| 10+ copies | 30% off | £8.40 each |
Discounts applied automatically in your basket.
'First Kings covers such a swath of history, in royal time, from the death of David to the death of Ahab, or in prophetic time from Nathan to Micaiah, blending together royal records, detailed descriptions, repetitive formulas, and tense narratives in the whole effort. I try to avoid both being aridly historical and sentimentally devotional. As with my previous commentaries, I seek to grasp the theological nerve of the text and cast it in an expositiory form, without being allergic to application.' Dale Ralph Davis
Part of The Good Book Company's Commentary List, this commentary has been selected because it not only deals faithfully and carefully with God's Word but is readable, practical and accessible as well.
... The joy for all who would turn to these pages is ...simply that they bring Old Testament history out of Israel's past and into the church's present in a most distinctive manner. They are bound to refresh, enthuse, solemnize and bless.
The Banner of Truth Magazine
... The author has a clear grasp of both the text and of contemporary scholarship, yet presents a commentary which is not only readable but witty, and share in application. The commentary chapters are each little sermons, with headings ready-made. The section on Jeroboam's golden calves is entitled "Bootleg Religion" and its three headings are: The Need for False Religion, The Subtlety of False Religion, The Stupidity of False Religion. It is almost too tempting for the preacher to follow this pattern rather than preach his own sermon! But these books should not be restricted only to preachers. They are very helpful commentaries for the general reader and for devotional use.
Reformation Today
... Dale Ralph Davis has provided yet another fine exposition of an Old Testament Book (he has previously published expositions of Joshua, Judges, 1 Samuel and 2 Samuel with the same publisher)....
It is apparent that Davis is well informed in the scholarly discussion of First Kings, but his purpose is not to display his learning. Rather, based on a full awareness of the issues in the text, he seeks to expound the text properly incorporating some illustrations and application.
In this way Davis provides a model for preaching from First Kings - a task which often appears quite daunting. On the one hand he does not get bogged down in details failing to get to what God is actually saying in the text and what we are to do about it. On the other hand he shows that carefully reading the text is necessary in order to grasp what God is saying rather than reading in whatever we want to find. I especially appreciate his sensitivity to structure and flow of thought as well as his careful connections across the covenants.
I think pastors will find this volume very helpful in the task of preaching.
The Founders Journal
... It is all very readable, clear and not inaccessibly transatlantic. There are a subject index, a persons index, and a Bible persons index. Refreshing and recommended.
The Churchman Journal
"The well-known episodes in the life of Elijah are handled with skill and spiritual insight. I cannot recall a Bible exposition more lucidly applying the truth set forth to my heart. It is difficult within the brief compass of this review to do full justice to this excellent book. I can only advise the reader to waste no time in acquiring it."
Evangelical Times
Combine an excellent understanding of Hebrew, a comprehensive knowledge of old testament critical views, a deep pastoral concern, a desire to let the text speak for itself, and a keen desire to apply the Bible to life. That’s what you have, and more in this book. The author's illustrations will be too North American and war based for everyone's taste, but that is a minor drawback. What I admire the most about the author is his bold application and his care to make sure we don't wriggle of the old testament hook by pleading that we are new testament fish.
...I found the Elijah and Ahab passages challenging, his treatment of Elijah's depression post Mount Carmel is different but powerfully argued. These series of passages made me want to preach them myself, which since I don't preach is quite amazing!
I would recommend this book to anyone. I used it as a daily devotion. It would be a useful tool in a preacher's toolbox.
