Sharper Iron — The Law of God is Good and Wise: No Empty Word

Rev. Ned Moerbe, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Blackwell, OK, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Deuteronomy 32:39-52.

Moses finishes the song given by the LORD with a grand climax. The LORD alone is God with all authority either to kill or to make alive; He intends that His alien work leads to His proper work. All that He does brings great joy to His people. After Moses finishes the song, he commends it into the hearts of the people, for it is God’s Word that gives life. The LORD then tells Moses that he is about to go up Mount Nebo, where he will see the Promised Land before he dies.

“The Law of God is Good and Wise” is a series on Sharper Iron that goes through the book of Deuteronomy. Though Moses’ lengthy sermons in Deuteronomy may be tempting to skip, this influential book is essential reading for Christians. As Moses strengthened Israel on the plains of Moab before the people entered the Promised Land, so the book of Deuteronomy still strengthens the Church as we prepare to enter the Resurrection with Christ, the Prophet greater than Moses.

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.

Deuteronomy 32:39-52

³⁹“‘See now that I, even I, am he,
    and there is no god beside me;
I kill and I make alive;
    I wound and I heal;
    and there is none that can deliver out of my hand.
⁴⁰For I lift up my hand to heaven
    and swear, As I live forever,
⁴¹if I sharpen my flashing sword^[a]
    and my hand takes hold on judgment,
I will take vengeance on my adversaries
    and will repay those who hate me.
⁴²I will make my arrows drunk with blood,
    and my sword shall devour flesh—
with the blood of the slain and the captives,
    from the long-haired heads of the enemy.’

⁴³“Rejoice with him, O heavens;^[b]
    bow down to him, all gods,^[c]
for he avenges the blood of his children^[d]
    and takes vengeance on his adversaries.
He repays those who hate him^[e]
    and cleanses^[f] his people’s land.”^[g]

⁴⁴Moses came and recited all the words of this song in the hearing of the people, he and Joshua^[h] the son of Nun. ⁴⁵And when Moses had finished speaking all these words to all Israel, ⁴⁶he said to them, “Take to heart all the words by which I am warning you today, that you may command them to your children, that they may be careful to do all the words of this law. ⁴⁷For it is no empty word for you, but your very life, and by this word you shall live long in the land that you are going over the Jordan to possess.”

Moses’ Death Foretold

⁴⁸That very day the Lord spoke to Moses, ⁴⁹“Go up this mountain of the Abarim, Mount Nebo, which is in the land of Moab, opposite Jericho, and view the land of Canaan, which I am giving to the people of Israel for a possession. ⁵⁰And die on the mountain which you go up, and be gathered to your people, as Aaron your brother died in Mount Hor and was gathered to his people, ⁵¹because you broke faith with me in the midst of the people of Israel at the waters of Meribah-kadesh, in the wilderness of Zin, and because you did not treat me as holy in the midst of the people of Israel. ⁵²For you shall see the land before you, but you shall not go there, into the land that I am giving to the people of Israel.”

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Footnotes

Deuteronomy 32:41 Hebrew the lightning of my sword
Deuteronomy 32:43 Dead Sea Scroll, Septuagint; Masoretic Text Rejoice his people, O nations
Deuteronomy 32:43 Masoretic Text lacks bow down to him, all gods
Deuteronomy 32:43 Dead Sea Scroll, Septuagint; Masoretic Text servants
Deuteronomy 32:43 Dead Sea Scroll, Septuagint; Masoretic Text lacks He repays those who hate him
Deuteronomy 32:43 Or atones for
Deuteronomy 32:43 Septuagint, Vulgate; Hebrew his land his people
Deuteronomy 32:44 Septuagint, Syriac, Vulgate; Hebrew Hoshea

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).