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 Psalm 24. David was a celebrated warrior and commander. He was king over both Judah’s territory in the South and over the people of the northern tribes. But in Psalm 24, He gives all the glory to Yahweh, saying that the whole world and all people belong to Him, and that He is the true warrior and king. Yet David especially celebrates the people of Jacob, cleansed and purified by God. Among them the King of Glory makes a special entrance. When our Lord Jesus entered His temple at 40 days old, Simeon celebrated Him as “the glory” of God’s people, the Christ who brings Israel vindication “in the sight of every people.”

Rev. Lucas Witt, pastor of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Baltimore, Maryland, joins host Rev. AJ Espinosa to study Joshua 13. Chapter 13 begins with a problem: the land is still full of enemies to defeat, but Joshua is old—really old. What’s God’s solution? “I myself with drive them out from before the people of Israel.” Does that mean that Joshua’s work is done here? It may seem odd to us, but God says the most important thing left for Joshua to do is to ratify each tribe’s inheritance. We begin by reviewing Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh (a.k.a. “East Manasseh”—Ephraim & Manasseh were two full tribes). The focus is on the land, even if Israel still hadn’t taken full possession of it. Similarly, even though we won’t take full possession of our inheritance until the resurrection, our Lord Jesus has guaranteed it in His gospel and sacraments.

Rev. Marcus Zill, Chancellor of LCMS U (lcms.org/lcmsu), joins host Rev. AJ Espinosa to study Joshua 12. After conquering the bulk of Canaan, Israel takes a moment to recount the faithfulness of God. God has blessed them with a massive amount of land, so much that chapter 12 breaks it down into two: the land to the east of the Jordan river, conquered by Moses, and the land to its west, conquered by Joshua. The fact that both leaders are mentioned this way points back to the continuity between Deuteronomy and Joshua; it’s all one story of how God gave rest to His people by giving them this good land. The pair of victories He gave through Moses paved the way for the invasion of Jericho, spreading the word about the mighty God of Israel. Joshua then made good on his name—”Yahweh is victory”—conquering the territory of 31 kings. We too count victory after victory as Christ has established His church among countless peoples and languages.

Rev. Dr. Alfonso O. Espinosa, pastor of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Irvine, California, joins host Rev. AJ Espinosa to study Joshua 11. Joshua’s worst fear has been realized: the northern Canaanites have entered into a powerful alliance, and they muster a force of chariots and mounted warriors to confront Israel at Merom. God had spared them thus far, but now He finally answers their prayer with a “No” in order to grow their faith. This fits the pattern of Moses & Pharaoh, our Lord Jesus & the Judean authorities, and even us today. We however thank God that our Lord Jesus has bound Satan, and that the church need not engage the demons in battle as Joshua did. Even then however, God directed them not to trust in chariots and offensive might, but to defensively rely on the goodness of the Creator.

Rev. John Lukomski, retired LCMS pastor, joins host Rev. AJ Espinosa to study Joshua 10. “Thus the LORD will do to all your enemies!” With that, Joshua executed the five kings that had conspired against Israel. Joshua 10 seems like a brutal chapter of the Old Testament, but it’s important to understand that violence is not at the center of God’s purpose here. God wants there to be peace in the land, but that will only come through “devotion” to Him. Our Lord Jesus Christ devoted Himself to God by allowing Himself to be destroyed. Like the five kings, He was struck, hanged on a tree, and buried in a cave behind a great stone. But unlike them, the true king and the true Joshua did not stay dead, because God’s grace for all prevails over His wrath.

Rev. David Boisclair, pastor of Faith and Bethesda Lutheran Churches in North St. Louis County, Missouri, joins host Rev. AJ Espinosa to study Joshua 9. Has the total destruction of Ai backfired? In chapter 9, the Canaanites unite in their refusal to make peace with Israel. That is, except for the Gibeonites. They dress up like poor foreigners from a distant land, and they fool Joshua into making a treaty with them so that they won’t get wiped out. We sympathize with the Gibeonites, who made the best of their situation, but is their deception justified? And was it really so bad for Israel to spare them? It’s in our nature to sweep sin under the rug, but God actually deals with it. Joshua prefigures our Lord Jesus as he demonstrates that God’s mercy is so abundant that even His curses and punishments are blessings.

Rev. Chris Matthis, pastor of Epiphany Lutheran Church in Castle Rock, Colorado, joins host Rev. AJ Espinosa to study Joshua 8. This time in chapter 8, Yahweh of Armies speaks the battle plan. Although the total destruction of Ai and Bethel seems ruthless, the plan shows signs of God’s mercy as He takes their sin and weakness into account. He protects His people from a hostile alliance and defends His holy name for the sake of the world. The whole of Israel’s army is involved in the fighting, and the entire people participates in the covenant renewal between Mt. Gerizim and Mt. Ebal. The whole people must repent of their sin as a society, just as we must today. Behind the atrocities of others’ sins lie our own daily sins, but there is forgiveness in our Lord Jesus Christ who renews His covenant with us in His supper.

Rev. Ingo Dutzmann, LCEF Ambassador in Boston, Massachusetts, joins host Rev. AJ Espinosa to study Joshua 7. After six chapters of obedience to Yahweh, chapter seven begins, “But the people of Israel broke faith.” When his troops lose a battle they should have easily won, Joshua knows that there is a problem between them and God. In faith, he turns to God for the solution, acting as a priestly intercessor like Moses. When they discover that a man named Achon has lied and stolen from God, he and his family are punished. God is always ready to forgive the penitent, but the punishments of the left-hand kingdom must still be meted out for the sake of order. Instead of punishing one family on behalf of the people, our Lord Jesus had Himself punished on behalf of all humanity, ransoming our lives as God’s precious firstborn and only Son.

Rev. Mark Jasa, pastor of Mount Olive Lutheran Church in Pasadena, California, joins host Rev. AJ Espinosa to study Joshua 6. “Joshua fit the battle of Jericho, and the walls come a-tumbling down.” This folk song speaks to the popularity of this story from chapter 6. Although everyone remembers the horns blasting, the people shouting, and—yes—the walls tumbling down, the story isn’t really about terrorizing Jericho. This chapter continues Joshua’s encounter with Yahweh, who appeared in the form of a warrior. Yahweh reveals Himself through His Word, and His instructions to encircle the city seven times on the seventh day point back to creation. The God of all creation, not just a small region, is creating a nation for Himself by giving them Sabbath rest in the land of promise. Our Lord Jesus saves His church as He saved Rahab and all who would repent.

Rev. Dr. Mark Birkholz, pastor of Faith Lutheran Church in Oak Lawn, Illinois, joins host Rev. AJ Espinosa to study Joshua 5. The situation was urgent. Israel had crossed into the land inhabited by the Amorites and Canaanites. But the problem wasn’t Israel’s enemies in Joshua chapter 5; the problem was the threat of sin and disobedience. God has them make flint knives and circumcise the new generation immediately. They celebrate the Passover even though they’re in the middle of nowhere. These things Passdidn’t make sense from a worldly perspective, but from a spiritual perspective, the only thing keeping them in the land was faith in God. Joshua then meets the true Joshua, the Lord Jesus in the form of a warrior. Our success only depends on Jesus Christ; may we prioritize the things of faith with urgency over all the rest.

Rev. David Boisclair, pastor of Faith and Bethesda Lutheran Churches in North St. Louis County, Missouri, joins host Rev. AJ Espinosa to study Psalm 33. Psalm 33 has no title in Hebrew, no superscription saying who wrote it or what kind of psalm it is. While this a little uncommon by itself, it really stands out because Psalm 33 occurs in the middle of several “of David” psalms. And not only does Psalm 33 lack names like “David,” but it lacks names like “Israel,” “Judah,” “Moses”… In fact, there are no names in the psalm at all—except for one. That’s the point. The psalm points back to God both as the one who created the whole world and also as the one who chose Israel from among the nations of the world. We feel a tension being balanced throughout: God is the God of Israel, but He is also the God of the whole world. Many people recall verse 12: “Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, the people whom he has chosen as his heritage!” What does it mean to be a God-fearing nation? What is the place of Isr

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.