Thy Strong Word from KFUO Radio

Rev. Ryan Fehrmann, pastor of Zion Lutheran Church in Wausau, Wisconsin, joins host Rev. AJ Espinosa to study Isaiah 20. “Then they shall be dismayed and ashamed because of Cush their hope and of Egypt their boast!” Isaiah 20 begins a new section of the book, switching back to the story of Isaiah the prophet. God speaks to Him and tells him to do something dramatic: as a sign of judgment, God tells him to go around naked in public for the next three years! In this way, our chapter pulls together ideas from the preceding Philistia, Cush, and Egypt oracles and puts them into context. As Judah waffles about whether to join the Egyptians or to submit to the Assyrians, God condemns human pride for its lack of repentance. Just as He did then, God gives us a sign of nakedness: His Son on a cross. God enters into our shame so that we would realize that He is our only escape and our only hope in the face of sin, death, and evil.

Rev. Thomas Eckstein, pastor of Concordia Lutheran Church in Jamestown, North Dakota, joins host Rev. AJ Espinosa to study Isaiah 19. The list of nations that began with Babylon in chapter 13 ends with Egypt here in Isaiah 19—the two big bad guys of the Old Testament. This Egypt oracle proceeds as expected, announcing judgment against the false gods of Egypt. God will smite the Nile again as He did at the Exodus, and the wise men will once more be rendered helpless. God will work a second Passover for Jerusalem amidst the Assyrian siege, the Egyptians will cower in fear when they hear of Judah’s victory. But then Egypt will turn to Yahweh! They will speak Hebrew, read the Scriptures, build altars, and offer sacrifices! God will send them a savior to heal them, and God will say, “Blessed be Egypt my people.” If Egypt can be turned, then we can’t give up on anybody. Today we are inspired by the faith of the Coptic Church in Egypt, because even amidst persecution, Christ’s church is the world’s greatest superpower.

Rev. John Shank, pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church in Edwardsville, Illinois, joins host Rev. AJ Espinosa to study Isaiah 18. What’s down “beyond the rivers of Cush” anyway? The ancient kingdom of Nubia! Today we associate this region with Sudan and Ethiopia. Even though the Nubians were even further south than Egypt, even they were afraid of the unstoppable Assyrian onslaught, and they busily sent out envoys to make alliances for the coming struggle. When Jerusalem miraculously survives the Assyrian siege with the help of the Messenger of Yahweh (“the angel of the LORD”), the people of Cush/Nubia are moved to offer tribute and praise. Against all odds, Yahweh leaves the Assyrian forces strewn about like lopped-off branches on the Judean mountains. Similarly, the Christian church has beat the odds and survived persecution time and again. It continues to do so because Christ Himself overcame the odds: though besieged by death and the grave, the Messenger of Yahweh brought life and resurrection to light. And because He did so, even “the Ethiopian eunuch” would come to believe and offer praise to the God of Judah.

Rev. John Lukomski, retired pastor in Northfield, Minnesota, joins host Rev. AJ Espinosa to study Isaiah 17. Isaiah 17 continues the oracles against the nations, but this isn’t really an oracle against Damascus. It’s more of a Damascus oracle against Israel! Since the northern kingdom decided to make an alliance with Damascus rather than trust in Yahweh, the fates of Samaria and Damascus have been joined. They will share in glory—fading glory. Yet for all the devastating language of being reduced to a tiny remnant, the truth remains that God will spare a remnant, even from Damascus! God is the God of all peoples, even if they have forgotten their Maker. Though they obsess over what they themselves have made, it pains Him to punish and discipline. This is especially so because He has joined Himself to our suffering through our Lord’s cross. He was forgotten that we would be remembered. And He was remembered that we would remember our Maker—in the end, a Damascus oracle for Israel and for us.

Rev. Kevin Parviz, pastor of Congregation Chai v’Shalom in St. Louis, Missouri, joins host Rev. AJ Espinosa to study Psalm 25. “Make me to know your ways, O LORD; teach me your paths.” This acrostic psalm points to how vast God’s work is. Even though David was king over Israel, he was always humble to learn, and he doesn’t ask God to look at his works and accomplishments. He asks God to forget about the things he’s done and instead only to remember His gracious love for him. In the midst of trials and treachery, possibly at the hands of his own son Absolom, David meditates on his standing before God, not men. His confidence that God will rescue him is rooted in God Himself, because God will forgive him for the sake of Israel. And God redeems Israel for the sake of His own name. God redeems us because we are baptized in the name of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. When you boil it all down, that’s who we really are.

Rev. Ken Wagener, pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church in Indianapolis, Indiana, joins host Rev. AJ Espinosa to study Isaiah 16. In the wake of the devastation, the Moabites flee south to Edom. From there they offer tribute and pleas for mercy that they might be granted asylum north in Judah. Isaiah 16 continues this poetic oracle from the previous chapter, offering once again sympathy in the midst of total devastation. This time however, Isaiah gives us his vision of a sad, languished vineyard, accompanied by Moab’s plea in their own words. The haughty have been humbled, and Moab recognizes that there is something unique about God’s people of Judah; only they can shelter from the blistering Assyrian onslaught. Their desire to sojourn under the shelter of “the tent of David” mirrors David’s own story, when his ancestors sojourned in Moab. This points ahead to how Jesus Christ, the true heir of David, sojourned with us when He was born of a virgin, that one day we would dwell with Him in the heavenly Jerusalem. Until then, we humbly seek refuge in the church, the unique sacramental shelter from sin, death, and Satan.

Rev. Curtis Deterding, pastor of Zion Lutheran Church in Fort Myers, Florida, joins host Rev. AJ Espinosa to study Isaiah 15. “My heart cries out for Moab!” Unlike the previous oracles against Babylon, Assyria, and Philistia, this one in Isaiah 15 takes a sympathetic perspective. Rather than a vengeful and ominous tone, Isaiah speaks with one of heartbreak from the perspective of a nation in mourning. Moab and Israel have had a rocky relationship, especially considering the incident at Baal-Peor in Numbers 25. Yet Moab and Israel are closely related, even if they are estranged (Genesis 19). The oracle foretells utter destruction by both war and nature. It predicts grim devastation not unlike the plagues of Egypt. And yet Isaiah’s words show that God takes no pleasure in the destruction of idolaters. He would rather have the Moabites attach themselves to Israel like Ruth, the ancestor of our Lord Jesus, and that all nations of the earth be blessed.

Rev. Shawn Kumm, pastor of Christ the King Lutheran Church in Cody, Wyoming, joins host Rev. AJ Espinosa to study Isaiah 14. Babylon has died, and the whole world has broken out into song! Isaiah 14 shows the purpose and result of the preceding chapter’s oracle against Babylon. Like a cancer, Babylon threatened to mercilessly consume the whole world. God removes every remnant of it in order to give peace to Israel and to all the world’s nations who “will join them and will attach themselves to the house of Jacob.” Even the trees celebrate, pointing to Babylon’s personification of Satan, who is also known as Lucifer, the “Day Star, son of Dawn.” Ultimately, Christ went down among the shades, becoming weak like us, in order to rescue us from sin, death, and the devil. Because He rose from the dead, He has made Sheol only a temporary way station for us, rather than a permanent destination. God has rescued from the yoke of Assyria, from the gate of Philistia, and from the scepter of Babylon. Because He sent forth Hezekiah like a fiery serpent and His own Son like a bronze serpent, the redeemed will worship among the seraphim of heaven.

Rev. David Reedy, pastor of Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church in San Antonio, Texas, joins host Rev. AJ Espinosa to study Isaiah 13. “Behold, the day of the LORD comes, cruel, with wrath and fierce anger.” After the hopeful psalm of Isaiah 12, this chapter that follows takes an abrupt turn. The first twelve chapters fit together describing the time immediately before and after the Assyrian siege of Jerusalem, focusing on Isaiah’s confrontation with Ahaz. This chapter however begins a new section of the book of Isaiah, one which takes a universal perspective. Babylon, Assyria, Egypt, and each of the nations are judged in turn, events stretching centuries into the future. In this oracle against Babylon, we see how God turns brutality against itself. In order to rescue the weak and oppressed, those who show no mercy will be shown no mercy; they reap what they sow. No kingdom is invincible, save that of the Messiah, the one who rules over all kingdoms of the earth. In Him alone may we establish our confidence.

Rev. Dan Eddy, pastor of Messiah Lutheran Church in Beloit, Wisconsin, joins host Rev. AJ Espinosa to study Isaiah 12. “The LORD God is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation.” These familiar words echo here in Isaiah 12 and throughout Scripture. They originally come from the Song of Moses by the Red Sea. This song of praise continues the theme of a second Exodus, this time from Assyria instead of Egypt. God Himself is the one who works salvation and produces in us both humble awe and joyful thanksgiving. He reverses our downward-flowing tears and gives us joy that wells up and bursts out from the ground. We are called to humbly make known His deeds among the peoples, though not everyone will humbly receive the Word. Yet, as did certain Israelites and Gentiles in the North in the day of Hezekiah, some will humble themselves and join us in our joy. To all who do, our risen Lord Jesus Christ will give “a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”