Sharper Iron from KFUO Radio

Rev. Hans Fiene, pastor at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Crestwood, MO, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Ezekiel 42:1-20. Ezekiel’s vision of the new temple continues into other rooms and chambers of the temple complex. Although the measurements given were never intended to be used to construct this temple, the fact that the LORD provides them shows the reality of the LORD’s promise and...

Rev. Bryan Wolfmueller, pastor at St. Paul and Jesus Deaf Lutheran Churches in Austin, TX, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Ezekiel 41:1-26. Ezekiel’s vision of the new temple continues into the temple itself, the Holy Place and the Most Holy Place. Though some of the details can be difficult to ascertain, the main promise is certain. To exiles living in Babylon, the LORD gives His assurance...

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....

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...

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 buri...

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...

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...

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 brin...

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 pr...

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, H...

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 whi...

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 lead...

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 th...

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 t...

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...

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 rut...

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. E...

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 humb...

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,...

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 Ne...

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 calle...

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 fille...

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 receive...

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 o...

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 dir...