The Word Became Fresh:
How to Preach from Old Testament Narrative Texts
by Dale Ralph Davis
Ross-shire: Mentor/Christian Focus, 2006
ISBN 184550192-6
by Peter F. Whyte, 24 Mar 2007
My immediate impression of this book as I read the opening pages was, here was a book that said little new. That is not a criticism, though for some books it would be. But Dale’s style is engaging and as fresh as the Word he seeks to expound. The truth is, most of us need to be reminded of the basics, for no matter how many times we’ve been taught them, we still forget.
Rarely does a preface end on such a wonderful note as this one. You do read prefaces, don't you? Many ignore them, but this one is well worth the read, not least for the concluding sentence, where he expresses gratitude to Alec Motyer, “who has always demonstrated that rigorous study and devotional warmth are amicable bedfellows.” High praise, but no exaggeration, and something all preachers do well to bear in mind and seek to emulate.
Rigorous study without devotional warmth will produce over-boiled cabbage week by week. Barely healthy, and no more exciting. Show me the man or woman who looks forward to such fare with anticipation. Excess of devotional warmth without rigorous study will surely feed the people with candy floss, with similarly damaging results to appetite and ability to chew more substantial fare.
We need Davis and Motyer, and that small, but select, band of similarly-minded expositors to remind us of the balance and to demonstrate its thrilling possibility by preaching as they have taught. That’s why we need not only to read books like this, but to listen to the men who wrote them. Thanks to the Internet, in Dale’s case we can do just that. So while I commend the book, I would also commend the select number of messages on Woodland PCA’s Web site. Some are full length treatments of what are only passing comments in the text of the book.
One thing I felt the book lacked was a Scripture index. Although many passages are commented on in passing, even Dale’s questions will be of help in preparing to preach from them. To rectify that omission I have made my own indexes available for those who would find them helpful. I’ve prepared one of the marvellous illustrations and stories he relates. Please let me know of any omissions or errors and I will rectify them.
Now, lest you think this is only a dry book of repetition, let me disabuse you of such an unworthy notion. While the principles Dale reminds us of may lack the razzmatazz of the latest fad, the insights he shares along the way by applying these principles far and wide through the OT have all the shock effect of 240 volts applied at frequent intervals.
Having listed to him preach a little before I started to read, I can just hear him get worked up as he puts across the stupendous truth that has evidently gripped his soul as he has contemplated this passage and that.
One thing I noticed throughout was Dale’s pointed turns of phrase. Commenting on Esther 6:1 he says “unseen divine fingers quietly propped open royal eyelids” (p. 27). Who but Dale could imagine “folks in Babylon may be singing, ’Praise Marduk, from whom all blessings flow’ (p. 23)?
“Surprises in Scripture usually conceal vital preaching points, which is why preachers should always keep their eyes peeled for biblical shocks” (p. 22). Preachers ought also to throw in that surprising turn of phrase—incongruous, mildly humorous, shocking—to back up vital preaching points and make them the more memorable. I have noticed this in other able expositors like Philip Ryken, Kent Hughes and David Gooding. Not that we should merely be clever with words, or appear pompous, but I have noticed that restrained and appropriate crafting of phrases encourages the listener or reader to learn and keep coming back to learn. Such a practice should not be dry and sterile, but provocatively warm, as Davis demonstrates in his comment on why Yahweh should call Abraham: “we are beyond the range of reason and awash in grace in this one” (p. 32).
Stimulating and positively bulging with footnotes as the text is, I found the footnotes exceptionally helpful. They are not extensive, but the breadth of reading is clear. Though there is no bibliography, the footnotes indicate the books Davis has found helpful. I was gratified to see a number of familiar friends, and I’ve added more than a few to my wish list.
I found chapter 5 on ’Nasties’ particularly helpful. I think I would still hesitate to preach on many of the texts unless I was intent on never being asked to preach ever again. But Davis does provide helpful insights into these difficult passages, and some searching questions to consider, as in his discussion of 2 Samuel 6 where he concludes by asking “I the Lord deficient in understanding kindness, or am I deficient in understanding holiness?” (p. 71)
Chapter 7 on Appropriation is an immensely stimulating chapter. I personally find application difficult. I’ve often wondered how legitimate it is to insist on specific application. Davis is more than forthright on the matter, declaring without hesitation that “a teacher who will not apply Scripture is practising abortion on the Bible” (p. 94). I must confess, I tip-toed past that statement with some trepidation. Would this chapter merely pile on guilt and make me give up any attempt at preaching ever again? Thankfully Davis doesn’t start the chapter in that vein. He relates Alexander Whyte’s encouragement to a Methodist minister—“Never think of giving up preaching!”
And as the chapter unfolds, Davis discusses a variety of ways in which application may be derived—what he calls the ‘handles’: procedural, conceptual, situational, judicial, and doxological. I suppose of the years attending seminars and workshops I’ve gained a mistaken impression that application ought to be practical. But Davis makes it clear that it need to be overtly so, in the sense that I ought to be pointing out actions to do or to refrain from as a result of the text. But, as Davis points out, reinforcement of right thinking, or correcting faulty conceptions is as much application as ‘do this’ or ‘don’t do that’: the conceptual handle. And so to is leading the saints to praise: the doxological handle. I’m sure I’ll still struggle with identifying application, but this chapter encouraged me to know that times when I felt I lacked application were in fact messages that had application. And as in precious chapters, the examples were so useful in making the points, and seeing a master at work. The book functions almost like a face-to-face workshop or masterclass.
If you think part four is only for pastors, think again. It might be aimed at pastors, but you will gain an insight into the pastoral ministry that will enable you to pray more intelligently for our pastor and others who serve in ministry. And if you teach in Sunday School, or lead in the youth work, or are involved in any aspect of ministry then you will also be helped directly from this section. We all need grace to win the daily battle, so this book will be a challenge and encouragement to “press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:14).
Read other reviews and recommendations of this book:
- Mark Barnes, at Ephesians 4:14 blog site, 20 Mar 2007.
- Ann Benton in Evangelicals Now, March 2007.
- Peter Mead, Biblical Preaching, 19 Sep 2008.
- David A. Thommen at Reformation Theology blog site, 15 Feb 2007.
