Book Review: Job - Word Biblical Commentary 18B by David Clines

Professor David Clines, Emeritus Professor of Biblical Studies at the University of Sheffield completes his massive commentary on Job with this tome.  In the volume, Clines examines Job 38-42, Yahweh’s response to Job and Job’s replies.  He brings his expertise in Hebrew literature to bear as he illuminates this last portion of text and the format of the Word Biblical Commentary series provides him the space to explore some difficult sections and deal with them thoroughly. 

As with other volumes from the series, the text is divided into appropriate sections of study.  Each section opens with a specific bibliography that is followed by the author’s personal translation of the original language. Subsequent to the bibliography and translation, are two sections in which the author deals with specific textual notes and issues of form and structure. These can be a bit technical but it is great for experiencing the intricacies of the Hebrew text.  After spending some time specifically with the language and writing style, Clines moves into the Comment section. Here is where you find the running verse-by-verse commentary on Job.  Yet, to his credit, Clines does not immediately move into verse-by-verse but rather deals with the section in smaller subsections to help the reader see the movement of the passage.  Finally, comes the Explanation section where Clines sums up the work he’s been doing.  If you find yourself pressed for time, this is a great place to start – you’ll get the flow of what he’s saying and it may alert you to things you’d like to go back and study further.

The sections Clines identifies here (in agreement with almost every other commentator on Job) are: 1) Yahweh’s first speech, 2) Job’s response, 3) Yahweh’s second speech, 4) Job’s response, 5) Epilogue.  He argues (in his previous volume, Job 21-37, and mentioned in this volume) for a rearranged order of the speeches prior to this section.  He argues that Elihu’s speech in chapters 32-37 should originally came before Job’s final speech in 29-31 (p. 1088), so that when the LORD asks “Who is this…” it is in reference to Job’s demand for answers.  Reading along as Clines analyzes the speech-response pattern of the book is delightful.  One almost cannot help but be filled with greater reverence for our incredibly powerful and very personal God.

Fully the last half of this volume is an extensive bibliography of possibly every written work on the book of Job as well as specific items addressed within it.  Clines analyzes literature from the patristic fathers all the way up to the 21^st century.  He also includes works on Job in music, dance and drama.  It’s an incredible list.

WBC is a technical commentary series and Clines certainly rises to those expectations.  He does a great job of mining the riches of the language and presenting the gems of his work.  He cites Biblical and extra-biblical literature in defense of his linguistic work.  But he also does a nice job of (as my professor says) putting some of the cookies on the bottom shelf.  It wouldn’t be the first choice of commentary for a lay-person, but they would not come away from it empty-handed.

Book Review: 100 Read & Sing Devotions by Stephen Elkins

It is said, you must know something really well to explain it really simply.  Now, while not everything can be explained simply, I believe this holds quite a bit of truth.  That has been a bit of a convicting challenge to me lately.  As I study Scripture and theology more and more, I’m excited about the things I am learning.  But when faced with the question of how I explain this to my children, I admit, I’m a bit stumped.  That’s why I’m excited to see tools for helping children grasp some of these concepts (which, quite frankly, sometimes mommies and daddies are still struggling to grasp). 

100 Read & Sing Devotions by Stephen Elkins is one such tool we’ve recently discovered.  As you may astutely surmise, there are 100 short devotionals with colorful illustration and a corresponding song on one of the two CDs that come with the book.  Often the write up will give a quick (one or two paragraph) summary of a Bible story.  Other times it uses some type of object lesson to teach a theological or moral truth.  There’s a Bible verse (often ripped out of context … but I’ll let that go for now), a prayer that’s just a couple of lines and the reference to the song for that day.

Speaking of the songs, let’s turn our attention to the CD.  It’s what you might expect here - Sunday school type songs sung by little children.  It’s the type of CD that makes parents shudder on long car trips.  However, the truer review comes when I walk into the living room to see my daughter dancing around with a huge smile beaming on her face.  Or when I hear my son singing these songs and realize that some of them are teaching him Bible verses.  That’s worth a little “ow, my ears.”

All said, this is not the greatest spiritual tool for children, but I’ve certainly seen worse.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com <http://BookSneeze®.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

God's Faithfulness through Medical Trials

It’s kind of humorous when a new doctor asks us for our children’s medical history at our first visit; it’s quite extensive.  Here’s a brief rundown.

Caleb was born March 1, 2004 with a large omphalocele that ruptured during delivery thereby making it a giant omphalocele. What is an omphalocele you ask? It is an abdominal wall defect where some abdominal organs develop outside of the body in a sac. Usually it’s taken care of with immediate surgery, but Caleb had other issues to factor in. He was also born with two heart defects, small lungs and the possibility of having a genetic disorder that increases his risk of cancer significantly.  Since he was born breathing on his own (not expected in his circumstance) they wanted to postpone surgery and wrapped the sac in bandages instead.  After 5 weeks, we left the NICU to take our baby home with dressing changes twice a day, oxygen to help him breathe easier, an apnea monitor and a feeding tube that went through his nose to his stomach and a plan to wait 2-3 years to perform reparation surgery.  God had other plans.  While at a routine check up with the surgeon, Caleb’s sac ruptured right there on the doctor’s table.  We thought our 13-week-old baby was dying right in front of us.  Within 30 minutes he was in the Operating Room for the first of 8 surgeries, 5 of them in the next 2 weeks, to repair his tummy.  That next 5 weeks included serious shock, organ failure, a lot of doctors shaking their heads and much love and support from our church family.  When we left the hospital the second time as a family, it was with our 3 month old needing a feeding tube, oxygen, a central line to give him medicine straight to his heart and more dressing changes and methadone to wean him from heavy dose narcotics.

Since then Caleb has had 3 surgeries to repair his tummy, many ultrasounds to check for tumors as well as many tests on his heart to make sure the issues are not causing problems.  Today he looks like a normal boy (unless he lets you see his tummy). He was diagnosed with ADHD and an anxiety disorder about a year and a half ago. While there are no studies on what large doses or narcotics do to a baby’s development when exposed post-natal, we can’t help but wonder if the behavior issues are caused by his addiction. He still requires to be seen by a surgeon.

That’s our oldest. 

Our youngest, Josiah, was born with bilateral clubbed feet (his legs were straight but the feet turned in at the ankles – his toes were pointed right at each other).  While we began a long series of  treatments to correct this (and correct it, they did – you should see him run), we noticed that he was eating poorly and wouldn’t keep much down.  We checked with several specialists.  During an ultrasound, they found gall stones in our 3-month-old baby.  They also noticed that something wasn’t right with his kidneys.  Josiah has horseshoe kidneys; essentially the two kidneys are fused together as one.  There was also an obstruction at the UPJ – the point where the urethra leads out from the kidney which was causing some hydronephrosis.  This is particularly dangerous for Josiah because of the horseshoe kidneys.  On someone with normal kidneys, if one fails, they can live with the other – in Josiah’s case, if one side fails, the other will soon follow.  He’s had 4 surgeries in his almost 3 years including the removal of his gall bladder and 2 recently on the kidney.  He still sees a nephrologist and urologist; he requires ultrasounds every 3-6 months to monitor kidney function and check for cancer (he has a 62% chance of developing kidney cancer) as well as a more invasive MAG-3 scan this fall.

Some may say that our kids have probably had more than their share of medical trials.  Yet God has always been faithful to provide the support to bear us up under such circumstances.  We know He is sovereignly in control – He has never failed us and never will.

Book Review: Has God Spoken? by Hank Hanegraaff

In Has God Spoken?, Hank Hanegraaff, “the Bible Answer Man” turns his attention toward the attacks on the reliability of Scripture.  He does so through catchy (if sometimes forced) alliteration and acronym-filled arguments while sprinkling in the occasional pop culture reference, possibly to lighten the mood from what he fears may be getting too academic (though I obviously can’t predict his reasoning).

Hanegraaff opens the book by stating the problem of popular attacks on Biblical inerrancy, specifically citing Barak (Obama), Bart (Ehrman) and Bill (Maher) among a “procession of political pundits, professors, and public personalities” that call into question its reliability.  (I told you he liked alliteration.)

Having established the attacks, Hanegraaff proceeds to answer some key questions while providing evidence, utilizing the tool of acronyms for memory purposes.  He offers MAPS to follow in this debate - Manuscripts, Archeology, Prophecy and Scripture.  These main headings he breaks down further.  I’ll discuss them briefly.

Manuscript COPIES – Copyist practices, Oral culture, Papyrus and parchments, Internal evidence, External evidence and Science of textual criticism.  In this section, Hanegraaff offers a look into the stringent practices of historical copyists of Scripture while examining the impressive precision of oral tradition in cultures that thrived upon it.  He also points out the many pieces of manuscripts and early dates of them while marveling at the harmony within Scripture and historians’ support of what Scripture says. 

Archeologist’s SPADE – Steles and stones, Pools and fools, Assyrian archeology, Dead Sea Scrolls and Epic of Gilgamesh.  Hanegraaff points out that other religious writings, the Book of Mormon for instance, make many claims about places and events that simply cannot be backed up archeologically.  The Bible stands in stark contrast.  Many of its places have been excavated and archeology is time and again revealing that Scripture is accurate in what it says.

Prophetic STARS – Succession of nations, Typological prophecy, Abomination of desolation, Resurrection prophecy, Superstar ABCs.  Pointing to various prophecies and their fulfillments, Hanegraaff highlights the impressive track record of Scripture.  From the notable progression of national powers offered in the book of Daniel to specific prophecies regarding the Messiah, he lays out events that could not happen simply by coincidence.

Scriptural LIGHTS – Literal principle, Illumination principle, Grammatical principle, Historical principle, Typology principle and Synergy principle.  Having used Manuscript Copies, Archeologist’s Spade and Prophetic Stars to illuminate the reliability of Scripture, Hanegraaff focuses this last chapter on ways in which one may read and study Scripture well – interpreting it accurately and applying it faithfully.

For a layman, this book is a good starting point.  It will bolster your assurance in the reliability of Scripture, offering sound reason for believing the truth that is found in the pages of your Bible.  However, it falls short in what seems to be Hanegraaff’s main claim, to provide a sound, academic defense of inerrancy.  Before you stone me as a heretic, let me explain.  He repeatedly alludes to Bart Ehrman, a notable professor who writes and teaches against the accuracy of Scripture.  Hanegraaff also uses some very technical terms for textual criticism, terms which he uses incorrectly and which are very familiar to Ehrman (and any other textual critic regardless of whether they side for or against inerrancy).  If Hanegraaff were to enter into an academic debate with Ehrman using the material he presents here, he’d be torn to shreds.  That said, if you’re looking for an academic discussion, this is not the book you’ll choose, for the casual reader concerned about the reliability of their Bible, this is  a great place to start.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com <http://BookSneeze®.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 

Free Literature

I was perusing Christian Book Distributers for some bargain-priced books.  [Yes, even faithful bookcenter employees seek out books from other sources sometimes.]  As I was looking at volumes of Philip Schaff's church history set, I noticed that they also sell e-books (an endeavor of CBD to keep up with the changing book market).  For the low price of $2.39 (or somewhere around there), they will gladly sell you an electronic version each of these volumes, saying below the price "Christian Classics Ethereal Library / 2010 / ePub."


Ah, there it is - Christian Classics Ethereal Library.  This is a website I found a few years, that offers public domain Christian literature at no cost.  Calvin, Bunyan, Owen, Edwards, Schaff - all sorts of wonderful classics.  Their well-priced e-book came to them FREE (as it can to you) from www.ccel.org.  


Boo, CBD, says I.

Book Review: Why God Won't Go Away by Alister McGrath

Alister McGrath is one of the finest theological and apologetic minds of this generation, holding the chair of theology, ministry and education at King’s College in London. McGrath, a former atheist himself, has a keen interest in discussing questions of faith with atheists - hearing their objections and demonstrating the reason behind his beliefs. He has frequently debated leading atheists in public forums.

In his new book, Why God Won’t Go Away, McGrath turns his intellect and insight toward the movement known as New Atheism (a specific movement that goes beyond a simple denial of the existence of God to the nearly militant destruction of such a view), revealing it as “a hopelessly simplistic view that cannot be sustained in the light of subsequent scholarly research” (page 6). That is one of the beauties of this author – he is a Christian and a scholar, when much of modern media and general public opinion would suggest one could be one or the other.

By way of introducing “the four horsemen” of New Atheism, McGrath traces a very brief history of the movement highlighting some key figures and literature.  This sets the scene for the quick and militant rise of the New Atheist movement which followed the devastating terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, which key spokesmen within the movement used as an example of the irrational and violent end to which any and all religion leads. McGrath then uses this backdrop provide a brief summary and critical analysis of the writings of the four most popular authors of New Atheism – Sam Harris, Richard Dawkins, Daniel Dennett and Christopher Hitchins.  He offers scientific and philosophical views of their work and positions.

Having addressed the key proponents of the movement specifically, McGrath then turns to the chief arguments they bring against faith – namely, 1) religion leads to violence, 2) reason shows belief in God to be irrational and 3) science should be the main (or perhaps only) determining factor of truth.

After effectively walking the reader through these arguments and handily refuting them, McGrath gives a final look at where New Atheism goes from here. Before closing the book, he provides 3.5 pages of selections for further reading on New Atheism, atheism and criticisms of and response to New Atheism from both Christian and secular viewpoints.

This was a fantastic read.  It is a short book, one that can be run through quickly while providing a great overview and analysis of the movement, key arguments against it and an arsenal of resources for further study.  I highly recommend this book.

Book Review: The Sacred Journey by Charles Foster

Charles Foster brings a fresh look to an all but forgotten discipline in The Sacred Journey.  Mainline Christianity does not practice or, for the most part, even talk about pilgrimages anymore – a truth that Foster finds reprehensible and saddening.  In this installment, the last of eight, to The Ancient Practices Series, he explores Biblical support for pilgrimages, working through the narrative and highlighting favored wanderers, as well as looking at what a pilgrim may expect along their journey and interacting with some of the key opponents to the discipline.  Along the way, this work is riddled with portions of accounts from those who have made such pilgrimages.

Unlike my experience with several other volumes from this series, The Sacred Journey often recounts passages or directly cites the Bible (a trait that was sadly deficient in others). Regarding Biblical support, Foster sets out to “articulate a theology of pilgrimage” (xiii).  In an overly simplified form, it goes something like this: traveling is fundamental to the way we are designed which can be nicely laced into the discussion of imago Dei – we’re created in God’s image and so in our journeys, we encounter “the King himself, inveterate walker that he is” (163).  Foster then flies through Biblical narrative, stopping to highlight some specific sojourners as well as categoric wanderers.  He begins this discussion in Genesis by considering Cain (the farmer tied to his land) and Abel (the shepherd always on the move).  He moves on through the wanderings of Israel and all that they learn of God through them, even highlighting the pilgrimage inherent in keeping several of the commanded feasts.  Foster proceeds into the New Testament, citing Jesus’ words (“follow me” Matt 9:9; “foxes have holes …” Matt 8:20) and affinity for the outsiders, the rejected wanderers.

Foster urges us to embark on pilgrimage to get rid of old rubbish to which we so tightly cling as well as to gain something new.  He points out that, for the Christian, pilgrimage is more about the journey than the destination.  It is the journey that forces us to leave comforts behind, to shed preconceived notions, to embrace the provision of God and see Him anew.  The trials, walking long miles, enduring rain or heat, accepting company and aid from fellow travelers and being the same to them - all of these help us to learn important things about ourselves and about God.  Foster argues that pilgrimage, with its strain on the body, is the perfect antidote for the gnostic mentality that still rears its head today.

In her forward to the book, Phyllis Tickle (general editor of the series) says, “every one of you who reads this book will find at least one thing you totally disagree with and a whole handful of those you want to question.  Please do so” (xii).  This certainly holds true.  Foster unapologetically draws from pilgrimage literature and accounts from many faiths, including Hindu, Buddhist and Muslim.  Inviting travelers to the outskirts, he refers to God as a “hippie.”  At times his view drifts heavily toward mysticism and seems to flirt with universalism.  However, when he ventures onto shaky terrain, Foster usually regrounds himself in orthodox confession – perhaps this too is an example of pilgrimage.

All considered, this was an excellent read.  It was a joy to consider the ideas Foster presented and to continue to ruminate on them, evaluating how each day could be offered as a pilgrimage seeking God.  As to whether I’ll ever physically embark on a proper pilgrimage, I don’t know.  Where, when, how?  According to Foster, these aren’t the most important considerations.  He offers this pithy maxim, “wherever you go, go” (135).

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com <http://BookSneeze®.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255