Interpreting
the Wisdom Books: An Exegetical Handbook by Edward Custis
Among the many wonderful books on the OT wisdom
literature, this fine new book helps the reader interpret, exegete, and apply
God’s Word to his people in succinct and helpful way. The book is laid out nicely with bolded words
that emphasize necessary themes in the study of the wisdom books and short
chapters that get to the point of the biblical books. This series of exegetical handbooks is a
great treasure for students and pastors because it synthesizes much of the
academic work on a biblical book into digestable portions helpful
for preaching
and teaching.
The opening chapter on the wisdom books brings out a
helpful grid for understanding wisdom literature. Custis writes, “Biblical wisdom, in contrast
to Israel’s neighbors, reflects “Yahwistic theology” through its regular use of
terms like “fear of the Lord,” its affirmation of God’s providence, and its
recognition that wisdom ultimately comes from God.” (27) This is important because wisdom generated
from humankind may seem at times like the ideal to be sought, but the biblical
writers do not begin there, they start with the divine foundation of
wisdom. Effective knowledge of God puts
mankind on the right front with God and with dealing with all of Israel’s
trials, temptations, and joys.
Custis offers the reader a fully orbed understanding of
Job that helps us understand intense human suffering. He writes, “They supposed that his words
reflected his folly and bad theology, but Job argued that his words were simply
cries of pain. He said that what a
person in such a position needs from a friend in pain is not theological
arguments but kindness and compassion.” (61)
This insightful statement begs the reader to see Job’s please before God
as tinged with pain yet with an honest attempt to deal with calamity and strife
in his personal life.
The chapters that follow in the book are chalk full of
good interpretive ideas about the wisdom literature and point us not to the
wanderings of a fallen nation but to the God who redeems his people from all
sin.
Thanks to Kregel Academic for this work in exchange for an honest review.
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