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

Rev. David Appold, pastor at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Paducah, KY, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Amos 1:9-10.

The city of Tyre was located northwest of Israel. This island city was a center of commerce and wealth. Ships from every country carrying every commodity came to harbor at Tyre. Even the people of Israel had favorable dealings with Tyre, as King Hiram had provided materials and labor to King David and King Solomon. Yet the love of money became a snare to the people of Tyre. Through the prophet Amos, the LORD condemns Tyre for mercilessly selling an entire nation into slavery because they had forgotten the covenant of brotherhood. In general terms, they ignored the Law that the LORD writes on every person’s heart by selling their fellow human beings into slavery. In specific terms, Tyre forgot the treaty that had existed between them and Israel, just as the Pharaoh at the time of Moses’ birth forgot Joseph. The judgment that the LORD spoke against Tyre happened about 400 years later under Alexander the Great. Jesus uses Tyre as an example of judgment in the Gospels. He also heals the daughter of a woman from Tyre as a reminder that the LORD’s Word does bear fruit even in the most unlikely places. Tyre remains as an example for us still today to take care lest we fall into the idolatry of money; instead, our fear, love, and trust rightly belong in Jesus Christ, the only refuge from judgment.

“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 1:9-10

⁹Thus says the Lord:

“For three transgressions of Tyre,
    and for four, I will not revoke the punishment,
because they delivered up a whole people to Edom,
    and did not remember the covenant of brotherhood.
¹⁰So I will send a fire upon the wall of Tyre,
    and it shall devour her strongholds.”

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).