Sharper Iron from KFUO Radio

Even though the people of Israel dwell with the LORD in their midst, they quickly fall into their familiar grumbling on their way to the Promised Land. They long for the food of Egypt, despite the versatility of manna. Moses responds to the people's grumbling by bringing the matter before the LORD and asking for help in leading the people. The LORD responds to Moses' request for help by placing Hi...

Just over a year after the Exodus from Egypt, the people of Israel leave Mount Sinai. They move into the wilderness of Paran, traveling according to the order the LORD had given them before leaving the mountain. The LORD leads them by His presence in the cloud, and the Levites carry His moveable dwelling in the midst of Israel. Moses employs his brother-in-law Hobab as a guide in the wilderness. T...

The LORD provides final travel instructions for His people before they set out from Mount Sinai. The cloud of the LORD's presence is the visible sign that Israel follows the LORD. However long the cloud remains in a place, the people remain. When the cloud moves, the people move behind the LORD. Two silver trumpets give an audible signal for the LORD's people to move. Different blasts convey diffe...

Before the people of Israel leave Mount Sinai, the time arrives for them to celebrate the Passover. They do so according to the LORD's instructions, a fitting way to prepare for their journey toward the Promised Land. When some men become unclean through contact with a dead body, Moses and Aaron seek the LORD's counsel as to whether these men can celebrate the Passover. The LORD's instructions all...

The LORD keeps His people's focus on the tabernacle by reminding them of the lampstand in the holy place, which shone constantly in His presence. He next gives instructions for cleansing of the Levites in order that they may be set apart for service before Him in His dwelling place. Moses, Aaron, and the people of Israel carried out these instructions of the LORD faithfully so that the Levites wou...

The second-longest chapter of the Bible takes us back chronologically to focus our attention on the LORD's tabernacle, where He dwelled among His people. When the tabernacle was set up, the chiefs of the tribes of Israel brought an offering to assist the Levites in their service of carrying the tabernacle from place to place. When Moses recounts the offerings brought by each tribe on successive da...

God gave His people the Nazirite vow as an opportunity for an individual Israelite to set himself apart for a particular task for the LORD for a limited period of time. Open to both men and women, the Nazirite was to remain separate from three particular things. First, Nazirites were not to partake of alcoholic drinks or anything made from grapes. Second, Nazirites were not to go near dead bodies....

The LORD desires that His people approach His holiness according to His will and Word. Those who are unclean through a skin disease or contact with the dead must be put outside the camp until they are made clean again. Someone who comes to realize a sin after the fact must not ignore it. Instead, he must make restitution to the one he wronged or to the LORD. In the case where the sin of adultery i...

As the LORD assigns duties to the Levites, He now has Moses number only those who are physically able to complete their service in the tabernacle, that is, those between thirty and fifty years of age. The sons of Kohath will care for the holy items within the tabernacle. The priests must make special preparations for the Kohathites so that they do not perish from touching the holy things. The sons...

The LORD purposely told Moses not to count the Levites as a part of the Israelite army, because the Levites have a different role among the people of Israel. Aaron and his sons are to serve as priests in the LORD’s house, and the Levites are to assist the sons of Aaron. The Levites also serve the people by guarding the tabernacle, lest the people go before the LORD in His holiness unprepared. The...

The LORD orders His people both in the way they camp and in the way they march. As the tribe through which the line of the promised Christ will come, the tribe of Judah occupies the first place. At the same time, the tabernacle occupies the central place, for the LORD’s presence among His people is primary. Although the people surround the tabernacle in their camp, the LORD’s presence there provid...

The fourth book of Moses begins at the base of Mount Sinai in the second year after the LORD delivered His people from slavery in Egypt. There, the LORD continues to speak to Moses so that His people will listen to His Word. He names and numbers His army one tribe at a time in preparation for their conquest of the Promised Land. As the book of Numbers progresses, this first generation of Israelite...

"Wilderness Wanderings” is a series on Sharper Iron that goes through the book of Numbers. After the LORD delivers His people from slavery in Egypt, He leads them toward the Promised Land. Although the first generation of Israelites proves faithless, the LORD remains faithful to His people and brings a new generation of Israelites to the plains of Moab. This strengthens us to listen to God’s promi...

In the final stanza of Psalm 119, we place before God’s face our desperate need so that He will give us understanding and deliverance according to His promise. In response, our mouths open to sing and chant back to God what He has first said to us. We long for His salvation, knowing that apart from Jesus, we are sheep doomed to destruction. We pray in confidence that He is our Good Shepherd who se...

In the twenty-first stanza of Psalm 119, God’s Word is our joy greater than any other treasure. The riches of God’s Word are so great that we sing His praises always and regularly. Although the enemies of God may attack us, His Word makes us stand firm and shapes our ways according to His.  Rev. Mark Squire, pastor at Immanuel Lutheran Church in St. Ansgar, IA, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to stu...

In the twentieth stanza of Psalm 119, we pray that God would see us in our affliction to deliver us. He must be the one to stand up for our case and justify us by His promise. Although our adversaries are many, we need not waver from God’s Word, because His mercies far outnumber those who would harm us. This is our confidence, because God’s Word is true.  Rev. Merritt Demski, pastor at St. John Lu...

In the nineteenth stanza of Psalm 119, we call out to God with our entire being, asking for His salvation. Because we know that the morning will bring His salvation, we vigilantly wait for Him to keep His promise. Although our enemies draw near, God is nearer still in His promise, now and forever.  Rev. Dr. Tim Saleska, Professor of Exegetical Theology and Dean of Ministerial Formation at Concordi...

In the eighteenth stanza of Psalm 119, we praise God as the Righteous One who gives us His righteousness through His Word. He is faithful to His Word; He has never failed to keep His promises. Even though we are small, despised, troubled, and anguished, He gives us delight through His eternal righteousness.  Rev. Andrew Belt, pastor at Christ Lutheran Church in Marshfield, WI, joins host Rev. Timo...

In the seventeenth stanza of Psalm 119, we marvel at the wonder of God’s Word that gives light and understanding. As we long for His commandments, God turns His face toward us with grace and keeps our steps steady by His promise. Even as we mourn at those who do not keep God’s Law, we rejoice in His redemption from man’s oppression.  Rev. Dr. Martin Dressler, pastor at Salem Lutheran Church in Bla...

In the sixteenth stanza of Psalm 119, we look to God to give us Himself as the pledge that He will act to fulfill His righteous promise. He deals with us according to His steadfast love, and so we long for His appointed time to bring about His salvation. In this confidence, we love His Words as the most valuable thing of all.  Rev. Sean Daenzer, Director of Worship for The Lutheran Church—Missouri...

In the fifteenth stanza of Psalm 119, our attitudes toward evil are shaped by God’s. As God spurns all who go astray from His Word, so we too renounce all wickedness and double-mindedness. Standing in fear and awe before the holy God, we cling to Him and to His Word alone, knowing that He is our only Savior.  Rev. Matt Wietfeldt, Assistant Vice President of Admissions and Director of the Christ Ac...

In the fourteenth stanza of Psalm 119, we rejoice to walk in the light of God’s Word. Although our lives may be under constant attack by the enemies of God and His Church, still we know that the Word of God will give us life. As God has given us an inheritance of grace in His Word, we incline our hearts toward all that He says.  Rev. Joel Heckmann, pastor at St. John's Lutheran Church in Okarche,...

In the thirteenth stanza of Psalm 119, we give thanks for the way God’s Word makes us wiser and gives us more understanding than anything or anyone else. For this reason, we love His Word but hate every false way. Rather than going astray to the right or the left, we seek to stay on the path God's Word gives us.  Rev. Ian Kinney, pastor at First Lutheran Church in Sabetha, KS, joins host Rev. Timo...

In the twelfth stanza of Psalm 119, we confess the eternal nature of God’s Word. Even as His Word stands fast in the heavens, He brings it to us so that it gives us joy and life. Apart from God’s Word, we would perish in the traps of the wicked; therefore, God keeps us as His by His grace.  Rev. Harrison Goodman, content executive for Higher Things, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Psalm 119...

In the eleventh stanza of Psalm 119, our whole being longs for God to fulfill His promise. As we lament before God, we acknowledge that His promise is true by crying out for Him to be faithful as we see all that is not righteous in the world. His Word provides a sure refuge when we lament, so that our faith in Him is not put to shame.  Rev. Jeremiah Johnson, pastor at Glory of Christ Lutheran Chur...