Sharper Iron — The Day Is Surely Drawing Near: The Oracle against the Philistines

Rev. Dr. Adam Filipek, pastor at Holy Cross Lutheran Church and Immanuel Lutheran Church in Lidgerwood, ND, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Amos 1:6-8.

The LORD has the right to speak to foreign nations because He is their Creator. This is the foundation laid in Genesis 1-2. For that reason, Amos now turns to the Philistines. The tension between the LORD’s people and the Philistines goes back to their descent from Ham and conflict with Isaac and continues into outright warfare in the days of the judges and the kings. By the time of Amos during the divided kingdom, the prophet’s message is the same for Israel, Judah, and every nation: “Repent!” The Philistines particularly are called to repentance over their failure to leave any remnant of those peoples they conquered. Even though they did not have the Ten Commandments written on tablets of stone, they had the Law of God written upon their hearts; they should have known better. No human being created in the image of God should be treated with such indignity. For that reason, the LORD speaks His judgment against the Philistines. No remnant will be left. Yet we dare not hear the judgment against the Philistines without repentance ourselves. We too have committed terrible crimes against our neighbors deserving of God’s judgment. Our only hope is found in Christ. Not only is the LORD the Creator of all; He is the Savior of all. He has sent Jesus as the fulfillment of His promises to Adam, Noah, Abraham, and David. Now, by faith in the crucified and risen Savior, our crimes against God and our neighbor are forgiven.

“The Day Is Surely Drawing Near” is a mini-series on Sharper Iron that digs into the book of Amos. This Old Testament prophet speaks the LORD’s roaring Word in order to call us first to repentance over our idolatry and injustice and second to faith in the Messiah in the line of David, Jesus Christ. Only through faith in Him will we stand forgiven and redeemed on the coming Day of the LORD.

Sharper Iron, hosted by Rev. Timothy Appel, looks at the text of Holy Scripture both in its broad context and its narrow detail, all for the sake of proclaiming Christ crucified and risen for sinners. Two pastors engage with God’s Word to sharpen not only their own faith and knowledge, but the faith and knowledge of all who listen.

Sharper Iron is underwritten by Lutheran Church Extension Fund, where your investments help support the work of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Visit lcef.org.

Amos 1:6-8

⁶Thus says the Lord:

“For three transgressions of Gaza,
    and for four, I will not revoke the punishment,
because they carried into exile a whole people
    to deliver them up to Edom.
⁷So I will send a fire upon the wall of Gaza,
    and it shall devour her strongholds.
⁸I will cut off the inhabitants from Ashdod,
    and him who holds the scepter from Ashkelon;
I will turn my hand against Ekron,
    and the remnant of the Philistines shall perish,”
says the Lord God.

English Standard Version (ESV)

Rev. Timothy Appel

Although a mathematics degree may not be incredibly helpful to (proudly born-and-raised Texan) Rev. Timothy Appel while hosting Sharper Iron, his love of CFW Walther and the season of Easter will come in handy. His Call is shepherding the flock at Faith Lutheran Church in Godfrey, Illinois, and he’s also husband to wife Kristin and dad to their growing basketball team of children. When he’s not carrying out pastoral duties, you may find him reading “The Lord of the Rings,” snacking on Reese’s peanut butter cups, playing dominoes with his boys, or studying up on Texas history (including Sam Houston, of course).