Thy Strong Word from KFUO Radio

Rev. Ingo Dutzmann, retired LCMS pastor in Sebascodegan Island, Maine, joins host Rev. AJ Espinosa to study Exodus 40.“Moses was not able to enter the tent of meeting because the cloud settled on it, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.” Although prior to Exodus 40 Moses had spoken to God “face to face, as a man speaks to his friend,” here in the final chapter God inhabits the Tabernacle in all His glory, such that no one—not even Moses—could enter and live. This reveals the sinful inadequacy of even the best of humanity, but it also points ahead to the Christ who would enter the heavenly Tabernacle to secure our perfect salvation. The multi-day consecration of the Tabernacle one year after the Exodus reminds us that only God creates time, as a gift to us His people, His new creation.

Rev. Delwyn Campbell, domestic missionary and pastor of St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church & Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Gary, Indiana, joins host Rev. AJ Espinosa to study Psalm 94. Learn more about Pastor Campbell and how to support his work at lcms.org/campbell.“O God of vengeance, shine forth! Rise up, O judge of the earth; repay to the proud what they deserve!” Does the Bible really say that? Yes it does, in Psalm 94. Vengeance however doesn’t mean rubbing it in people’s faces to the greatest fanfare—it means setting things straight, putting things back in place, and ultimately the created order being restored to its Creator, as in Christ’s sacrifice of “recompense.” The psalm is about restoring justice, but not in the name of ideology. Recompense happens when we are humble, acknowledging our shortsighted mortality and resisting the opposite temptations of opportunism and utopianism. Even in the church, cliques come and go. Only Christ endures.

Rev. Ned Moerbe, pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church in Blackwell, Oklahoma, joins host Rev. AJ Espinosa to study Exodus 39.“Moses saw all the work, and behold, they had done it; as the LORD had commanded, so had they done it. Then Moses blessed them.” It was heaven on earth—like the paradise of Genesis, a place where God was intimately present among His people. Exodus 39 describes the Tabernacle as a new creation that anticipates the resurrection. The 12 tribes are engraved on precious stones that by God’s “remembrance” will endure into the heavenly Jerusalem. If Christ remembers us, we are not lost. The high priest’s garments present him as the image of God, our name through baptism and adoption.

Rev. Warren Woerth, pastor of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Arnold, Missouri, joins host Rev. AJ Espinosa to study Exodus 38.$160 million dollars’ worth—that’s how much gold “was used for the work, in all the construction of the sanctuary.” What does Exodus 38 teach us? It’s not about money or precious metals as much as God’s image. Whatever we “pour” our hearts into and “cast” our aspirations on should represent God and His design. Charitable spirituality vs. adorned sacred space is a false dichotomy. The women offered their own mirrors as all Israel offered the plunder of Egypt. God doesn’t need it—He can hallow a bush in the wilderness—but we sacrifice what God provides to adorn the altar of God’s true image: the mercy seat of the most precious body and blood of Christ, incarnate for the world’s salvation.

Rev. Brady Finnern, pastor of Messiah Lutheran Church in Sartell, Minnesota, joins host Rev. AJ Espinosa to study Exodus 37.“He made the holy anointing oil also, and the pure fragrant incense.” Does this worship smell right? Exodus 37 continues the review of two things that went wrong at the golden calf festival: the misuse of gold to build an idol, and the immoral actions of its fertility cult. God is the creator of all; there are no bad things—only bad purposes. 75 pounds of pure gold were rightly used in repentance for the lampstand & its utensils alone. While nothing can escape God’s presence, He blesses His people by being especially present with His light and sacraments. He even takes on a certain smell to jog the memory, just as He does in the incarnation and Eucharist of the Lord Jesus.

Rev. Brady Finnern, pastor of Messiah Lutheran Church in Sartell, Minnesota, joins host Rev. AJ Espinosa to study Exodus 37.“He made the holy anointing oil also, and the pure fragrant incense.” Does this worship smell right? Exodus 37 continues the review of two things that went wrong at the golden calf festival: the misuse of gold to build an idol, and the immoral actions of its fertility cult. God is the creator of all; there are no bad things—only bad purposes. 75 pounds of pure gold were rightly used in repentance for the lampstand & its utensils alone. While nothing can escape God’s presence, He blesses His people by being especially present with His light and sacraments. He even takes on a certain smell to jog the memory, just as He does in the incarnation and Eucharist of the Lord Jesus.

Rev. John Lukomski, retired LCMS pastor and co-host of Wrestling with the Basics on KFUO Radio, joins host Rev. AJ Espinosa to study Exodus 36.“So the people were restrained from bringing, for the material they had was sufficient to do all the work, and more.“ For all the details that are exactly the same, this stands out as a tremendous difference in Exodus 36. Before the people reluctantly parted with a mere sampling of earrings, but now they bring their precious metals by the truckload day after day! The Spirit has stirred them, and having received forgiveness for the idolatry of the golden calf festival, the people now give freely and generously for the Tabernacle. More gold and silver won’t make us generous—only the holy, precious blood of Christ, more than a fortune in the eyes of faith.

Rev. David Boisclair, pastor of Faith and Bethesda Lutheran Churches in North St. Louis County, Missouri, joins host Rev. AJ Espinosa to study Exodus 35.“You shall kindle no fire in all your dwelling places on the Sabbath day.” This isn’t about whether you’re allowed to start your car or reignite your pilot light. Exodus 35 begins with the gracious announcement that God really gives His people true rest—they don’t even have to be “on call.” The contributions are wide-ranging not to be demanding, but inclusive, like a parent lovingly giving the children “jobs” to do as part of a family activity. We don’t have to figure out what kind of “spiritual” gift we have; it’s about how God has stirred up our spirits by the Spirit of Christ, who uses the common things for love and service.

Rev. Chris Biernacki, pastor of Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in Florence, Alabama, joins host Rev. AJ Espinosa to study Exodus 34.“The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness.” Even after everything that happened, God is still willing to put the same offer before Israel, writing down the very same Commandments with His finger. But first, Exodus 34 tells us that Moses fasts for 40 days and 40 nights, repenting on behalf of all Israel, foreshadowing Christ’s fast in the wilderness as He repented on our behalf. As Moses comes down the mountain, he glows with the assurance and gratitude that come only with forgiveness. When God says “I will” in the wake of our unloving faithlessness, we see His faithful love shine brighter than ever.

Rev. Kevin Martin, pastor of Our Savior Lutheran Church in Raleigh, North Carolina, joins host Rev. AJ Espinosa to study Exodus 33.“Go up to a land flowing with milk and honey; but I will not go up among you, lest I consume you on the way, for you are a stiff-necked people.” Ouch. Exodus 33 can come off pretty harsh, but this needs to be understood in light of the intimate relationship between God and Moses—it’s as if God is blowing off steam “as a man speaks to his friend” (v 11). Their back-and-forth is only possible because of the incarnation, the rock and hiding place that saves us from God’s glorious wrath. Moses spoke to Christ the God-Man in the Proto-Tabernacle, in whom the baptized are called “friends” of God like Moses and Abraham (John 15).