Sharper Iron from KFUO Radio
Religion & Spirituality
About
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.
Episodes
- Psalm 116: Gracious Is the LORD and Righteous
Psalm 116 finds its place in the life of the Church both on Maundy Thursday and during the Offertory in the Divine Service. Hearing the psalm first on the lips of Jesus, we hear Him pray for deliverance from death and receive comfort in kn…
- Psalm 108: The Davidic King Rejoices
Even though the prayers of David, son of Jesse, are said to have ended in Psalm 72, the Psalter records more Davidic psalms. In this way, the Psalter teaches us to look for the coming King who is both David’s son and David’s Lord. In Psalm…
- Psalm 94: Blessed by the LORD’s Discipline
Rev. Jason Schockman and Rev. Timothy Appel study Psalm 94, focusing on divine vengeance, God's awareness of the wicked's actions, and the concept of discipline from the LORD as a blessing for the righteous. The episode highlights how God…
- Psalm 82: The Divine Judge
In this episode of Sharper Iron, Rev. Jacob Dandy and Rev. Timothy Appel examine Psalm 82. They discuss God's role as the divine judge, the consequences of injustice, and how the Psalm ultimately points to Christ.
- Psalm 72: God Save the King
This episode of Sharper Iron studies Psalm 72, examining the concept of a just king and contrasting earthly rulers with the perfect kingship of Jesus Christ, who is presented as the King over all kings.
- Psalm 64: Ambushed by God’s Arrows
Rev. Dr. Adam Koontz and Rev. Timothy Appel discuss Psalm 64, focusing on David
- Psalm 56: What Can Man Do to Me?
Rev. Sam Beltz and Rev. Timothy Appel study Psalm 56. The episode focuses on trusting God even when facing persecution, drawing parallels to David's experience and emphasizing the Christian faith's foundation in Christ.
- Psalm 53: What a Fool Believes
In Psalm 53, David repeats much of his prayer from Psalm 14 as he speaks about the folly that infects all mankind. Even the smartest of people show their foolishness when they live in the practical atheism that acts without the fear of God…
- Psalm 45: A Royal Love Song
The love song of Psalm 45 points us toward the love that exists between the King, Jesus Christ, and His Bride, the Church. As true God and true man, Jesus is the beautiful and victorious King over His enemies. He rules with true righteousn…
- Psalm 38: Healing from God’s Arrows
David feels the consequences God has brought upon him for his sin, and so he turns to God as the only Source of rescue from such consequences. The effects of sin are both spiritual and physical, and the LORD knows them already. Prayer crie…
- Psalm 30: God’s Gracious Reversal
David praises the LORD for bringing him up and giving him healing ultimately from death. Such praise belongs not only to David but to all Christians because God’s anger over our sins quickly turns to His gracious favor for the sake of Chri…
- Psalm 21: The King Trusts in the LORD
David prays in joy for what the LORD has accomplished for him and through him as king. The LORD’s blessings have overflowed for David and for all Israel because of the LORD’s steadfast love. The LORD has given victory to Israel from their…
- Psalm 13: Protest, Petition, and Praise
The prayer of Psalm 13 sets the pattern for many other psalms and for our own prayers as Christians. David repeatedly cries out to the LORD, “How long,” protesting God’s seeming absence while David experiences the troubles of his soul and…
- Psalm 12: O Lord, Look Down from Heaven, Behold!
Psalm 12 prays against the lying and flattering words that speak against the truth of God’s Word. Christians realize the battle against the Word of God and cry out honestly to the LORD to act decisively against those who set their words ov…
- Psalm 10: The LORD Sees, Hears, and Arises
Christians often see the prosperity of the wicked and wonder why the LORD seems hidden. The wicked are those whose faith is not founded in the LORD, and that unbelief shows itself in their evil intentions and actions toward others. Christi…
- Psalm 9: God’s Throne of Mercy
David prays to the LORD as the One who sits on His heavenly throne. Knowing God in faith, David and all Christians receive the LORD’s coming in joy and praise, while the enemies of the LORD receive His coming in terror. David asks that the…
- Psalm 7: Refuge from Prowling Lions
Although David’s enemies seek his harm, he cries out to the LORD as his refuge. The LORD is the Righteous One who arises to judge all people. While He brings the wicked to their end, He establishes the righteous through faith in Him. Those…
- Spring into the Psalms - Psalm 6: Gracious Discipline
David prays that the LORD’s discipline would be gracious rather than wrathful, so that the LORD would bring healing to his troubled body and soul. The LORD’s steadfast love is the foundation of such a prayer, even as tears flow due to the…
- Genesis 50:15-26: God Meant It for Good
Now that Jacob has died, Joseph’s brothers worry that Joseph’s forgiveness may vanish, even after so many years. They plead before Joseph, who weeps at their request. Joseph assures them that God has accomplished good even through their in…
- Genesis 49:28-50:14: Buried in Hope
Jacob reiterates his command that he be buried in the Promised Land in the same place where his fathers are buried. When Jacob dies, Joseph grieves and provides for his father’s instructions to be followed. The funeral procession from Egyp…
- Genesis 49:1-27: The Testament of Israel
Before he dies, Jacob gathers his twelve sons to him to bless them by speaking prophetically concerning the days to come for each of his sons and their descendants. He speaks first to the sons of Leah, then to the sons of the maidservants,…
- Genesis 48:1-22: A Crosshanded Blessing
When Joseph learns that his father is near death, he takes his sons with him to receive a blessing from Jacob. In thanksgiving to what God has done for him, Jacob adopts Joseph’s two sons as his own. Although Joseph arranged his sons so th…
- Genesis 47:13-31: Israel Multiplies Even in a Famine
As the famine continues into the third year and beyond, even the residents of Egypt begin to run out of the food that they had stored for themselves. Through a series of stages, Joseph receives their livestock, their land, and their servic…
- Genesis 46:28-47:12: Shepherds in Goshen
After twenty years apart, the reunion of Jacob and Joseph overflows with joy. Joseph prepares his family to go before Pharaoh’s court so that his family will receive the blessing of dwelling in the land of Goshen. Pharaoh welcomes the fami…
- Genesis 45:25-46:27: God Goes with Jacob to Egypt
When Jacob’s sons arrive back in Canaan, his heart is understandably numb and unbelieving to hear that Joseph is still alive. Yet the repentant testimony of his sons revives his spirit, and Jacob rejoices that he will go to Egypt to see Jo…
- Genesis 45:1-24: Joseph Reveals Himself
Joseph’s emotions overcome him upon seeing his brothers’ repentance. He sends the Egyptians out of the room as he reveals his true identity to his brothers. In an account that anticipates Jesus’ post-resurrection appearances, Joseph tells…
- Genesis 44:3-34: A True Brother’s Keeper
Once Joseph’s brothers have departed homeward, he sends his steward after them to confront them about the silver cup he has placed in Benjamin’s sack. The brothers’ ignorance quickly turns to grief upon realizing that Benjamin has been imp…
- Genesis 43:16-44:2: Joseph’s Feast
When Joseph’s brothers return to Egypt with Benjamin, Joseph invites them to his house. In their guilty conscience over Joseph, they are afraid and plead with Joseph’s steward that they are innocent regarding the money in their sacks. The…
- Genesis 42:29-43:15: There and Back Again
When the nine sons of Jacob return to Canaan, they present a softened account of the events in Egypt, omitting the fact that Simeon remains behind. Upon discovering that all the money has been returned to their sacks, Jacob notes that all…
- Genesis 42:1-28: Prickly Mercy
The worldwide famine affects the family of Jacob in Canaan, so he sends nine of his sons to Egypt to buy grain. When they arrive, they bow before Joseph in fulfillment of Joseph’s dreams. Although they do not recognize their brother, Josep…
- Genesis 41:37-57: A Hebrew Prisoner Rules in Egypt
Even pagan Pharaoh recognizes divine blessing upon Joseph, so Pharaoh commands that Joseph be placed as second over all the land of Egypt to implement his plan for the coming plenty and famine. At the age of thirty, Joseph receives an Egyp…
- Genesis 41:1-36: Carnivorous Cows and Killer Corn
Pharaoh dreams twice in a row. First, he sees seven well-fed cows devoured by seven starving cows. Second, he sees seven plump ears of grain swallowed by seven blighted ears of grain. When no one can interpret the dreams for troubled Phara…
- Genesis 40:1-23: Prison Dreams
While in prison, Joseph gains two fellow cellmates, Pharaoh’s chief cupbearer and baker. Joseph takes seriously his vocation of caring for these men, particularly after they each have dreams that trouble them. Joseph tells the men that the…
- Genesis 39:1-23: The LORD is with Joseph
Even as Joseph serves as a slave in the house of an Egyptian official, the LORD remains with him and brings him success. Joseph’s faithfulness to the LORD blesses Potiphar, who puts Joseph in charge of the household. Joseph remains faithfu…
- Genesis 38:1-30: The Line of the Christ Continues
Although the end of Genesis largely tells the story of Joseph, the line of the Christ goes through a different son of Jacob: Judah. When his first two sons are put to death by the LORD without having any children, Judah does not give his t…
- Genesis 37:12-36: Into the Pit
When Jacob sent Joseph to check on his brothers in Shechem, Joseph eventually found them in a different place. The brothers saw Joseph well before he arrived, and so they plotted to kill him. Reuben, seeking to get back into his father’s g…
- Genesis 37:1-11: Dreams of Dominion
Jacob’s favoritism for his wife Rachel leads to his favoritism for Joseph. The gift of a beautiful robe to Joseph only exacerbates the growing hatred that Jacob’s other sons have for Joseph. Even if Joseph had no ill intent, Joseph himself…
- Genesis 35:22-36:43: Growing Pains
Life in Canaan for Jacob’s family continues to be plagued by sin as Reuben violates the concubine of his father’s favorite wife in the aftermath of Rachel’s death. The listing of Jacob’s twelve sons highlights God’s faithfulness to His pro…
- Genesis 35:1-21: The Son of the Right Hand
God commands Jacob to journey back to Bethel, where He had appeared to Jacob as he was fleeing to Laban’s house. In response, Jacob rids his family of their powerless idols. The LORD is powerful in protecting Jacob as he sojourns among the…
- Genesis 34:1-31: Sin Upon Sin Upon Sin
As Jacob’s family begins to sojourn in Canaan again, sin rears its ugly head. A prince of the land named Shechem violates Jacob’s daughter Dinah. Jacob’s muted reaction contrasts with the desire for vengeance from Dinah’s full brothers, Si…
- Genesis 33:1-20: The Joy of Reconciliation
Fresh off his wrestling match with God, Jacob looks up to see his brother and his four hundred men approaching. With wisdom, Jacob divides his household and goes in front of them all to meet his brother with humility. The joy of the reconc…
- Genesis 32:22-32: Wrestling with God
Prior to his reunion with Esau, Jacob spends the night alone near the Jabbok River. There, the pre-incarnate Son of God comes and engages in a wrestling match with Jacob. At the break of day, God’s wrestling maneuver puts Jacob’s hip out o…
- Genesis 32:1-21: Camping with God
As Jacob continues toward the Promised Land, the LORD reassures him by sending His angels to meet Jacob. Unsure of how Esau will receive him, Jacob sends messengers to his brother. Those messengers tell Jacob that Esau is already on the mo…
- Genesis 31:25-55: The Fear of Isaac Triumphs Over Idols
Laban heeds the LORD’s Word not to speak bad or good to Jacob, but he does question why Jacob stole his household gods. Laban’s unsuccessful search for these little statues hidden under his daughter’s uncleanness reveals the futility and f…
- Genesis 31:1-24: Packing Up and Leaving
Strife grows between the households of Jacob and Laban as Jacob’s wealth increases at the expense of Laban. The LORD assures Jacob that He will be with Jacob as Jacob returns to the Promised Land. Jacob’s wives faithfully agree to go with…
- Genesis 30:25-43: Striped, Speckled, and Spotted
Jacob’s move to Paddan-Aram was never meant to be permanent, for the LORD had promised to bring Jacob back to the Promised Land. Joseph’s birth spurs Jacob to request leave of Laban, who continues his wily ways toward his nephew. Laban agr…
- Genesis 29:31-30:24: The Nation Grows
The LORD hears the cries of the poor and needy, and so he opens the womb of Leah, the wife whom Jacob does not love. The names of her first four sons reveal her growing faith in the LORD, particularly the name “Judah,” the son through whom…
- Genesis 29:1-30: The Trickster Meets His Match
When Jacob arrives in Paddan-Aram, he stops at a well, where he learns about his uncle’s family. Rachel, the younger daughter of Laban, comes to the well with her father’s sheep, and Jacob is immediately smitten. After Laban receives his n…
- Genesis 28:10-22: Jacob’s Ladder
Early in Jacob’s journey toward Haran, he stops at a particular place to rest for the night. The LORD comes to Jacob in a dream in which Jacob sees the LORD standing at the top of a ladder connecting heaven and earth. The LORD promises tha…
- Genesis 27:41-28:9: Run, Jacob, Run!
Esau hates Jacob because of the stolen blessing, and Esau resolves to kill his brother after his father has died. Rebekah recognizes that sending Jacob to her brother Laban can solve two problems at once. Jacob will be shielded from Esau’s…