Sharper Iron — The Day Is Surely Drawing Near: A Famine of God’s Word

Rev. Stephen Preus, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Vinton, IA, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Amos 8:7-14.

The LORD continues His commentary on Amos’ fourth vision. He swears by Himself as the true Pride of Jacob, in contrast to their idolatrous boasting in themselves and their accomplishments. His oath is terrifying, as He promises that He will no longer forget the sins of His people. With the comfort of the LORD’s forgiveness gone, all of creation groans. An earthquake and darkness at noon served as signs of the LORD’s judgment and indicators that Amos was a true prophet. The LORD announces that He will bring upon them the tragic mourning that would occur at the death of an only son. The news only grows more grim, as the LORD declares that a famine of His Word is coming. No matter how the people may seek the LORD’s Word, they will not find it. Their idolatrous worship has brought them to fall and never rise again. It is helpful for us to reflect upon such harsh Law as Christians today in order that we may see our own sin and temptation, lest we fall into idolatry and thanklessness that would lead the LORD to take His Word away from us. Recognizing the horrific scene described by Amos’ words grants us a greater appreciation for what Christ has taken for us. The wrath of God was spent upon Him on Good Friday as the sky darkened at noon and the earth shook at His death. As the crucified and risen only-begotten Son from heaven, Jesus has changed our mourning into rejoicing.

“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 8:7-14

⁷The Lord has sworn by the pride of Jacob:
“Surely I will never forget any of their deeds.
⁸Shall not the land tremble on this account,
and everyone mourn who dwells in it,
and all of it rise like the Nile,
and be tossed about and sink again, like the Nile of Egypt?”

⁹“And on that day,” declares the Lord God,
    “I will make the sun go down at noon
    and darken the earth in broad daylight.
¹⁰I will turn your feasts into mourning
    and all your songs into lamentation;
I will bring sackcloth on every waist
    and baldness on every head;
I will make it like the mourning for an only son
    and the end of it like a bitter day.

¹¹“Behold, the days are coming,” declares the Lord God,
    “when I will send a famine on the land—
not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water,
    but of hearing the words of the Lord.
¹²They shall wander from sea to sea,
    and from north to east;
they shall run to and fro, to seek the word of the Lord,
    but they shall not find it.

¹³“In that day the lovely virgins and the young men
    shall faint for thirst.
¹⁴Those who swear by the Guilt of Samaria,
    and say, ‘As your god lives, O Dan,’
and, ‘As the Way of Beersheba lives,’
    they shall fall, and never rise again.”

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).