Exploring the Bible Commentary Collection (10 vols.)

Deuteronomy can seem rather formidable at first sight, but it is actually one of the most important books in the Old Testament. It consists almost entirely of words spoken by Moses to the people of Israel as they camp in the plains of Moab next to the river Jordan with the Promised Land awaiting them on the opposite bank. These are God’s people, whom he has taken into covenant with himself. Moses urges them to go forward by faith into the land that God has set before them. He tells them God’s laws and commandments for their new life in the land, weaving his instructions around the principles enshrined in the Ten Commandments.

In this commentary, Paul Brown demonstrates the sometimes surprising relevance of the regulations of Deuteronomy for the churches and the lives of Christian people today. But such relevance is only to be expected, for God is always the same and his Word, rightly understood, is profitable to lead us to his grace and to guide us in our living.

Joshua—what a book! It is a necessary bridge between the Law of Moses and the rest of Israel’s history, and it magnifies the faithfulness and power of God. Joshua is a very important book in the canon of Scripture, and this devotional commentary merits attention. It provides challenging and penetrating insights into Scripture. That in essence is its objective—to confront men and women with the necessity of integrity, purity and victory through obedience and faith.

The Book of Ruth is not the longest of the books of the Bible—it contains only four chapters of text. Yet its significance is immense. Ruth was a young woman from Moab, who came to be part of the covenant community of God’s people. Consequently, she is one of only a handful of women mentioned in the genealogy of Christ: she begins as a stranger to God’s people, and ends up as a mother of God’s Messiah.

This remarkable story is both an example and an illustration of how sinners like us can become partakers of God’s covenant salvation. In Ruth’s story, God’s grace worked in her life, bringing her from a place where she was far away from God, into an inheritance of covenant blessing. And just as she found her rest and satisfaction in her marriage to her redeemer, Boaz, so we find ours through union with the great Redeemer, the Lord Jesus Christ. Read the story of Ruth—and let the power of God’s amazing grace grip your soul!

Exploring Ezra challenges the complacency of contemporary Christian culture and calls for greater commitment to Christ’s commission. Creative in its presentation of solid Christian truths, Exploring Ezra shows the Old Testament book in a new light.

It is infused with a pastoral passion to see the truth of God’s Word understood and applied. As such, it is a book that helps to foster Christian growth and godliness. It traces the homecoming journey of God’s people, from bondage to blessing, under the leadership of one of Israel’s greatest historical heroes.

It treats a diverse range of Biblical and theological themes (including the sovereignty of God, the authority of Scripture and the centrality of preaching) in a fresh and forthright manner with a voice that is both authentic and authoritative. Reverent in handling Scripture, readable in style, and relevant in its message, this book is a thought-provoking, vivid work which establishes the author as a standard-bearer for the relevance of the ancient text in the contemporary context. The study questions make it a practical ministry tool for pastors, teachers, and church members who desire to go a little deeper.

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 marvelous providence. Studying it can deepen our trust, enrich our worship, and intensify our love for God. It will reassure us that though we may not always see him, he never loses 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.”

Approximately one hundred years after Jonah preached to the citizens of Nineveh to turn “from their evil ways” and escape imminent judgment, God commissioned Nahum to prophesy the city’s complete destruction. At the time, 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.

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?”

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. 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.

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 of 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 judgment 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.

As in the days of Haggai, excuses for apathy are shamelessly voiced, blind eyes are turned to the judgments 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, 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.

How relevant is 1 & 2 Thessalonians for Christians today? These are letters written over 2,000 years ago and which are among Paul’s earliest writings—can they be relevant? In this thorough, yet easy-to-read commentary, Stanley Jebb reveals their timeless pastoral and practical application. We see Paul’s deep concern for believers and find important instructions about how we should live—instructions which are as relevant today as they were when they first written. We also learn about the events that will take place at the second coming of Jesus Christ. Read this book and discover just how applicable these letters are to your church and to your daily life.