Thy Strong Word from KFUO Radio

Rev. David Boisclair, pastor of Faith and Bethesda Lutheran Churches in North St. Louis County, Missouri, joins host Rev. AJ Espinosa to study 2 Samuel 7.“But that same night the word of the LORD came to Nathan, ‘Go and tell my servant David, “Thus says the LORD: Would you build me a house to dwell in?’” David was thinking too small, perhaps even making himself a little too big. In his confrontation with Michal, he had asserted his divine right. But now in chapter 7 God reverses this: the fact that David is king doesn’t prove his prerogative to “do all that is in [his] heart.” It rather proves that God is the giver in their relationship—not David. So instead of David’s plan, God says that He will be the one to build, and not a house of wood but a house of royalty, a royal line and an eternal dynasty. We often presume that God will bless our pious-sounding plans, but He will often tell us “no” in order to show the world that the grace is Christ’s and not ours.

Rev. Lucas Witt, pastor of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Baltimore, Maryland, joins host Rev. AJ Espinosa to study 2 Samuel 6.“How the king of Israel honored himself today, uncovering himself today before the eyes of his servants’ female servants, as one of the vulgar fellows shamelessly uncovers himself!” David fetches the Ark of the Covenant for a big dedication in Jerusalem in chapter 6. At first glance, it looks like God judges Uzzah and Michal somewhat harshly for harmless picadillos. In the end however it is David who is responsible for what happens to Uzzah and Michal. He has let his anointment and his victories go to his head, invoking God’s name to justify his callous licentiousness. Despite all this, God mercifully spares His messiah for the sake of His people and for the sake of the Messiah yet to come.

Rev. Brady Finnern, pastor of Messiah Lutheran Church in Sartell, Minnesota, joins host Rev. AJ Espinosa to study 2 Samuel 5.“King David made a covenant with them at Hebron before the LORD, and they anointed David king over Israel.” Third time’s the charm? David’s first two anointments were disappointing: after the first he became an exile, and after the second, he found out that Ish-bosheth had already been installed as king over the North. This time in chapter 5 however, the circle widens from Bethlehem to Judah to all Israel, and the king of Tyre builds David a palace. God does indeed bless those who do His will with success, but not always immediately or in the ways we define “success.” David’s reign foreshadows Jesus Christ’s, who reigns not for forty years but forever.

Rev. David Fleming, pastor of Our Savior Lutheran Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and Executive Director for Spiritual Care with DOXOLOGY, joins host Rev. AJ Espinosa to study 2 Samuel 4. Learn more about spiritual care and mental health resources from DOXOLOGY at doxology.us.“How much more, when wicked men have killed a righteous man in his own house on his bed, shall I not now require his blood at your hand and destroy you from the earth?” David learns of the death of an enemy for the third time in these first four chapters, and for the third time he reacts with anger and sorrow. As with Saul’s death, the death of Ish-bosheth seemed like an opportunity for David, but that did not justify the treacherous assassination of a man that David calls “innocent.” Even if Ish-bosheth was not as noble as Abner, David had made an oath to Saul his king. David was by no means faultless, but like Christ, he left his enemies to God, and so we have been declared innocent.

Rev. Paul Cain, pastor of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Sheridan, Wyoming, joins host Rev. AJ Espinosa to study 2 Samuel 3.“God do so to Abner and more also, if I do not accomplish for David what the LORD has sworn to him, to transfer the kingdom from the house of Saul and set up the throne of David.” Abner again proves himself to be a good man on the wrong side in chapter 3, but he finally realizes his mistake. In sincere repentance, he hands David the keys to the kingdom, but David’s general Joab kills him in revenge. Abner foreshadows Christ’s own selfless death amidst trumped-up charges. David continues to show political cunning and moral faults, but he righteously mourns Abner and leaves Joab’s punishment to God’s hands.

Rev. Doug Nicely, pastor of Jerusalem Lutheran Church in Collinsville, Illinois, joins host Rev. AJ Espinosa to study 2 Samuel 2.“And Joab said, ‘As God lives, if you had not spoken, surely the men would not have given up the pursuit of their brothers until the morning.’” Even though the North had pledged its allegiance to Saul’s son Ish-bosheth and the South had anointed David, it’s not all black and white. In chapter 2, Ish-bosheth’s general Abner shows three times that he wisely seeks to avoid a slaughter among fellow Israelites, but David’s men just won’t back down. David may have been God’s choice, but he was posturing as much as Abner for power and territory as the true successor to Saul. We are humbled that God’s will is done and His kingdom comes despite our will, and confident that ☧ saves even when both sides unrighteously seek their own self-interest.

Rev. Ben Maton, pastor of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Charlottesville, Virginia, joins host Rev. AJ Espinosa to study Psalm 44.“Awake! Why are you sleeping, O Lord?” The Korahites were devastated when Babylon destroyed the Temple and carried off the holy things they were sworn to protect. Why would God let this happen? “We have not forgotten you!” It didn’t seem fair. As our true Father through Jesus ☧, God mercifully invites us to speak our hearts as in Psalm 44. Faith takes its complaints to God, because it knows He’s the only solution. Faith yells out for God, because it knows He always listens. When we struggle to put God’s goodness or our own sin into words, instead of waiting until we feel more pious, we must double down on the Word of God and prayer—God is patient, and the Spirit intercedes.

Rev. Steven Theiss, retired LCMS pastor in Frohna, Missouri, joins host Rev. AJ Espinosa to study 2 Samuel 1.“You daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you luxuriously in scarlet, who put ornaments of gold on your apparel. How the mighty have fallen in the midst of the battle!” David responds with the highest piety to the news of Saul’s death in 2 Samuel 1. He executes the Amalekite who served under Saul for letting his sword end the king’s life. He mourns Saul and Jonathan alike without a hint of insincerity. Finally, he commands Israel to remember Saul as God’s instrument of grace, and he grieves for Jonathan, who risked his life for David more than any other. Jesus Christ was an even greater Jonathan, not merely risking his life but willingly sacrificing it in faithful devotion to God and His people.

Rev. John Shank, pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church in Edwardsville, Illinois, joins host Rev. AJ Espinosa to study 1 Samuel 31.“He was badly wounded by the archers. Then Saul said to his armor-bearer, ‘Draw your sword, and thrust me through with it, lest these uncircumcised come and thrust me through, and mistreat me.’” Riddled with arrows and barely able to move, Saul knows he doesn’t have much time left in chapter 31. His actions spare Israel further scandal at the hands of the Philistines, but already their “gospel” of cruelty sends out shockwaves of fear. Yet Jabesh-gilead remembered when Saul saved them from Nahash, and they boldly recovered his body to give Saul a proper burial. Even in this dark hour, the Christ-like boldness of faith that David exemplified was not extinguished, and God continued to work good from evil towards the true gospel of David’s Son.

Rev. John Lukomski, retired LCMS pastor, joins host Rev. AJ Espinosa to study 1 Samuel 30.“David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him. [...] But David strengthened himself in the LORD his God.” Rejected by Saul, then by the Philistine lords, and now by some of the very people who had rallied around him, it would be easy for David to have doubts. Why did he insist on being loyal to Achish? His morality left an opening for the Amalekites to swoop in! Yet David doubles down on his commitment to God’s will in chapter 30. He doesn’t ask for God to bless his political expediency, but rather submits himself to God’s decision. Despite what appeared to be foolishness, God gives resurrection after “three days” and ascension gifts to “friends” (Psalm 68, Ephesians 4).