Sharper Iron — The Day Is Surely Drawing Near: Amos’ Vision of Fire

Rev. Bryan Wolfmueller, pastor at St. Paul Lutheran Church and Jesus Deaf Lutheran Church in Austin, TX, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Amos 7:4-6.

The LORD invites Amos into the heavenly council a second time to reveal to the prophet what is about to happen. The fire that was missing from the judgment against Israel in chapter 2 finally arrives. This fire is all-consuming and cosmic in scale. What the LORD did to the water on Elijah’s altar on Mt. Carmel He will do to even the waters of the great deep. This fire is a part of the LORD’s courtroom verdict. Will He declare His people innocent or guilty? Will He bring the fire or not? Amos intercedes yet again on the people’s behalf. He does not plead their worthiness before the God of all creation; he simply pleads for the LORD’s mercy. Astonishingly, the LORD relents at the prophet’s prayer. Amos fills the intercessory role that was first given to Abraham as a prophet, the role that is brought to fulfillment in the Son of God in our human flesh, Jesus Christ. As He hung on the cross in our place, the fiery wrath of God was spent and poured out upon Him. The living water that flowed forth from His pierced side and now poured upon us in Holy Baptism douses the wrath of God that would be directed toward us so that we are declared “Righteous” in God’s heavenly courtroom. As His forgiven, holy people, our prayers now ascend into His council to intercede for the world, knowing that He will hear and answer according to His grace.

“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 7:4-6

⁴This is what the Lord God showed me: behold, the Lord God was calling for a judgment by fire, and it devoured the great deep and was eating up the land. ⁵Then I said,

“O Lord God, please cease!
    How can Jacob stand?
    He is so small!”
⁶The Lord relented concerning this:
    “This also shall not be,” said 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).