As David faces a threat that will shake the very foundation of life, he knows that the LORD is his only refuge, even as others claim that a fearful flight is the only option. David takes comfort in knowing that God makes Himself present among His people according to His promise, even as He reigns over all the earth from heaven. As He sees all things, He knows the faithfulness of His people and promises that judgment will come upon the wicked. Knowing that the LORD is the Righteous One, we look forward to that Day when we will see Him face to face.

Rev. Jacob Heine, pastor at Faith Lutheran Church in Topeka, KS, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Psalm 11.

To learn more about Faith Lutheran, visit faithlutherantopeka.com.

Join Sharper Iron this summer to study selected Psalms. In the Psalter, God speaks His Word to us and teaches us how to speak back to Him in prayer. Even in the great variety of the Psalms, each one points us to our Savior, Jesus Christ.

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. Submit comments or questions to: [email protected]

David cries out for the LORD to answer him, as the LORD has done in the past. David asserts that God has set apart His people for Himself so that those who love vain words will ultimately fall. Anger and vengeance are not a refuge; the LORD is the stronghold of His people. When He turns the light of His face upon us, we have true joy beyond anything this world can offer. This gives us the ability to sleep in peace, knowing that God is our safety.

Rev. Jacob Dandy, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church and School in Atchison, KS, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Psalm 4.

To learn more about Trinity, visit trinityatchison.org.

Join Sharper Iron this summer to study selected Psalms. In the Psalter, God speaks His Word to us and teaches us how to speak back to Him in prayer. Even in the great variety of the Psalms, each one points us to our Savior, Jesus Christ.

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. Submit comments or questions to: [email protected]

David cries out to the LORD for deliverance from his foes as he flees from Absalom. These foes argue theologically against David—how can God be David’s Savior if David is having to run away? David takes refuge in the LORD, who is present on His holy hill. The LORD’s presence gives protection to David and all the LORD’s people. Because salvation is the LORD’s, His people are assured of His blessing.

Rev. John Bussman, pastor at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Cullman, AL, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Psalm 3.

To learn more about St. Paul's, visit stpaulscullman.com.

Join Sharper Iron this summer to study selected Psalms. In the Psalter, God speaks His Word to us and teaches us how to speak back to Him in prayer. Even in the great variety of the Psalms, each one points us to our Savior, Jesus Christ.

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. Submit comments or questions to: [email protected]

Join Sharper Iron this summer to study selected Psalms. In the Psalter, God speaks His Word to us and teaches us how to speak back to Him in prayer. Even in the great variety of the Psalms, each one points us to our Savior, Jesus Christ.

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. Submit comments or questions to: [email protected]

Zedekiah is the last king of Judah. During his wicked reign, the LORD fulfills His Word of sending Judah into exile. Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon finally loses patience with rebellious Judah and besieges Jerusalem. In 587 BC, his army destroys Jerusalem and the LORD’s temple. Zedekiah watches his sons die before he is blinded and carried off to exile and death. This is no historical accident; It is the LORD’s wrath against His people’s idolatry. Although Nebuchadnezzar sets up a governor over the land of Judah, the people still rebell against him and flee, ironically, to Egypt. Yet the LORD is not through with His promise, although the kingdom of Judah and the line of David seem entirely lost. Eventually, Jehoiachin, a Davidic heir, is released from prison in Babylon. Despite His people’s sin, the LORD sustains the line of the promised Christ.

Rev. Philip Hoppe, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Colby, KS, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study 2 Kings 24:18-25:30.

To learn more about Trinity Lutheran, visit trinitycolby.org.

"A Kingdom Divided” is a series on Sharper Iron that goes through 1-2 Kings. The division in the kingdom of Israel in this part of history was greater than a matter of north and south. The biggest division was between the people and their God. Yet even as the people rebelled against the LORD as their King, still He remained faithful to call them back to Himself through His prophets, working through history to send the good and gracious King, Jesus Christ.

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. Submit comments or questions to: [email protected]

After Josiah’s death, Judah spirals downward faster and faster toward the Babylonian exile. Jehoahaz’s three-month reign is evil, and he is replaced by Jehoiakim, appointed by Pharaoh Neco. During the evil reign of Jehoiakim, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon comes up for a first time, taking captive Daniel and his friends. After Jehoiakim’s reign, Nebuchadnezzar comes a second time. He not only loots the LORD’s house, but he also takes captive the best of the people of Judah, including Ezekiel and the Davidic king, Jehoiachin. In his place, Nebuchadnezzar leaves Zedekiah as king over Judah. With each passing verse, the text makes plain that the end of Judah is coming, just as the LORD has spoken.

Rev. Lucas Witt, executive director of the Lutheran Mission Society of Maryland, headquartered in Baltimore, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study 2 Kings 23:31-24:17.

To learn more about the Lutheram Mission Society of Maryland, visit www.compassionplace.org.

"A Kingdom Divided” is a series on Sharper Iron that goes through 1-2 Kings. The division in the kingdom of Israel in this part of history was greater than a matter of north and south. The biggest division was between the people and their God. Yet even as the people rebelled against the LORD as their King, still He remained faithful to call them back to Himself through His prophets, working through history to send the good and gracious King, Jesus Christ.

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. Submit comments or questions to: [email protected]

Josiah doesn’t leave the Book of the Law to gather dust again in the temple. Instead, he has it read to all the people, and together they join in renewing the covenant with the LORD. Taking concrete action in that faithfulness, Josiah undertakes to rid the land of idolatry as completely as possible. He even destroys the idolatrous shrine built by Jeroboam in Bethel, in fulfillment of the Word of God spoken three hundred years earlier. Furthermore, Josiah leads a Passover celebration beyond compare in the land of Judah. Nonetheless, the LORD’s judgment against Judah will be carried out, and Josiah’s life is tragically ended in battle against Pharaoh Neco of Egypt.

Rev. Tyler Hauptmeier, pastor at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Doniphan, NE, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study 2 Kings 23:1-30.

To learn more about St. Paul's Lutheran, visit spdoniphan.360unite.com.

"A Kingdom Divided” is a series on Sharper Iron that goes through 1-2 Kings. The division in the kingdom of Israel in this part of history was greater than a matter of north and south. The biggest division was between the people and their God. Yet even as the people rebelled against the LORD as their King, still He remained faithful to call them back to Himself through His prophets, working through history to send the good and gracious King, Jesus Christ.

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. Submit comments or questions to: [email protected]

Although Josiah’s father and grandfather were wicked idolaters, Josiah’s thirty-one-year reign is characterized by more faithfulness than even his great-grandfather Hezekiah. When Josiah begins to repair the temple in the eighteenth year of his reign, the book of the Law is found and read. Rather than keeping the Word of God at arm’s length, Josiah realizes that repentance is needed immediately. He turns to the LORD, and the prophetess Huldah reveals that exile will come upon Judah after Josiah has died in peace. The delay in God’s judgment does not prevent Josiah from taking faithful action in his own day.

Rev. David Boisclair, pastor at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in Overland, MO, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study 2 Kings 22:1-20.

To learn more about Our Redeemer, visit www.ourredeemerstl.org.

"A Kingdom Divided” is a series on Sharper Iron that goes through 1-2 Kings. The division in the kingdom of Israel in this part of history was greater than a matter of north and south. The biggest division was between the people and their God. Yet even as the people rebelled against the LORD as their King, still He remained faithful to call them back to Himself through His prophets, working through history to send the good and gracious King, Jesus Christ.

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. Submit comments or questions to: [email protected]

After Hezekiah’s faithfulness, his son and grandson reverse course entirely. Manasseh’s fifty-five-year reign is full of all kinds of crass idolatry, both new and old. He also sheds innocent blood throughout Jerusalem, so that the LORD announces that the same judgment will come upon Judah as He has already brought on Israel. After the lengthy wickedness of Manasseh, Amon’s reign lasts only two years and continues in crass idolatry.

Rev. Jeremiah Johnson, pastor at Glory of Christ Lutheran Church in Plymouth, MN, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study 2 Kings 21:1-26.

To learn more about Glory of Christ, visit www.gloryofchrist.org.

"A Kingdom Divided” is a series on Sharper Iron that goes through 1-2 Kings. The division in the kingdom of Israel in this part of history was greater than a matter of north and south. The biggest division was between the people and their God. Yet even as the people rebelled against the LORD as their King, still He remained faithful to call them back to Himself through His prophets, working through history to send the good and gracious King, Jesus Christ.

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. Submit comments or questions to: [email protected]

Two more events round out the account of Hezekiah’s reign in Judah. When Hezekiah becomes sick and learns that he will die, the king does not react to the LORD’s Word with despair but with faithful prayer, calling upon the LORD to remember. The LORD’s answer through Isaiah is immediate, promising life from death for Hezekiah. The LORD graciously gives Hezekiah a sign that His Word is true, which Hezekiah receives in faith rather than unbelief like his father Ahaz. When Babylonian envoys come to Hezekiah, however, he receives them as a potential military ally, as his father Ahaz had once wrongly trusted in Assyria. When Hezekiah hears of the LORD’s coming judgment, he responds with indifference. Hezekiah was a faithful king, to be sure, but even he needed the Savior who would be born from his line, Jesus.

Rev. David Appold, pastor at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Paducah, KY, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study 2 Kings 20:1-21.

To learn more about St. Paul's Lutheran, visit www.stpaulpaducah.org.

"A Kingdom Divided” is a series on Sharper Iron that goes through 1-2 Kings. The division in the kingdom of Israel in this part of history was greater than a matter of north and south. The biggest division was between the people and their God. Yet even as the people rebelled against the LORD as their King, still He remained faithful to call them back to Himself through His prophets, working through history to send the good and gracious King, Jesus Christ.

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. Submit comments or questions to: [email protected]