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Joshua – what a book!

It is a necessary bridge between the Law of Moses and the rest of Israel’s history. It magnifies the faithfulness and power of God.

It runs from the epic crossing of the Jordan to the final conquest of the land, this being seen as a vivid and graphic picture of claiming our rich inheritance in Christ. It shows that they could only get into the land of victory and fullness through crossing Jordan, the ‘river of death’, this being a picture of our dying with Christ and rising with him to a new and abundant resurrection life. It reveals the reasons for their failures and shows obedience and faith to be the basis for their victories.

Joshua is a very important book in the canon of Scripture and this devotional commentary merits your attention. It will challenge you with penetrating insights into Scripture and into your own heart. That in essence is its objective to confront men and women with the necessity of integrity, purity and victory through obedience and faith.

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Nahum

Approximately one hundred years after Jonah preached to the citizens of Nineveh to turn ‘from their evil ways’ and escape imminent judgement, God commissioned Nahum to prophesy the city’s complete destruction. At the time of his ‘burden’, the Assyrian Empire was both strong and wealthy, yet Nahum prophesied that soon the entire kingdom would be crushed forever under the power of God’s wrath.

From the opening sentence: ‘The LORD is a jealous and avenging God filled with wrath’ to the poignant conclusion: ‘Nothing can heal your wound; your injury is fatal’, the fury, the omnipotence, the righteousness, the faithfulness of God are strikingly portrayed. Nineveh will fall, not because of the might of other nations, but because the Holy One of Israel ‘takes vengeance on his foes’.

Obadiah

Obadiah’s prophecy unveils God’s sovereignty over all nations and events, and gives an example of his direct intervention in the political and military affairs of human history. The Sovereign LORD does as he pleases with the powers of heaven and the peoples of the earth. No one can hold back his hand or say to him: ‘What have you done?’

It is the God of history who summons and equips the nations to destroy the Edomites for their arrogance and violence against their brother Jacob. It is the Judge and Ruler of mankind who gives the Edomites no hope of salvation. It is ‘the great King over all the earth’ who, in accordance with his everlasting covenant, delivers the house of Jacob from their enemies and reunites them with their northern brothers.

Both prophecies are a revelation of God’s character and his moral government of the world – a revelation that contains a message of hope, comfort and encouragement for every Christian: ‘THE LORD REIGNS FOR EVER’! It matters not how many nations oppose his rule or oppress his people; it makes no difference how many spiritual forces of evil ally themselves for his dethronement, for the Lord’s purposes will prevail. All that he has promised will be fulfilled. He is in control. His dominion is an eternal dominion

An excellent verse by verse (almost word by word) commentary, based on NIV. Helpfully trustworthy. – Clifford Pond (Evangelicals Now)

A useful guide. This volume is certainly recommended for those preparing messages and for Bible students. The format of the book and the easy style of Mr Shenton’s writing make it readable and accessible to anyone wanting to understand this less-well known Old Testament book. – Martin Leech (Grace Magazine)

It is said that ‘the best things come in small packages’ and certainly the book of Obadiah bears that out. Weighing in at just twenty-one verses, it is packed full with good things: rich theology, powerful imagery, unsettling challenges to our thinking and living, and huge promise for the triumph of God’s purposes. Obadiah uses key biblical themes such as mountains and brothers, the kingdom of God and the day of the Lord; he challenges his hearers and readers by what he says about malice, pride and complacency; he encourages God’s people with the promise of their sure inheritance; and he raises wider matters of justice, spiritual warfare and the international spread of the kingdom of God. Furthermore, like all the prophets, Obadiah over and over points us to the kindness and justice of the Lord Jesus Christ and to the greatness of what he has done for us.

Why does a righteous and sovereign God tolerate wrongdoing? How are the divine attributes reconciled with the triumph of the godless? Why do the wicked prosper and rule over the righteous? Why does God raise up ‘ruthless and impetuous’ nations to execute judgement on his own people? These are some of the questions that perplexed Habakkuk, challenged his faith and caused him to question God’s government of the world. And these are some of the questions that still perplex Christians today. Tim Shenton helpfully addresses these points in a clear and substantial exposition of the text of Habakkuk.

I’m very glad this concise gem is on my shelf – it aims to explain each verse of the much-neglected book of Habakkuk and succeeds with superb clarity. This book would prove useful to most readers, since it lends itself to being used as a succinct, non-technical reference to the meaning of this unusual dialogue between God and his puzzled prophet. The author makes many salient links with the rest of Scripture, and excels in opening our eyes to the pictures being painted by the rich word-imagery. Look here for a commentary that combines great brevity with attention to each verse. The message of a just and sovereign God who will ‘in wrath remember mercy’ rings loud and clear, and will bring comfort and strength to many. – Ben Epps (Evangelical Times)

It is an interesting, informative and well written commentary. – Peter Murcott

Genesis comes first in the biblical canon and arguably forms the foundation for understanding the rest of the Bible. Its great narratives of the patriarchs and exciting stories capture the imagination of the youngest reader, and its great themes, like Creation, the Fall and the Flood, help answer many questions. Important issues are all dealt with ably but this is not a technical commentary; the author’s main concern is with the spiritual purpose of the book, and he draws out those profound truths which still apply to God’s people today.

Author Peter Williams accepts that Job was a historical figure who faced up to real problems about his own suffering, about God’s Justice and Government, and about the malignancy of evil in the world. Job is probably one of the world’s oldest books and certainly not the easiest to understand, but it conveys some very powerful lessons for today. The author believes that we would greatly benefit by learning from this great man something of the meaning of victory over personal affliction, and the triumph of true faith in Almighty God.

An easy to read guide to the main teaching and events of Ezra. Short chapters make use of alliteration and other catchy stylistic devices to make the key points of the book easily memorable. It traces the homecoming journey of God’s people from bondage to blessing under the leadership of one of Israel’s greatest historical heroes. In a fresh and forthright manner, it treats a diverse range of biblical and theological themes, including the sovereignty of God, the authority of Scripture, and the centrality of Scripture.

The study of the providence of God is both exciting and profitable: it thrills our hearts as we see the wisdom and power of our Heavenly Father; it strengthens our resolve as we marvel at the sufficiency of his grace; and it brings comfort when we do not understand what is happening to us or around us. Esther is all about that marvellous providence. Studying it can deepen our trust, enrich our worship, and intensify our love for our great God. It will reassure us that though we may not always see him, he never looses sight of us. The history of Esther is one of the clearest examples of Paul’s great assertion in Romans 8:28: ‘We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him.’

A selfish disregard for the purpose of God is all too common among Christian people who live in ‘panelled houses’ while God’s house ‘remains a ruin’. As in the days of Haggai, excuses for apathy are shamelessly voiced, blind eyes are turned to the judgements of God, and defiled hearts sink into unfaithfulness. And yet the LORD Almighty remains faithful to his people and true to his word. Through repeated trials he calls the backslider to repentance, with timely encouragements and gracious promises he strengthens the downhearted, and for his own glory he transforms the sins of neglect and ignorance into the servants of his purpose.
With urgency the prophet condemns the wickedness of waiting for the ‘right’ time when duty calls today, and of lamenting the past desiring an experience today similar to that of yesterday. And he warns of the grave peril of expecting immediate material results. It is a message that must be taken seriously by the twenty-first century church.

A helpful book. – John Benton (Evangelicals Now)

A useful guide. This volume is certainly recommended for those preparing messages and for Bible students. The format of the book and the easy style of Mr Shenton’s writing make it readable and accessible to anyone wanting to understand this less-well known Old Testament book. – Martin Leech (Grace Magazine)

This volume is a fresh—and refreshing—exploration of the theme of joy from the Old Testament book of Ecclesiastes. Contrary to typical approaches which treat Ecclesiastes as a book of despair, this study brings out its message about robust joy that perseveres despite life’s vanities. Structured as a devotional commentary, this book will prove edifying for personal or small-group Bible study. It will also be valuable for youth-group leaders mentoring young people through the dilemmas of post modernity, and for pastors preparing to preach from Ecclesiastes.
Commendations
‘As a first-rate pastor theologian, Michael leads us through this hard–to-understand book with both scholarly heft and pastoral verve. This is devotional Commentary writing at its best! I highly recommend it to pastors and preachers, students and scholars alike!’
Dr Todd Wilson, Senior Pastor of Calvary Memorial Church, Oak Park, Illinois, and Chairman of the Board for the Center for Pastor Theologians
‘Highly recommended!’
Dr Joel R. Beeke, President, Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary, Grand Rapids, Michigan