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In the books of 1 and 2 Samuel, we witness the transition of Israel from tribal confederacy to established monarchy. And, as Mary Evans shows in this passage-by-passage commentary, during such a transition questions of identity and power are unavoidable.
In the aftermath of the decline of the judges, priests abuse their priestly privileges; Israelites covet the centralized ...
Few sermons or Bible studies focus on Ezra or Haggai, two brief Old Testament books named for relatively unknown figures. But the message of both of these books—their emphasis on building for God, obedience to his Word, and openness to his Spirit—is one that needs to be heard clearly today.
In this Bible Speaks Today volume, Robert Fyall's pairing of Ezra with Haggai enhances ...
The book of Nehemiah is about starting over again. Nehemiah, one of Israel's great leaders, tells firsthand the powerful story of rebuilding ancient Jerusalem's walls after the exile. In the face of great odds, this rebuilding represented the people's renewal of faith, their overcoming of national shame, and the reformation of their conduct.
In this volume, Raymond Brown ...
The book of Esther tells the dramatic story of how the destruction of the Jews was averted through the bravery of Esther, the wisdom of Mordecai, and the unity of the Jewish people. Yet Esther is a rather strange book to find in the Bible. Not only is it set entirely outside of the Promised Land, it also shows no interest in that land. More than that, Esther is the only book in ...
The whole story of the book of Exodus is a covenant narrative. In Moses' story, the pledges that God made to Abraham are honored and fulfilled as the Israelites are saved from Egypt and guided to the promised land.In this Bible Speaks Today volume, J. Alec Motyer explores what this key part of Scripture testifies about the God of the Bible. Considering the meaning that Exodus still ...
For many Christians, the book of Leviticus is largely unknown and unread. Yet this book is crucial for understanding the rest of the Bible and the nature of the gospel.In this Bible Speaks Today volume, Derek Tidball shows how this vital part of Scripture is of foundational importance for our view of God and Christian living. Revealing the original message to the people of Israel ...
What does it mean to be pilgrims in a confusing world? What vision of the good life drives us?In this Bible Speaks Today volume, Raymond Brown explores how the book of Numbers offers a picture of a better life. He shows how its message is eminently suited to our world today, a world without firm spiritual and moral foundations. Numbers pictures life as an accompanied journey, and ...
Why do people suffer? What is God's role in suffering? How can we help those who suffer?
The book of Job is all about human suffering. Its portrayal of one man's anguish, the ineffective responses of his friends, and his struggle for faith and understanding mirrors our own experiences in the world.
David Atkinson offers a pastoral exploration of Job's story. His compelling ...
The book of Proverbs is the most practical book in the Bible. Its instruction in the art of living has been long tried and long proven. Its proverbial seeds of discernment are ready to be planted and rooted in the receptive soil of wisdom's hearers today.
As much as we glean from the surface of Proverbs, there remains still more in its depths. David Atkinson's commentary wonderfully ...
What is life all about? In the end, is it no more than a wisp of vapor, a puff of wind, a mere breath? So says the Preacher in the book of Ecclesiastes. But is this the whole message of Ecclesiastes?
With imagination and clarity, Derek Kidner introduces this unusual Old Testament book that speaks so powerfully to each new generation. He reveals how the Preacher confronts difficult ...