Sharper Iron From Kfuo Radio

Rev. Jon Walla, pastor at Bethel Lutheran Church in Bismarck, ND, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Judges 20:29-48. The sin committed in Gibeah continues to affect the entire nation of Israel. At multiple points in this closing account of Judges, people have the opportunity for repentance that would have stopped the downward spiral leading to civil war, but sadly, such repentance never seems to come. The tribes of Israel united against Benjamin have received the LORD’s promise of victory on the third day. They set a trap for the Benjaminites, who fail to see that their judgment is at hand. Upon routing their brothers, Israel leaves only 600 men of Benjamin alive. The outcome for the tribe of Benjamin stands as a warning for all to be ready for the day of judgment. Israel’s slaughter of the Benjaminites ought to give us all cause to reflect where God-given authority for judgment is taken too far into unrighteous vengeance. This sad account puts before our eyes wickedness and bloodshed in order that we m

Rev. Dustin Beck, pastor at Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Warda, TX, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Judges 20:1-28. The fallout from the crime committed in Gibeah is swift. All the tribes of Israel except Benjamin gather together at Mizpah to hear the Levite present the case. He conveniently leaves out his own role in the matter, but the injustice committed is still clear. The tribes gathered speak as one man and go to Benjamin in an attempt to hold the sinners in Gibeah accountable. Rather than side with the LORD and His Word, the tribe of Benjamin sides with their own family members in their sin. Battle lines are drawn, and Benjamin is heavily outnumbered. Yet their skilled left-handed warriors make a big difference. They inflict heavy casualties on the rest of Israel the first two days of battle. Though Israel has finally begun to call upon the LORD, which they had neglected to do in their time of judgment, they have viewed His help more as a vending machine. Only when they approach the LORD accor

Rev. Steve Andrews, pastor at St. Matthew Lutheran Church in Lee’s Summit, MO, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Judges 19:1-30. The book of Judges continues to present accounts during the time when Israel had rejected the LORD as king, and the picture grows darker. A Levite took for himself a concubine; she became unfaithful. He went to reconcile with her, and her father showed the Levite extreme hospitality. The Levite finally pries himself away, along with his concubine and servants, to go to the house of the LORD. Events have been unusual, it is true, but there seems to be hope. Yet, the darkest events await. Their brief journey before nightfall leaves them in Gibeah. Hospitality is lacking until an old sojourner prevails upon them to stay the night with him. The Levite and his company soon find out the reason the old man was so insistent: the men of Gibeah are sodomites. At this point, any reconciliation that had been accomplished between the Levite and his concubine is thrown out the window as he

Rev. Matt Ulmer, pastor at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Bishop, TX, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Judges 18:1-31. The corruption in Israel went far deeper than one man of Ephraim and his personal priest; the entire tribe of Dan was rotting due to the rejection of the LORD as king. Though outwardly the Danites might have looked like faithful Israelites, their actions and words reveal their true moral and religious decay. They operate from the principle, “Might makes right.” That’s why they sought illegitimate approval from an illegitimate priest. That’s why they chose to conquer Laish rather than the territory the LORD had actually allotted to them. That’s why they plundered Micah of his household gods and his personal religious service. That’s why they set up idolatry within their tribe until the days of King David. The tragedy of the tribe of Dan gives us the ugly picture of what sort of life idolatry produces, thus inviting us to repentance and faith in Christ alone. “Rebellion and Rescue” is a mi

Rev. Matt Wietfeldt, director of admissions and director of the Christ Academy program at Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne, IN, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Judges 17:1-13. The lengthy epilogue to the book of Judges presents two episodes from Israel’s history that show how rotten life had become when everyone did what was right in his own eyes. Though they thought they could see, the people had been blinded by their idolatry, not truly knowing who the LORD was. As the first episode begins, the LORD’s commandments are blatantly ignored left and right. A man by the name of Micah steals from his own mother; she then misuses the name of the LORD both in cursing the thief and in attempting to reverse it only when discovering her son was behind it. Together, they use the money for idolatrous purposes. Micah’s son serves as a false priest for a time, until a Levite comes along. Surely a Levite should have known better, but even this sojourner from Bethlehem in Judah is deceived. He agrees to s

Rev. Joel Heckmann, pastor at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Okarche, OK, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Judges 16:22-31. Though Samson has been brought low in his unfaithfulness, the LORD remains faithful to Samson, as evidenced by the regrowth of his hair. The LORD’s faithfulness is key, as the conflict in the text is much deeper than the Philistines versus Samson. The true conflict is the LORD versus idols, particularly the Philistine idol, Dagon. The LORD will not let the mockery of the Philistines win the day, nor will He let them believe that their false god has triumphed. He will show His name to be holy even as people profane Him. In his humiliation, Samson’s weak faith is still evident. Even as Samson desires vengeance, he does cry out to the LORD as the only true God who can deliver him. Even if Samson dies in the process, he trusts that God will raise him from the dead, as Hebrews 11 reminds us. Samson’s death does bring great defeat upon the Philistines, but the end of his account still le

Rev. Nate Hill, pastor at St. Michael’s Lutheran Church in Winchester, TX, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Judges 16:1-21. Samson’s less than faithful decisions finally begin to catch up to him. Though he once again seems to escape after his sins against the 6th Commandment with a prostitute, Samson’s great strength is no match for Delilah. Samson’s love for her and love for riddles lead to his downfall. Samson thinks he knows something Delilah does not, but Delilah is actually holding all the cards. She has already agreed to betray him to the Philistines. Though her three initial attempts are unsuccessful, she ultimately manipulates Samson through his unrequited love for her. In telling her about his hair, Samson has placed his strength in himself rather than the LORD. The Philistines capture Samson and gouge out his eyes, serving not only for their own revenge, but also God’s own judgment against Samson’s pride. Yet in his humiliation, Samson now is in the place where in repentance, God’s strength w

Rev. Jacob Dandy, pastor at Zion Lutheran Church and School in Terra Bella, CA joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Judges 15:1-20. Samson’s desire for personal vengeance escalates his conflict with the Philistines. When he discovers that his wife has been given to another man, he destroys the Philistine agriculture with burning torches tied to fox tails. When the Philistines respond in kind toward Samson’s wife and father-in-law, Samson only further destroys them. Even as Samson’s personal anger grows, the LORD still uses Samson to accomplish His deliverance in the office of judge. The LORD continues to work through Samson’s anger even as the people of Judah cower before the Philistines. As a mighty hero in the Spirit of the LORD, Samson defeats 1,000 Philistines with the jawbone of a donkey. Yet even Samson was not beyond the LORD’s discipline. The mighty judge calls out to the LORD for help, and the one true God gives Samson needed refreshment in body and soul. “Rebellion and Rescue” is a mini-series o

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 Judges 14:1-20. After the hope and promise of his birth narrative, Samson’s initial actions disappoint. His desire to marry a Philistine shows neglect for the First, Fourth, and Sixth Commandments. All the while, the LORD continues to direct even these events toward the deliverance of His people. Samson’s great strength from the Spirit of the LORD is evident as he tears apart a ferocious lion, yet he shows disregard for his Nazirite vow. Samson’s seven-day wedding feast is a raucous atmosphere, in which Samson again places himself in grave temptation, at the very least. His riddle shows cunning, yet the Philistine’s show their viciousness. Their threat of death to Samson’s wife and her father combine with her manipulation in order to discover Samson’s riddle. Samson, however, knows the reality. The Spirit of the LORD yet again fills him with great strength in

Rev. Clint Poppe, pastor at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Lincoln, NE, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Judges 13:1-25. The book of Judges slows down to give the account of Samson from the very beginning of his life. The angel of the LORD goes to the wife of Manoah. Her barrenness is the epitome of hopelessness, yet the LORD is the One who brings hope to His hopeless people. He tells her that the son she will bear will be a Nazirite from birth; he will be set aside for service to the LORD. Details throughout the account foreshadow both the miraculous birth of John the Baptist and the virgin birth of the Lord Jesus Christ. The LORD is gracious to Manoah in coming a second time to speak His Word yet again. Manoah is not yet aware that this is the angel of the LORD, and so He graciously reveals Himself in the sacrifice Manoah is instructed to offer. Though Manoah fears he will die after seeing God face-to-face, his wife catechizes him in the truth of the LORD’s mercy. Their son’s name Samson foreshadow

Rev. Mark Barz, pastor at Crown of Life Lutheran Church in San Antonio, TX, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Judges 12:1-15. The infighting that has plagued Israel grows toward the end of Jephthah’s time as judge. Ephraim is once again filled with pride and a desire for earthly glory. Jephthah’s response is not nearly as diplomatic as Gideon’s before him, and fighting and killing ensues. The Gileadites turn the insult of Ephraim into a weapon, and the language that should have united the people of Israel in the confession of the one true God is turned into a tool for brothers to kill brothers. In the midst of this further evidence of spiritual decay, other judges rule in other places. Each judge points us forward to our ultimate deliverer, Jesus Christ. “Rebellion and Rescue” is a mini-series on Sharper Iron that goes through the book of Judges. This book is characterized by a familiar. As the generations after Joshua forget the LORD and what He has done for Israel, they fall into idolatry. The LORD g

Rev. Tim Koch, pastor at Emanuel Lutheran Church in Milbank, SD, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Judges 11:29-40. The downward spiral of the book of Judges quickens even in the midst of the LORD’s deliverance. The Spirit of the LORD comes upon Jephthah in order to deliver victory over the Ammonites to His people. However, Jephthah’s vow casts a deadly pall over what should have been a lively celebration. Even apart from its content, Jephthah’s vow was unnecessary because he already had the LORD’s promise of victory. The content only makes his vow even more foolish and ungodly. He never excludes the possibility of sacrificing a member of his own household, as a faithful Israelite would have done. Foolishness turns to tragedy when Jephthah’s only daughter greets him upon his return. The decay of Israel’s religious life is evident as neither Jephthah nor his daughter ever consult the LORD, His Word, or His servants, the Levites, in order to seek a way to avoid this ungodly human sacrifice. Instead, they

Rev. Carl Roth, pastor at Grace Lutheran Church in Elgin, TX, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Judges 11:1-28. The book of Judges continues to present sinners in need of God’s redemption. Jephthah is a classic example. The son of a prostitute, Jephthah is ostracized by his brothers and goes to dwell far from his home as the leader of a band of marauders. When the oppression of the Ammonites is great, his brothers have a change of heart and ask him to come help them fight. Jephthah proves to be a shrewd negotiator as they agree to make him not only their general, but their leader. He attempts to find a diplomatic solution with the Ammonites first; they were related to Israel, after all. Jephthah shows his knowledge of Israel’s history, even if his faith concerning idolatry was shaky. Ultimately, he holds up the LORD as the true Judge of the case between Ammon and Israel, pointing us forward to Jesus Christ as the only one who can justify us before God. “Rebellion and Rescue” is a mini-series on Sharper

Rev. Luke Zimmerman, pastor at Calvary Evangelical Lutheran Church in Mechanicsburg, PA, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Judges 10:6-18. The cycle of Judges transitions toward a third stage. The Ammonites become the primary enemies of Israel in the east, and the Philistines become the primary enemies of Israel in the west. These enemies arise as the LORD’s response to Israel’s evil. This evil is not simply generic immoral behavior; Israel’s evil always traces itself back to idolatry. As the people experience the oppression of their enemies, the LORD once again does His work of bringing His people to repentance. They acknowledge their sin of forsaking the LORD. When He challenges them to cry out to these new gods instead, they refuse and remember who the LORD is and what He has done for them. The LORD responds with mercy as the people in the eastern part of the land look for one through whom the LORD will rescue them from the Ammonites. “Rebellion and Rescue” is a mini-series on Sharper Iron that goes

Rev. Matt Wietfeldt, director of admissions and director of the Christ Academy program at Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne, IN, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Judges 9:42-10:5. Abimelech has tried to do things his own way instead of the LORD’s; now, the LORD lets Abimelech experience that the way of evil only ends with evil. Abimelech turns on the very people who helped him assume power in the first place, with growing vengeance and violence. Idols prove their worthlessness as a refuge both for the Shechemites and Abimelech. His evil and pride are brought to an end through the LORD’s judgment by a humiliating death. Abimelech’s account stands as a warning to all who walk in the way of evil and as a comfort to Christians that the LORD does reign even during evil and one day does bring it to an end. In contrast to Abimelech stands the two minor judges, Tola and Jair. Though not much is said of their time as judge, their brief accounts remind us that the LORD continues to rule His people eve

Rev. David Appold, pastor at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Paducah, KY, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Judges 9:22-41. The short reign of Abimelech is a photo negative of the kingdom of God. Though Abimelech perhaps fancied himself king over all Israel, his rule was far more localized, primarily in the city of Shechem. God gave Abimelech and his Canaanite friends over to the evil they desired from the start of their ascent to power. Their shaky alliance quickly devolved into treachery, as the Shechemites worked against any peace or prosperity that should have characterized the rule of a king. When a drunken boast from Gaal called upon the Shechemites to remember and renew past hostilities, Zebul took advantage of the situation and led Abimelech to bring the insurrectionist to a violent end. This is only the beginning of Abimelech’s downward trajectory. God’s Word presents this, and other, ugly accounts of the sinfulness of mankind in order to bring into sharper relief the Gospel of the reign of Jesus

Rev. Dr. Adam Filipek, pastor at Holy Cross Lutheran Church and Immanuel Lutheran Church, both in Lidgerwood, ND, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Judges 9:1-21. Israel has once again entered into the downward cycle. The rise of Abimelech does not represent the LORD’s deliverance, but a deeper fall into idolatry. Abimelech’s offer to the men of Shechem is shrewd from a worldly perspective, but his subsequent murder of his brothers through the use of money from a pagan treasury shows how bad the idolatry in Israel really is. This is true for sinners in every age. Idolatry lies at the heart of all our sin; though it seems to offer much, it always delivers nothing but death. Jotham, the lone son of Gideon to escape Abimelech’s fratricide, tells a parable that speaks the truth of the deadly trajectory Abimelech’s account must go. Though this section of Scripture seems hopeless, when we see it in light of the entire account of God’s merciful dealings with sinful man, we see the great need to put not our tru

Rev. Chris Hull, pastor at Zion Lutheran Church in Tomball, TX, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Judges 8:22-35. The threat from Midian has ended, but the threat of idolatry remains as Gideon’s leadership of Israel comes to an end. Though Gideon’s refusal of his own dynasty over Israel sounds pious, his deeds take him beyond the leadership the LORD’s Word had given him. As he receives the spoils of war, he goes beyond their proper use and crafts an ephod that becomes an idolatrous snare for him, his family, and Israel. Any such attempt to make something holy by our own ways must fail; only the Word of God can sanctify. Gideon’s family life foreshadows the coming faithlessness of Abimelech and those under his leadership, when idolatry in Israel only grows. Still, the LORD is gracious in giving rest from Midian. The end of Gideon’s life is a vivid reminder that the LORD’s forgiveness is real grace for real sinners. “Rebellion and Rescue” is a mini-series on Sharper Iron that goes through the book of Jud

Rev. Jeff Hemmer, pastor at Bethany Lutheran Church in Fairview Heights, IL, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Judges 7:24-8:21. The LORD has delivered the initial victory to Gideon; now, the runaway princes and kings of Midian must be fully defeated. As Gideon calls upon the men of Ephraim for their help, sinful man’s desire for his own glory wells up in jealousy and pride. Gideon skillfully pacifies the situation, although the LORD’s role in the victory seems to be neglected. Even as Gideon seeks to fulfill the LORD’s mandate to defeat the Midianite army, he begins to go past what he had been given, exacting vengeance upon even his fellow Israelites. As Gideon deals with the Midianite kings, he is faithful in acknowledging the foolishness of idolatry, even as his personal anger seems to lead him toward sin. As we see Gideon in both faithfulness and foolishness, we rejoice all the more in the completely faithful Savior, Jesus Christ. “Rebellion and Rescue” is a mini-series on Sharper Iron that goes th

Rev. Sean Kilgo, pastor at the Northeast Kansas Lutheran Partnership, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Judges 7:1-23. Gideon has amassed an army, but the LORD says that there are too many. In order that His people will not boast in His presence and to teach them that the victory is His alone, the LORD whittles Gideon’s army down to a mere 300 men. As Gideon continues to have difficulty seeing the LORD’s Word with the eyes of faith, the LORD graciously strengthens him once more as he overhears a Midianite dream; today, the LORD graciously strengthens our faith through His Word and Sacrament. The LORD delivers the victory into Gideon’s hand without Gideon or his men ever drawing their swords. The entire account is a picture of God’s gift of salvation by His grace through His strength and wisdom shown ultimately in Christ crucified for sinners. “Rebellion and Rescue” is a mini-series on Sharper Iron that goes through the book of Judges. This book is characterized by a familiar. As the generations after J