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

Rev. Tim Koch, pastor at Emanuel Lutheran Church in Milbank, SD joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Amos 2:1-3.

The Moabites trace their lineage to the incestuous relationship between Lot and his oldest daughter. Related to Israel, the Moabites were sometimes friends and sometimes foes of God’s people. Perhaps best known among the Moabites is Ruth, who married into the Israelite family and ended up in the genealogy of Christ. Yet the idol worship of Moab was a snare to Israel during their history as well. Amos preaches against Moab’s crime of desecrating the grave of the king of Edom, burning his bones into lime for use as mortar. Such defiling of God’s gift of the body is horrific, even by one pagan nation to another. For that reason, the LORD’s anger literally burns against the people of Moab. His wrath will come against them publicly and loudly, as He cuts off their ruler and kills all of their princes. Such language echoes throughout the Scripture in contexts not only of temporal judgment, but also concerning eternal judgment. The righteous anger of the LORD poured out upon Moab invites us to repent of our own sin; we dare not stand aloof as if we have no need of repentance. The Word of God comes to us not so that we might engage in hand-wringing or cheerleading. God speaks His Word not simply for their repentance, but for our repentance. The only refuge is Christ, who took God’s fiery wrath upon Himself on the cross and rose on the third day, so that baptized into Him, we would be saved.

“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 2:1-3

2 Thus says the Lord:

“For three transgressions of Moab,
    and for four, I will not revoke the punishment,^[a]
because he burned to lime
    the bones of the king of Edom.
²So I will send a fire upon Moab,
    and it shall devour the strongholds of Kerioth,
and Moab shall die amid uproar,
    amid shouting and the sound of the trumpet;
³I will cut off the ruler from its midst,
    and will kill all its princes^[b] with him,”
says the Lord.

Footnotes:

Amos 2:1 Hebrew I will not turn it back; also verses 4, 6
Amos 2:3 Or officials

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).