Sharper Iron from KFUO Radio

Rev. Andrew Belt, pastor at Christ Lutheran Church in Marshfield, WI, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Ecclesiastes 9:11-10:7. Solomon laments the reality under the sun that no outcome is assured. Those who are fastest don’t always win the race, and those are smart don’t always get rich. Wisdom conquers brute force, and yet wisdom doesn’t always receive its due recognition. Nonetheless, wisd...

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 Ecclesiastes 9:1-10. Solomon tells it like it is. In this life under the sun, man cannot see God’s purposes. On whatever end of the spectrum a person falls, he still dies. Those who are living have the advantage of reflectin...

Rev. Merritt Demski, pastor at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Waterloo, IL, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Ecclesiastes 8:10-17. Solomon sees that those who are evil die, even if they were praised in this life. The neglect of justice for evil leads to further evil, yet the fear of God always leads to that which truly lasts. Though righteousness may not receive an earthly reward, still God’s p...

Rev. Matt Wietfeldt, Vice President of Admissions and Director of the Christ Academy Program at Concordia Theological Seminary in Ft. Wayne, IN, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Ecclesiastes 8:1-9. Solomon gives wisdom concerning interactions with the king, who has received authority from God to govern for the good of the people. Because in this life the king does what he pleases, care shoul...

Rev. Joel Heckmann, pastor at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Okarche, OK, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Ecclesiastes 7:15-29. Solomon sees that the righteous man still dies and that the wicked man may live long. At the same time, Solomon still recognizes that the fear of God is a necessity, because there is no one who has righteousness of his own. As Solomon has looked for wisdom in this l...

Rev. Jason M. Kaspar, pastor at Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church in La Grange, TX, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Ecclesiastes 7:1-14. Solomon speaks in the style of the book of Proverbs in the first part of Ecclesiastes 7. He contrasts the unbridled pursuit of empty happiness with the wisdom of recognizing the reality of mortality. Those who are wise are willing to endure the sadness of consid...

Rev. Dr. Rick Marrs, senior professor of practical theology and pastoral counseling at Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, MO, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Ecclesiastes 5:18-6:12. Recognizing that all humanity are dependent creatures of God, Solomon commends joy in the gifts of God throughout life. Such joy comes even in the midst of the reality that sometimes death comes before we expect i...

Rev. Timothy Kern, pastor at Our Savior Lutheran Church in Marlette, MI, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Ecclesiastes 5:1-17. Solomon instructs us in the wisdom of guarding our words, both before God in worship and before others. Only when we are quick to listen to God’s Word will we know how best to speak before God. As we observe life under the sun, we should not be surprised by injustice...

Rev. Sam Wirgau, pastor at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Ossian, IN, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Ecclesiastes 4:4-16. Solomon sees the vanity in toil that is done only out of envy, yet he also sees the vanity of laziness that leads to want. Rather than living in such vanity, wisdom is found in considering the purpose of working for others. Using several images, Solomon shows that two peo...

Rev. Doug Griebenaw, mission advocate for KFUO Radio in St. Louis, MO, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Ecclesiastes 3:16-4:3. Solomon recognizes wickedness that comes even in those places where we most expect to find justice and righteousness. He finds comfort in the fact that God serves as judge over all, and he recognizes the way that God uses this reality to test people to see the truth...

Rev. Dustin Beck, pastor at Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Warda, TX, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Ecclesiastes 3:1-15. The poem that Solomon writes at the beginning of Ecclesiastes 3 helps us to see the passing of time from God’s perspective. He appoints a time for all matters of our lives, allowing us to receive everything that happens in this life in view of His fatherly, divine goodne...

Rev. Sam Beltz, pastor at St. John Lutheran Church in Oskaloosa, IA, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Ecclesiastes 2:18-26. Solomon keeps speaking directly concerning the vanity of this life under the sun. When Solomon reflects on the toil of this life, he sees the futility in working hard all life long only to leave everything to someone who may be a fool. This calls for reflection on the p...

Rev. Vance Becker, LCMS missionary serving as a theological education at Neema Lutheran College in Matongo, Kenya, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Ecclesiastes 2:1-17. Solomon continues to put his thesis to the test concerning the vanity of life. He seeks out all manner of pleasure for himself. He indulges in wine, he engages in magnificent building projects, and he acquires all kinds of we...

Rev. James Sharp, missionary, teacher, and pastor in Montevideo, Uruguay through the LCMS Office of International Mission, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Ecclesiastes 1:12-18. King Solomon describes the way he applied his heart and used his wisdom to see all that is done under heaven. He sees in this life under the sun an endless busyness that leaves man unhappy. Man is unable to make the...

Rev. Jacob Dandy, pastor at Zion Lutheran Church and School in Terra Bella, CA, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Ecclesiastes 1:1-11. In the book of Ecclesiastes, King Solomon serves as the preacher to the gathered people of Israel. He probably writes this book later in his life, reflecting on all that he has seen and experienced in this life under the sun. He states his conclusion about thi...

“Wisdom for Life Under the Sun” is a series on Sharper Iron that goes through the book of Ecclesiastes. Solomon’s favorite word in Ecclesiastes paints a bleak picture: “Vanity of vanities! All is vanity!” Apart from God, life is nothing but vapor that does not last and can never be grasped. Yet Solomon does not leave us in despair. He shows us that life does have meaning in the faith and fear of G...

Rev. Dr. Adam Filipek, pastor at Holy Cross and Immanuel Lutheran Churches in Lidgerwood, ND, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Psalm 149. The Psalter ends with five “Hallelujah” Psalms in which the people of God join together to praise the one true God. In Psalm 149, the people of God sing the new song of salvation. The LORD has not only made His people; He has redeemed them as their King. T...

Rev. Jeff Hemmer, pastor at Bethany Lutheran Church in Fairview Heights, IL, and assistant to the president of the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Psalm 141. In Psalm 141, David finds himself unable to join the other faithful Israelites worshiping at the temple in Jerusalem, and so he asks the LORD to count his prayer as a part of the incense that ascends to...

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 Psalm 137. Psalm 137 reveals its context quickly. The people of God are exiled in Babylon. Although Babylon’s waters may have seemed more fruitful from an earthly perspective, the people of God weep there because they are no...

Rev. Joshua Haller, pastor at Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church in Fairgrove, MI, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Psalm 133. In Psalm 133, David rejoices in the gift of unity that the LORD creates within His Church. This unity is founded upon the truth of the LORD’s Word in which Christians live together as true brothers in the faith. God anoints His Church with this gift from the top to th...

Rev. James Preus, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Ottumwa, IA, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Psalm 127. In Psalm 127, Solomon teaches us the wisdom that apart from the LORD’s activity, all our work is in vain. The LORD must be the One to build our families; He is the One who never fails to watch over our households. If we do our work and watching in worry, we squander His good gifts....

Rev. Carl Roth, pastor at Grace Lutheran Church in Elgin, TX, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Psalm 120. Psalm 120 is the first of the psalms of ascent; these perhaps were used by pilgrims on their way to Jerusalem for one of the feasts that the LORD gave to His people. As the psalmist has received the LORD’s deliverance in the past, so he cries out again for rescue from lies. A tongue that...

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 Psalm 115. In Psalm 115, the people of God pray that He alone would have the glory in the face of all idols. Though the nations may taunt the true God, their idols are seen to be absolutely nothing. As the work of human hands, idols have absolutel...

Rev. Shawn Linnell, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Blair, NE, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Psalm 103. In Psalm 103, David blesses the LORD for all of the benefits that He has given, both physically and spiritually. By making known His ways to Moses and Israel, the LORD has shown that His mercy and grace is trustworthy. He does not deal with sinners as we deserve, but He removes our...

Rev. Dan Speckhard, pastor at St. Peter Lutheran Church and School in North Judson, IN, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Psalm 98. Psalm 98 expresses the joy of God’s people over all the wondrous works He has done. In His righteousness, God has won a salvation that is revealed to the ends of the earth. For that reason, the voices and instruments of God’s people are put into service of praisi...