord Jesus Christ and the new heavens and new earth He will bring on the Last Day.

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. In response, the LORD assures them that He is, in fact, still there, and that their crimes against Israel are really crimes against Him. He will bring desolation upon the land and people of Edom as they had done to the people of Israel. Through the proclamation of judgment upon Edom, the people of God hear the Gospel that the LORD defeats their enemies and rescues them from every danger, finally through Jesus. “The Faithful Watchman” is a mini-series on Sharper Iron that goes through the book of Ezekiel. Just when E

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 them. The LORD promises judgment against these faithless shepherds, and He promises to be the true shepherd Himself. This is brought to fulfillment in our Lord Jesus Christ, who is the Good Shepherd by laying down His life for the sheep to give us life. As His sheep, we wait for that promised Day when our every enemy from within and without is no danger to us at all, and our Good Shepherd brings us to the eternal peace and rest of His new creation. “The Faithful Watchman” is a mini-series on Sharper Iron that goes thro

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 the skill of the preacher, but due to the work of God through His Word. Ezekiel’s ministry comes to a major turning point when he receives word that the city of Jerusalem has been destroyed. Though this seems like a surprising moment for God’s kingdom to come, it is at this point that the LORD opens Ezekiel’s mouth for continued proclamation of repentance and faith. This turning point in history is a precursor to the way God brings His Kingdom in the cross of Jesus Christ so that the Church still proclaims Christ cru

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 of God in Ezekiel’s day, but to the people of God every day. Because of the fullness of the victory that Jesus has won over our enemies by His death and resurrection, we sing the song of resurrection even now as we wait for the fullness of the promise on the Last Day. The picture of Pharaoh’s descent into Sheol is a vivid reminder that all nations, no matter how mighty now, will one day perish. Only those who belong to the kingdom of God in Christ are rescued from eternal death. “The Faithful Watchman” is a mini-se

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 of humility, and so the LORD gave Assyria into the hands of Babylon. The once-proud tree was stripped of its branches, leaving those from many nations without a refuge. The LORD sent Assyria down into death and the grave, leaving their boastful claims without any backing at all. The example of Assyria served as a warning to Pharaoh, who could expect his pride to lead him in the same direction. This text calls all of us to repent of our pride and to find our refuge only in the tree of life that Jesus has made for us i

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, just as He had done before in Egypt through the Ten Plagues. The LORD speaks particularly concerning the judgment He will bring upon Pharaoh Hophra. By strengthening the arms of Nebuchadnezzar to defeat Egypt, the LORD will break the arms of Hophra and leave him and his kingdom completely powerless and utterly wiped out. The destruction that the LORD proclaims against Egypt in this text should compel Christians to pray for those outside of Christ and to be more urgent in proclaiming the good news of salvation to tho

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 useless as an idol. Even though one day Egypt will be restored, they will never be a mighty empire again; Nebuchadnezzar’s destruction of Egypt brought about this downfall. Yet the LORD makes His promise cause a horn to spring up for the house of Israel, pointing forward to the word and work of the Savior. “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 prophe

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 be parallel with the fall of Satan. Ezekiel briefly turns to speak the LORD’s Word against Sidon, the sister city of Tyre, before the LORD’s promise to His people Israel breaks in. By executing His judgments upon the enemies of His people, the LORD will bring safety to His own people. “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 Babylo

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 well. The LORD proclaims clearly that, although this city seemed invincible, it will fall for its idolatrous pride. The LORD calls us to repent of our own pride and idolatry and put our hope only in Christ, who is the only Savior. “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 actio

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 the LORD had spoken. The LORD’s judgment against His enemies is good news for the people of God, for it means that He is acting as their Savior from those who mean them only harm. Jesus fulfills this task by His death and resurrection. “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-grab

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 the LORD’s promise to the people of Judah. Edom receives judgment for its vengeance against Judah. Philistia destroyed Judah with delight as an agent of the old evil foe, and so the LORD Himself brings the judgment against them without using any agent. In all of this, the LORD makes known who He is to the nations. “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

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. Though the people in Jerusalem think they are safe there as the prized possession of God, the LORD has seen their corruption and will cleanse them by burning everything completely. He will not spare this judgment. When Ezekiel’s wife dies, the LORD tells the prophet not to mourn as an opportunity to preach to the people their own reaction to Jerusalem’s fall. That day is coming, the LORD promises, and when Ezekiel receives that news, his mouth will be opened and he will begin to proclaim the LORD’s promise of restoration