Sharper Iron — LSB 431: Not All the Blood of Beasts

This Lenten hymn helps us to meditate on the magnitude of Christ’s sacrifice for us in fulfillment of all the Old Testament sacrifices. The blood of bulls and goats all alone could not atone for human sin; only the divine blood of the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ, can give us peace. For that reason, we go to Christ in repentance and lay our hands on Him as the scapegoat so that He takes our sins away. He bore the burden of our guilt; in faith in Him, we rejoice in His bleeding love for us. Find this hymn at hymnary.org/hymn/LSB2006/431.

Rev. Carl Roth, pastor at Grace Lutheran Church in Elgin, TX, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Lutheran Service Book #431, “Not All the Blood of Beasts.”

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.

Lutheran Service Book 431

1 Not all the blood of beasts
On Jewish altars slain
Could give the guilty conscience peace
Or wash away the stain.

2 But Christ, the heav’nly Lamb,
Takes all our sins away;
A sacrifice of nobler name
And richer blood than they.

3 My faith would lay its hand
On that dear head of Thine,
While as a penitent I stand,
And there confess my sin.

4 My soul looks back to see
The burden Thou didst bear
When hanging on the cursed tree;
I know my guilt was there.

5 Believing, we rejoice
To see the curse remove;
We bless the Lamb with cheerful voice
And sing His bleeding love.

Text Information
First Line: Not all the blood of beasts
Title: Not All the Blood of Beasts
Author: Isaac Watts, 1674-1748
Meter: S M
Language: English
Publication Date: 2006
Scripture: Hebrews 10:1-4; Hebrews 10:11; Hebrews 9:12-14; Galatians 3:13; Revelation 5:6-14

Tune Information
Name: SOUTHWELL
Composer: William Daman, c. 1540-91
Meter: S M
Key: e minor

Find this hymn at hymnary.org/hymn/LSB2006/431.

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).