Thy Strong Word from KFUO Radio

Rev. Warren Woerth, pastor of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Arnold, Missouri, joins host Rev. AJ Espinosa to study Joshua 4. Chapter 4 concludes the crossing of the Jordan River. Everything fits together still in the same theme of continuity: before the priests leave the river, Joshua calls the twelve representatives back into the Jordan to pick up twelve stones as a memorial, that their children would know what happened there that day. And it turns out that Joshua, before he had crossed, actually had set up a twelve-stone memorial in the middle of the river as well, right on the spot where the priests had stood. God had shown up in a holy way, and as Joshua honors God, God gives honor to Joshua: the Reubenites fulfill their vow and trust Joshua’s leadership. Our Lord Jesus has given us a saving memorial in His holy sacraments, and He has laid down the twelve apostles as memorial foundations for His church.

Rev. Steven Theiss, retired pastor in Frohna, Missouri, joins host Rev. AJ Espinosa to study Joshua 3. In the most important moment of the whole book, God miraculously stops the Jordan River and leads Joshua & the people through on dry ground, a second Exodus. The event is all about continuity. The priests are from the same family of Levi, they have the same Ark of the Covenant, and God is with Joshua just like He was with Moses. The land, however, is new! They are “baptized” into the Promised Land as they cross the river, so that new dirt of blessing sticks to their feet. In faith, we see continuity that extends to the present-day church as our Lord was prefigured in humble yet bold Joshua. In the midst of darkness and distance, we see God’s universal reign and salvation more clearly.

Rev. Rolf Preus, pastor of Trinity-Sidney & St. John-Fairview, Montana, joins host Rev. AJ Espinosa to study Joshua 2. The story of Rahab is famous. The drama makes it a great story: the soldiers searching for the spies, Rahab hiding them and lying to the soldiers, and finally Rahab helping them escape through a window in the city wall. Underneath the drama though, we see a story of Rahab’s faith and Joshua’s blessing. Rahab of Jericho wasn’t a prostitute anymore, even if it had become like a last name. From the distance of Jericho, she sees that Yahweh is the true and universal “God in the heavens above and on the earth beneath.” We see our Lord prefigured as Joshua’s spies make a covenant to save this repentant sinner: “Our life for yours even to death!” The scarlet cord and the three day’s wait prefigure our Lord’s passion and resurrection to save us from the stronghold of Satan.

Rev. John Lukomski, retired pastor in Southern Illinois, joins host Rev. AJ Espinosa to study Joshua 1. “Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.” This verse from Joshua 1 is one of the most popular in the Bible, but what exactly is God promising? God does not promise to bless our every endeavor. He will be where He promises to be, and in the case of Joshua, that meant His aid in the battle for Canaan. It wasn’t because of Joshua’s personal qualities, but because of his faith in the promise God made to Moses. We too should go to where God has promised to be: in Christ’s Word and sacraments.

Rev. Jaime Nava, pastor of Concordia Lutheran Church in Maplewood, Missouri, joins host Rev. AJ Espinosa to study 3 John. It seems like someone took the advice from 2 John and went too far. In his previous letter, John warned not to host false teachers. In 3 John, the apostle criticizes Diotrephes for refusing to host practically anybody, answering to no other Christian authority but himself. On the other hand, John commends Gaius for his generosity. The truth of Christ’s gospel makes us into faithful and dependable supporters of the mission of the church. Our sharing meals together and our face-to-face conversation is vital to the life of the church, as our Lord Jesus showed by His own example.

Rev. Scott Adle, pastor of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Collinsville, Illinois, joins host Rev. AJ Espinosa to study 2 John. “That’s not very loving.” Lots of people talk about love today, but Christian love isn’t about being “nice people”—as Lewis put it, it’s about being “new men.” In 2 John, the apostle applauds a Christian congregation for going against the grain as they live by Christian love. He also sends a word of warning: do not host prophets who belong to the false church. In a culture of hospitality, it went against their instincts to turn anyone away, especially if they claimed the name of Christ. John however is clear: either we host Christ and live by His commands, or we host the antichrist and participate in their sin.

Rev. Dr. Martin Noland, pastor of Grace Lutheran Church in San Mateo, California, joins host Rev. AJ Espinosa to study Isaiah 66. God isn’t fooled by appearances. There were those in Judah who publicly offered sacrifices to Yahweh while also participating in other religious rites and sinful behavior on the side. These even mocked the faithful for hoping for the Temple to be restored. These divisions have been there in every age since the fall. God promises punishment for these hypocrites and consolation for his faithful. This consolation is like a mother’s love for her newborn, and it is universal in scope: “They shall bring all your brothers from all the nations.” These words were fulfilled in the return from exile and on the day of Pentecost, and they will be fulfilled again at the resurrection of all flesh.

Rev. John Shank, pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church in Edwardsville, Illinois, joins host Rev. AJ Espinosa to study Isaiah 65. “I will not keep silent, but I will repay.” God answers Isaiah’s prayer in chapter 65, promising to distinguish between His chosen ones and those “who forsake the LORD.” The language here is very similar to that of Isaiah 57, but also to that of chapter 1, bracketing the entire book and setting up the final chapter. His people have been in this mess before, with their outstretched hands full of idolatrous blood, but God stretches out his hands in untiring acceptance. Just as He brought restoration from the Assyrian invasion, He will do so from the Babylonian invasion. He is the God of the amen, who faithfully forgives and never tires to bring about new creation.

Rev. Gaven Mize, pastor of Augustana Evangelical Lutheran Church in Hickory, North Carolina, joins host Rev. AJ Espinosa to study Isaiah 64. “Oh that you would rend the heavens and come down!” Isaiah continues his plea on behalf of the people into chapter 64. He invokes God as a warrior, that “the nations might tremble” before His face. As He makes this request, He acknowledges that there is nothing good in Judah that should prompt God to do so. He boldly asks that God would take gracious and undeserved initiative. Faith is bold yet humble. The chapter ends with a question similar to “How long?” We boldly ask yet we humbly acknowledge that God does not owe us an answer, and that He may not answer our prayer for a very long time. Yet we trust that He eventually will answer all of our prayers and that He will work all things for our good because of the Messiah who has saved us throughout Israel’s history.

Rev. David Boisclair, pastor of Faith and Bethesda Lutheran Churches in North St. Louis County, Missouri, joins host Rev. AJ Espinosa to study Isaiah 63. After what seemed like a good ending for the whole book in the previous chapter, chapter 63 unexpectedly picks up with an oracle of judgment against Bozrah. Why talk about the Edomites when the Babylonians are the big problem? The poetry weaves together imagery of red blood and red wine, trampling grapes and trampling enemies. Ultimately this chapter begins a desperate plea for mercy to be continued in the next chapter. God must rescue not because of any goodness in ourselves; our ancestors would disown us on account of our sin. Only by grace did Christ conquer the enemies of Judah, and only by grace will He judge our enemies at the end of the age.