Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary: Exalting Jesus in 1 & 2 Samuel

I have read other books in the series so I was looking forward to this newest addition. The only drawback is in some of its explanations were too short and needed expounding. If pastors, leaders, teachers, everyday people use these books, they will gain knowledge. I hope they use these books as a launching pad. What I mean is dont allow these to be a means to an end, but a place to start to study. Included are reflective or discussion questions that help facilitate a persons spirit to look deeper or apply what they learned in a chapter.

In our society, we need leaders, teachers and pastors to use tools that help spur thoughts, questions or a starting point to begin digging deeper into the Word. Our society needs more people who God can teach via The Holy Spirit how to dig deeper once they glean a basic understanding of 1 & 2 Samuel. The book can be used like a commentary, but nothing replaces inductive study by a seeker of God.

As people of God we need books like this to help us grasp a starting point of a book whether Old or New Testament. We need books like this that can be used in small groups and stir a longing in our hearts to want to know more, because then we know Him more! Lets be honest, we are all busy. Please dont let that deter you from putting time aside to study, read and grow in your walk with the Lord. I struggle just like other people, but when this is used even with just two people it really sparks great desires to learn, grow and discuss Christ! Consider gifting a copy to those around you this holiday season!

1 and 2 Samuela book with questions. A book in a historical context far different from ours. What does it have to do with us? King David, a good example, someone we want to be like but often feel like well never measure up. He was the great-great-something of Jesus, right? A king, right? Chosen. Anointed. And the rest of the book? King Saul, evil spirits, battle deaths, no-honey oaths, usurpation of the thrones, a royal history of a land we cant quite picture

But the authors of Exalting Jesus in 1 and 2 Samuel (Thomas & Greear) make a stunning claim:

First and Second Samuel expose for careful readers the horrors and hope of the real world (7).

And the authors do a good job at proving that thesis. Not all questions are answered. Not all things are explained. But strengths are numerous:

- Accessible to the average church attender, not just teachers or preachers

- Great guides for preaching it is definitely expository in nature, so reads less like a textbook than a collection of sermons

- Reaches the heart, revealing sin, ministering grace, encouragement, hope

- Gospel-infused with sin to grace

- God-centered, making God the hero rather than a mere moral-example book, but yet not undermining that aspect either

- Christ-centered, following Christs own interpretation in Luke 24:47

- Bridges the contexts and touches our contemporary world well

You will not find an in-depth exploration of Hebrew, the text, structure, etc. In fact, one weakness may be that it does too much of the work! Yet, Thomas and Greear do draw out some relevant Hebrew words, terms, and implications. They do bring forth some different dimensions of the text that would be available only to a student of the original text or a more careful scholar. A multifarious range of cited materials show they have done their research, both culturally and theologically. If you are familiar with J. D. Greears preaching, youll be familiar with the tone of the book.

All in all, definitely a great resource for personal devotional reading or teaching/preaching preparation.

Disclosure: I received this book free from B&H Publishing through the B&H/Lifeway Bloggers program. The opinions I have expressed are my own, and I was not required to write a positive review.