Thy Strong Word from KFUO Radio

Rev. Steven Theiss, Retired pastor in Frohna, Missouri, joins host Rev. AJ Espinosa to study Zechariah 13. “Strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.” After waves of disciples had left Him, our Lord quoted these words from Zechariah 13 to signal that the Twelve were about to abandon Him as well. Even in the centuries since, waves of sheep have wandered off from the church, and disasters have scattered us at times. Yet through it all, God “refines” us like silver and gold, and we never stop gathering as God’s people, albeit in different forms. When our Lord was pierced, “a fountain opened” in His side to give us the Sacraments, which make us part of His body. God refined His people as the Maccabees purified the Temple, and we look forward to the day when God will make us totally pure in the new creation.

Rev. Doug Nicely, pastor of Jerusalem Lutheran Church in Collinsville, Illinois, joins host Rev. AJ Espinosa to study Zechariah 12. “When they look on me, on him whom they have pierced, they shall mourn.” Zechariah 12 begins the final oracle of the book, and again we have a passage very prominently quoted in the New Testament. When Christ was pierced by the spear, we were made members of His body. In Him we are part of the true temple and the immovable rock. God foreshadowed this when He defended Judah and Jerusalem against their besieging enemies, making Jerusalem an immovable “heavy stone.” Although God’s people mourn their sin and their pierced king, sometimes in isolation, in the resurrected Lord we shall never be moved.

Rev. Nathan Meador, pastor of St. John Lutheran Church in Plymouth, Wisconsin, joins host Rev. AJ Espinosa to study Psalm 20. “May the LORD answer you in the day of trouble! May the name of the God of Jacob protect you!” Sometimes it feels like God uses Scripture to speak directly to us, in the midst of a coronavirus pandemic or whatever else. What beautiful prayers of peace we have in the Psalms! Psalm 20 originally spoke of David going off to battle, sent from God’s sanctuary to defend His people. When David was saved, the people were saved. When Christ was raised from the dead, we received eternal life. We are sent to serve others even when we feel like hiding in fear; Christ wins the battle and the war. Our trust is not ultimately in chariots or vaccines, but Christ alone.

Rev. Scott Adle, pastor of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Collinsville, Illinois, joins host Rev. AJ Espinosa to study Zechariah 11. God’s wrath against “the shepherds” continues in Zechariah 11. This time, God has Zechariah become a literal shepherd for a month as a living parable for the people. He symbolizes the reality that God is our true shepherd, who guided His people with the staffs of “Favor” and “Union.” In the end, the staffs are broken, and the people are given over to the “worthless shepherd who deserts the flock,” as Zechariah throws his 30 days’ wages into the Temple. The leadership of God’s people became corrupt, selling them out to the foreign powers that were slaughtering them. It was all upside down, both at the Maccabean Revolt but especially at our Lord’s birth, when Judas’s 30 pieces had to be thrown out of the Temple, not into it. Only Jesus is the Good Shepherd, the Priest and King who selflessly protects His people.

Rev. Thomas Eckstein, pastor of Concordia Lutheran Church in Jamestown, North Dakota, joins host Rev. AJ Espinosa to study Zechariah 10. “The people wander like sheep; they are afflicted for lack of a shepherd.” The previous chapter flows seamlessly into Zechariah 10, but the emphasis on the rulers and “shepherds” of Israel becomes even more prominent. These words seem to anticipate the Maccabean Revolt, but their greater fulfillment is found in Christ. Christ had compassion on the people and made them lie down in green pastures to feed the five thousand. He is “the Good Shepherd” and “the Lamb” who defeats the horsemen of Zechariah and Revelation in spiritual warfare. Only Christ’s kingdom combines physical and spiritual restoration in the resurrection. Focused on Christ we will not be led astray to either extreme.

Rev. John Lukomski, Retired LCMS pastor in Southern Illinois, joins host Rev. AJ Espinosa to study Zechariah 9. “Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he, humble and mounted on a donkey.” Quoted in both Matthew’s and John’s gospel accounts, Zechariah 9 is best known for the Lord’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. Yet for all the humility, this chapter proclaims military glory. The king rides in on a donkey because he seems to have defeated all the enemies, including the relentless Phoenicians and Philistines. Historically this fits with Alexander the Great, whose successors were defeated by Zion’s “sons” in the Maccabean Revolt. Yet only Christ defeats Satan and His demons. Only the kingdom of heaven offers lasting peace.

Rev. Warren Woerth, pastor of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Arnold, Missouri, joins host Rev. AJ Espinosa to study Zechariah 8. “The LORD of hosts” is repeated 10 times as Zechariah 8 powerfully extends and concludes the previous chapter. Although He is the God of all the nations of the world, He is jealous, jealous, jealous for the nation of Israel in particular. The word in Hebrew means “exclusively devoted to”—God is not polygamous or unfaithful in His love for Israel. God enables the Temple to be finished. He gives peace and prosperity so that their “hands [may] be strong” to finish the work. He enables His people to live in righteousness. By God’s grace, we may be on the side of “truth and peace. The resurrected Lord claims us in baptism and turns our weeping and fasting into joy and celebration.

Rev. Brian Davies, pastor of Lord of Glory Lutheran Church in Grayslake, Illinois, joins host Rev. AJ Espinosa to study Zechariah 7. Almost two years after the visions, Zechariah addresses a reasonable and serious question in chapter 7: is it time to stop mourning the Exile and to start celebrating the Temple? As its reconstruction neared completion, God’s people were at a turning point. God answers a question with a question: While the reasons for fasting and mourning the Exile were good, what did God actually command? Have we lost sight of our good intentions and begun to lie to ourselves like Walter White (Breaking Bad spoiler)? God’s people are not doomed to repeat history; the sinful nature never learns or gets better, but the Spirit of Christ is stronger than our sinful nature.

Rev. Curtis Deterding, pastor of Zion Lutheran Church in Fort Myers, Florida, joins host Rev. AJ Espinosa to study Zechariah 6. More horses of different colors! Like the first chapter, Zechariah 6 describes heavenly patrolmen who serve the God of Israel, reporting to God on the happenings of Earth to its four corners, represented by the four colors. This time however the horses ride out in chariot formation from bronze mountains. This spiritual show of power signals that the God of all nations has acted in behalf of Israel. Although they’re a small vassal of Persia, God orders the high priest Joshua son of Jehozadak to be fitted with a gold and silver crown. Royal roles converge in a rebuilt temple, because God Himself is king and priest in Christ His temple. He gives us peace, power, and forgiveness to work with Him in blessing.

Rev. Dustin Beck, pastor of Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Warda, Texas, joins host Rev. AJ Espinosa to study Zechariah 5. A giant flying scroll and a woman in a basket! Zechariah 5 continues the symbolic visions of people and things associated with the Temple. The larger-than-life scroll (30 feet by 15 feet) had the same measurements as the Temple porch where sermons were given. Amist Israel’s reconstruction of the Temple, God Himself was preaching and purifying them from the oaths of theft and deception. As for the woman in the basket—this was no ordinary basket. An ephah basket was a unit of measure, and this woman was found wanting. Why a woman? While “iniquity” (ʿāwōn) is a little ambiguous, “wickedness” (rišʿâ) is one of many Hebrew abstract nouns like “wisdom” which are poetically represented by women. Jesus Christ Himself, the ultimate messenger of God, comes to purify His bride the church that we may bless the entire world.