As a pastor I spend most of my money on books I want to read and reference. But I'm always on the lookout for solid books that are geared for those without a theological education. It's too rare to find a book that can be of significant value for both, like Jesus On Every Page (book website). This is a helpful resource.
Dr. David Murray is a growing voice in evangelicalism, and I'm glad to see it. You can read him at Head Heart Hand blog. More...
Dr. David Murray, president of HeadHeartHand, is the Professor of Old Testament and Practical Theology at Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary. He live in Grand Rapids with his wife, Shona, and four children.
You might also know Dr. Murray from his books How Sermons Work and Christians Get Depressed Too or the Connected Kingdom podcast along with Tim Challies.
At just about 200 pages (plus study questions, and the very helpful Scripture and Subject indexes) Dr. Murray gives us an accessible and simple book on seeing Jesus in the pages of the Old Testament. I very much enjoyed the first four chapters where Murray explains how he went from someone who saw the Old Testament as a bit of an embarrassment who used the New Testament to bring contrast and relief to discovering Jesus everywhere in the OT. He talks about finding direction to read the OT this way from Jesus, Peter, Paul and John in the New Testament. I think there are many in our churches who need to take this journey with Dr. Murray.
As a pastor who preaches from the Old Testament somewhat regularly, I recognized myself in David's journey as well. In some ways I still struggle. I feel a lot better about preaching from the New Testament than the Old. I need this reminder too. David quotes a gem from Gleason Archer, a wonderful and eye-opening statement:
How can Christian pastors hope to feed their flock on a well-balanced spiritual diet if they completely neglect the 39 books of Holy Scripture on which Jesus and all the New Testament authors received their own spiritual nourishment?
Provocative. I'm encouraged to dig in and help my people dig in to the OT. Here's the outline of the main section of the book. Murray gives us 10 ways we can find Jesus in the Old Testament:
- Christ's Planet (Jesus in Creation)
- Christ's People (Jesus in OT Characters)
- Christ's Presence (Jesus in OT Appearances)
- Christ's Precepts (Jesus in OT Law)
- Christ's Past (Jesus in OT History)
- Christ's Prophets
- Christ's Pictures (Jesus in OT Types)
- Christ's Promises (Jesus in OT Covenants)
- Christ's Proverbs
- Christ's Poets
Throughout these chapters you find an abundance of insights, lists, points, word pictures, etc. He covers the OT broadly, but in more detail than you might think. You don't make your way through these chapters thinking that Dr. Murray is a top-notch scholar, though he obviously is. You read realizing Dr. Murray is speaking of the King and Savior he knows deeply and devotionally. And reading Jesus On Every Page should be a devotional experience for the reader.
Tim Challies explains this book well by writing that David Murray "focuses less on the stories and more on the story; less on the heroes and more on the Hero." If you want an introduction to each book of the Old Testament, a theology of the Old Testament, or something else, you need to look elsewhere for other excellent books. The real strengths of this book are its big picture view of the Old Testament and the accessibility of this book for all Christians and not just scholars or pastors.
Another way to look at Jesus On Every Page is as an introduction to Christology. It's not quite marketed that way, but it works. It works well. It's will serve as an introduction to Jesus in a way many haven't seen. Good on Dr. Murray for offering it to us.
I recommend Jesus On Every Page. The cover alone made me want the book! And the content was just what I hoped it would be. How many of our people will have so much of Scripture "unlocked" beyond the moralistic OT teaching they've heard or the assumptions they have of the OT through this book? Get your copy, and give some away. It's a resource I'm glad to keep on my shelf for future reference and to encourage my church to pick up. Here's where you can get yours: Amazon | Kindle | WTS.
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I'm also offering a free copy of Jesus On Every Page to my readers. Simple.
1. Tweet or share on Facebook --> Check out the new book from David Murray, Jesus On Every Page http://bit.ly/Xeverypg <-- and then...
2. Comment below (be sure to input your real name and email so I can notify a winner) with your favorite OT book and why (keep it short). I'll use random.org to choose a winner from the comments below after the weekend.
Preparing to preach through Genesis soon! If I don't win I'll have to look into getting this... Thanks for sharing.
Posted by: Allen Nelson | 08/30/2013 at 04:14 PM
I did tweet this and did like this on facebook and share this on facebook too. I did post this on Google +. I do hope to win this.
Hungry for His Word,
Marguerite ('Guerite) Harrell
Posted by: Marguerite Harrell | 08/30/2013 at 04:18 PM
Psalms has got to be my favorite. Healing, hope, and rich images of Christ.
Posted by: Ray Raley | 08/30/2013 at 04:29 PM
Thanks, Steve. This means a lot to me.
Posted by: David Murray | 08/31/2013 at 11:46 AM
Jeff Miller
Tweeted and facebooked
Posted by: Jeff Miller | 08/31/2013 at 11:55 AM
Tweeted and FB. Hosea = story of redemption/gospel in every chapter.
Posted by: Doug Tegner | 08/31/2013 at 12:18 PM
My name is Renee and my favorite book of the OT is Ruth. This is because I love the story of the kinsman redeemer and the imagery of Christ therein.
Posted by: Renee Bates | 09/03/2013 at 09:53 AM
Tweet and FB! Favorite book right now is Hosea. Redemption at its finest. Psalms is a close second.
Sarah Vaughn
[email protected]
Posted by: Sarah Vaughn | 09/03/2013 at 09:55 AM
Shared via Twitter. Walking through the gift of freedom through grace in Isaiah right now and loving it.
Posted by: Tony Gerber | 09/03/2013 at 10:02 AM
I love Ruth. Portrait of Jesus and the neef for kinsman-redeemer.
Posted by: Paul Holcombe | 09/03/2013 at 10:09 AM
favorite OT book is Isaiah. it's a Christological smorgasbord.
Posted by: scott | 09/03/2013 at 10:48 AM
Jonah. Why? Jesus is all over that book and as I read Jonah and get all self-righteous and think I would have obeyed God and not ran away I realize - I AM JONAH!
Posted by: Ty Neal | 09/03/2013 at 04:32 PM
Can i claim the Psalter? The honesty is an encouraging reminder that I don't have to be perfect.
Otherwise, Isaiah. Such a wondrous book. Moves me to worship.
Posted by: NickHorton | 09/03/2013 at 04:40 PM
Favorite OT book is definitely Isaiah. His prophetic ministry of the Savior is rich.
Posted by: Corey Sosebee | 09/03/2013 at 05:06 PM
Psalms. Runs the spectrum of topics and theology.
Posted by: Jason Gray | 09/03/2013 at 06:16 PM
The winner is Doug Tegner! Congrats Doug! Thanks all for entering.
Posted by: Steve McCoy | 09/04/2013 at 08:16 AM