Book Review: How to Read Proverbs

How to Read ProverbsHow to Read Proverbs by Tremper Longman III
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book is well done and helpful in what it sets out to do. The title is truth in advertising as this book helps orient the reader of the book of Proverbs. It is not a deep dive study of wisdom literature, but that wasn’t the intention of the author. Issues like the overall organization and structural and thematic unity of the book are only touched on enough to whet your appetite. Longman doesn’t deal with intertextuality per se, but he does have a chapter for interaction between Proverbs and Job and Ecclesiastes, and a later mention of the New Testament book of James. The book particularly shines in giving attention to the fact that you must take any individual sayings in light of the whole book.

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Book Review: The Message of the Psalter: An Eschatological Programme in the Book of Psalms

The Message of the Psalter: An Eschatological Programme in the Book of Psalm (Journal for the Study of the Old Testament Supplement Series 252)The Message of the Psalter: An Eschatological Programme in the Book of Psalm by David C. Mitchell
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This is an interesting study. Mitchell endeavors to trace an eschatological program through the canonical psalms. He considers historical scholarship and more modern scholarship on the predictive nature of the Psalms. I would quibble with some things here and there and felt like at times he was stretching to prove his thesis. Overall, it is a helpful study.

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Book Review: The Psalms: Structure, Content, and Message

The Psalms: Structure, Content, and MessageThe Psalms: Structure, Content, and Message by Claus Westermann
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Pretty good book. There are some good nuggets scattered through this one. Westermann looks at the Psalms through ten content genres. His notes on structure and content were probably the most useful. At times he’s a little heavy on the canonical criticism and redaction theory.

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Book Review: The Psalter Reclaimed

The Psalter ReclaimedThe Psalter Reclaimed by Gordon J. Wenham
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is a helpful study. Wenham looks at the Psalms and discusses aspects of historical and traditional interpretation, canonical interpretation and criticism, the collection and arrangement of the Psalms, as well as psalmic intertextuality. In some cases he raises issues for investigation without fully committing. Overall, he upheld the eschatological, Messianic thrust of the Psalms. It was an informative and thought provoking study.

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Book Review: A Sweet and Bitter Providence: Sex, Race, and the Sovereignty of God

A Sweet and Bitter Providence: Sex, Race, and the Sovereignty of GodA Sweet and Bitter Providence: Sex, Race, and the Sovereignty of God by John Piper
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book goes through the book of Ruth chapter by chapter with a summary of practical application at the end. Piper blends theological and practical commentary while walking through the book. As you would expect, the book is very God-centered in interpretation and insightful in application.

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