Thy Strong Word from KFUO Radio

Rev. Duncan McLellan, pastor of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Ankeny, Iowa, joins host Rev. AJ Espinosa to study 2 Samuel 9. “And David said to him, ‘Do not fear, for I will show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan, and I will restore to you all the land of Saul your father, and you shall eat at my table always.’” David’s mercy towards Mephibosheth is a beautiful image of God’s mercy t...

Rev. John Lukomski, retired LCMS pastor, joins host Rev. AJ Espinosa to study 2 Samuel 8. “Two lines he measured to be put to death, and one full line to be spared.” David has blood on his hands—a lot of it. Perhaps together with his excessive celebration in chapter 6, the violence of chapter 9 and others shows why God would want a man of wisdom rather than a man of violence to build His temple. Y...

Rev. Charles Henrickson, pastor of St. Matthew Lutheran Church in Bonne Terre, Missouri, joins host Rev. AJ Espinosa to study Psalm 132. “I will not give sleep to my eyes or slumber to my eyelids, until I find a place for the LORD, a dwelling place for the Mighty One of Jacob.” The Ark of the Covenant had been captured by enemies, had brought plagues against the proud, and had bounced from place t...

Rev. David Boisclair, pastor of Faith and Bethesda Lutheran Churches in North St. Louis County, Missouri, joins host Rev. AJ Espinosa to study 2 Samuel 7. “But that same night the word of the LORD came to Nathan, ‘Go and tell my servant David, “Thus says the LORD: Would you build me a house to dwell in?’” David was thinking too small, perhaps even making himself a little too big. In his confrontat...

Rev. Lucas Witt, pastor of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Baltimore, Maryland, joins host Rev. AJ Espinosa to study 2 Samuel 6. “How the king of Israel honored himself today, uncovering himself today before the eyes of his servants’ female servants, as one of the vulgar fellows shamelessly uncovers himself!” David fetches the Ark of the Covenant for a big dedication in Jerusalem in chapter 6. At firs...

Rev. Brady Finnern, pastor of Messiah Lutheran Church in Sartell, Minnesota, joins host Rev. AJ Espinosa to study 2 Samuel 5. “King David made a covenant with them at Hebron before the LORD, and they anointed David king over Israel.” Third time’s the charm? David’s first two anointments were disappointing: after the first he became an exile, and after the second, he found out that Ish-bosheth had...

Rev. David Fleming, pastor of Our Savior Lutheran Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and Executive Director for Spiritual Care with DOXOLOGY, joins host Rev. AJ Espinosa to study 2 Samuel 4. Learn more about spiritual care and mental health resources from DOXOLOGY at doxology.us. “How much more, when wicked men have killed a righteous man in his own house on his bed, shall I not now require his blo...

Rev. Paul Cain, pastor of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Sheridan, Wyoming, joins host Rev. AJ Espinosa to study 2 Samuel 3. “God do so to Abner and more also, if I do not accomplish for David what the LORD has sworn to him, to transfer the kingdom from the house of Saul and set up the throne of David.” Abner again proves himself to be a good man on the wrong side in chapter 3, but he finally realize...

Rev. Doug Nicely, pastor of Jerusalem Lutheran Church in Collinsville, Illinois, joins host Rev. AJ Espinosa to study 2 Samuel 2. “And Joab said, ‘As God lives, if you had not spoken, surely the men would not have given up the pursuit of their brothers until the morning.’” Even though the North had pledged its allegiance to Saul’s son Ish-bosheth and the South had anointed David, it’s not all blac...

Rev. Ben Maton, pastor of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Charlottesville, Virginia, joins host Rev. AJ Espinosa to study Psalm 44. “Awake! Why are you sleeping, O Lord?” The Korahites were devastated when Babylon destroyed the Temple and carried off the holy things they were sworn to protect. Why would God let this happen? “We have not forgotten you!” It didn’t seem fair. As our true Father through J...

Rev. Steven Theiss, retired LCMS pastor in Frohna, Missouri, joins host Rev. AJ Espinosa to study 2 Samuel 1. “You daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you luxuriously in scarlet, who put ornaments of gold on your apparel. How the mighty have fallen in the midst of the battle!” David responds with the highest piety to the news of Saul’s death in 2 Samuel 1. He executes the Amalekite wh...

Rev. John Shank, pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church in Edwardsville, Illinois, joins host Rev. AJ Espinosa to study 1 Samuel 31. “He was badly wounded by the archers. Then Saul said to his armor-bearer, ‘Draw your sword, and thrust me through with it, lest these uncircumcised come and thrust me through, and mistreat me.’” Riddled with arrows and barely able to move, Saul knows he doesn’t have much...

Rev. John Lukomski, retired LCMS pastor, joins host Rev. AJ Espinosa to study 1 Samuel 30. “David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him. [...] But David strengthened himself in the LORD his God.” Rejected by Saul, then by the Philistine lords, and now by some of the very people who had rallied around him, it would be easy for David to have doubts. Why did he insist on being l...

Host Rev. AJ Espinosa studies 1 Samuel 29. “But what have I done? What have you found in your servant from the day I entered your service until now, that I may not go and fight against the enemies of my lord the king?” How can David say this with a straight face? He’s been lying to Achish all along! Yet David speaks in chapter 29 with the same sincerity as he did back in chapter 26 with Saul. Davi...

Rev. Brian Kachelmeier, pastor of Redeemer Evangelical Lutheran Church in Los Alamos, New Mexico, joins host Rev. AJ Espinosa to study 1 Samuel 28. “Then Samuel said to Saul, ‘Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?’” The medium of En-dor performs a seance for Saul in chapter 28, and Saul receives a haunting echo of what Samuel told him years ago: “The LORD has torn the kingdom out of your ha...

Rev. David Boisclair, pastor of Faith and Bethesda Lutheran Churches in North St. Louis County, Missouri, joins host Rev. AJ Espinosa to study 1 Samuel 27. “When Achish asked, ‘Where have you made a raid today?’ David would say, ‘Against the Negeb of Judah,’ or, ‘Against the Negeb of the Jerahmeelites.’” Achish of Gath learns of the bad blood between David and Saul, and he seizes upon the opportun...

Rev. Lucas Witt, pastor of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Baltimore, Maryland, joins host Rev. AJ Espinosa to study 1 Samuel 26. “As the LORD lives, you deserve to die, because you have not kept watch over your lord, the LORD’s anointed. And now see where the king’s spear is and the jar of water that was at his head.” Atop the hill across the valley, David shouts down to Abner like Goliath in chapter...

Rev. Kevin Martin, pastor of Our Savior Lutheran Church in Raleigh, North Carolina, joins host Rev. AJ Espinosa to study 1 Samuel 25. “Blessed be your discretion, and blessed be you, who have kept me this day from bloodguilt and from working salvation with my own hand!” Even David needs saving in chapter 25, and it’s Abigail who saves him from himself. This woman “with whom the Father is well plea...

Rev. Kevin Parviz, pastor of Congregation Chai v'Shalom in St. Louis, Missouri, joins host Rev. AJ Espinosa to study Psalm 142. “When my spirit faints within me, you know my way! In the path where I walk they have hidden a trap for me.” David didn’t always feel the Spirit powerfully guiding his every move; sometimes he felt alone and uncertain. Much darker than Psalm 57, Psalm 142 offers a lamenta...

Rev. Richard Mittwede, pastor of University Lutheran Church in Austin, Texas, joins host Rev. AJ Espinosa to study 1 Samuel 24. “And Saul lifted up his voice and wept. He said to David, ‘You are more righteous than I, for you have repaid me good, whereas I have repaid you evil.’” Saul shows true repentance in chapter 24, moved by David’s mercy. In turn, Saul extends mercy to David, sending his bat...

Rev. Curtis Deterding, pastor of Zion Lutheran Church in Fort Myers, Florida, joins host Rev. AJ Espinosa to study 1 Samuel 23. “O LORD, the God of Israel, your servant has surely heard that Saul seeks to come to Keilah, to destroy the city on my account. Will the men of Keilah surrender me into his hand?” David had become a curse, even though he had just saved Keliah from the Philistines. In chap...

Rev. Andrew Jagow, pastor of Bethany Lutheran Church in Alexandria, Virginia, joins host Rev. AJ Espinosa to study 1 Samuel 22. “Stay with me; do not be afraid, for he who seeks my life seeks your life. With me you shall be in safekeeping.” David’s covert wanderings continue in chapter 22, but his cover is quickly blown as people rally around him. Like Christ Jesus, he welcomes the burn-outs, the...

Rev. Ken Wagener, retired LCMS pastor in Mooresville, Indiana, joins host Rev. AJ Espinosa to study 1 Samuel 21. “So the priest gave [David] the holy bread, for there was no bread there but the bread of the Presence, which is removed from before the LORD.” Why is David being so ‘selective’ with the truth and so bold as to ask for the bread of the Presence? Chapter 21 shows how David at this time w...

Rev. David Boisclair, pastor of Faith and Bethesda Lutheran Churches in North St. Louis County, Missouri, joins host Rev. AJ Espinosa to study 1 Samuel 20. “Therefore deal kindly with your servant, for you have brought your servant into a covenant of the LORD with you. But if there is guilt in me, kill me yourself, for why should you bring me to your father?” David was Jonathan’s subordinate, and...

Rev. Robert Paul, pastor of Memorial Lutheran Church in Houston, Texas, joins host Rev. AJ Espinosa to study 1 Samuel 19. “Let not the king sin against his servant David, because he has not sinned against you, and because his deeds have brought good to you.” Jonathan and Michal both prove their love for David in chapter 19 as they risk their own lives to save his. Even as they do so however, they...