Sharper Iron — The Day Is Surely Drawing Near: The Gospel according to Amos

Rev. Jeremiah Johnson, pastor at Glory of Christ Lutheran Church in Plymouth, MN, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Amos 9:11-15.

Amos ends with two-hundred proof Gospel. Though it comes seemingly out of nowhere, Amos’ final preaching fits the LORD’s pattern of mercy throughout the Old Testament and serves as a reminder of the unmerited nature of grace. Once again, the day of the LORD comes up, but this time the prophet speaks of it as a day of salvation. The LORD promises to raise up the fallen booth of David. The LORD will dwell among His people once more. Though the kingdom seemed ruined, the LORD would keep the promise to set a king on the throne of David forever. This restoration is not for David alone, nor is it for Israel alone. The LORD’s act will impact all the nations, as He calls the Gentiles to trust in His promise. All of creation will benefit as well. Agricultural abundance and reaping the full benefits of labor will hold true as the LORD undoes the curse from Genesis 3. What He does in this act of restoration will never again be undone, for it bears His sure and certain promise. The Gospel day of which Amos preached occurred in our Lord Jesus Christ. In Him, the temple was destroyed as He was crucified, but the Father raised the fallen booth on the third day in resurrection. All who are baptized into Him have been given the benefits of that day, even as we wait for the Day when all the promises of God are fulfilled and we are taken to live, body and soul, not simply in Eden renewed, but Eden surpassed. This is the Gospel according to Amos.

“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 9:11-15

The Restoration of Israel

¹¹“In that day I will raise up
    the booth of David that is fallen
and repair its breaches,
    and raise up its ruins
    and rebuild it as in the days of old,
¹²that they may possess the remnant of Edom
    and all the nations who are called by my name,”^[a]
    declares the Lord who does this.

¹³“Behold, the days are coming,” declares the Lord,
    “when the plowman shall overtake the reaper
    and the treader of grapes him who sows the seed;
the mountains shall drip sweet wine,
    and all the hills shall flow with it.
¹⁴I will restore the fortunes of my people Israel,
    and they shall rebuild the ruined cities and inhabit them;
they shall plant vineyards and drink their wine,
    and they shall make gardens and eat their fruit.
¹⁵I will plant them on their land,
    and they shall never again be uprooted
    out of the land that I have given them,”
says the Lord your God.

Footnotes:

Amos 9:12 Hebrew; Septuagint (compare Acts 15:17) that the remnant of mankind and all the nations who are called by my name may seek the Lord

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).