Sharper Iron — The Day Is Surely Drawing Near: The Day of the LORD

Rev. Joel Heckmann, pastor at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Okarche, OK, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Amos 5:18-20.

Amos was sent to Israel to preach during a time of military peace. The people expected that the day of the LORD would come as an increase of that peace, when the LORD would fight and win for them as He had in the days of the Exodus. Amos shocks them out of such illusions. Because of their idolatry and injustice, the day of the LORD was not a day that they ought to desire. The day of the LORD would not bring victory for them, but defeat. That day came for Israel in 722 BC with the Assyrian army and for Judah in 587 BC with the Babylonian army. Yet the day of the LORD for Amos and the other prophets was more than these historical events. The day of the LORD pointed further into history, when One would take the darkness and defeat of God in the place of sinners. The day of the LORD is Good Friday, when Jesus suffered and died on the cross. Only those who approach the day of the LORD in Him can rightly desire the day of the LORD as an anchor in this life. Apart from Christ, the day of the LORD is inescapable judgment and eternal darkness. Instead, God would have us be found in Christ through Baptism. There He brings the day of the LORD to us ahead of time as we are crucified, buried, and raised with Christ. In Christ, therefore, the day of the LORD on the Last Day, whenever He comes, will be the day of eternal life and light for those who trust in Him.

“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,So f where your investments help support the work of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Visit lcef.org.

Amos 5:18-20

Let Justice Roll Down

¹⁸Woe to you who desire the day of the Lord!
    Why would you have the day of the Lord?
It is darkness, and not light,
¹⁹    as if a man fled from a lion,
    and a bear met him,
or went into the house and leaned his hand against the wall,
    and a serpent bit him.
²⁰Is not the day of the Lord darkness, and not light,
    and gloom with no brightness in it?

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).