This Old Testament commentary by
Philip Graham Ryken, pastor of Tenth Presbyterian Church and a
PCA teaching elder. Ryken’s writings are identifying him as one
of the outstanding preachers from the Reformed perspective.
Exodus: Saved for God’s Glory represents his most voluminous
work to date. He has earlier, in this same Preaching the Word
series, written on Jeremiah and Lamentations.
Exodus is one of the key books in
teaching us how the promises of the Covenant are kept. Again, as
with the above commentary, Ryken studies, preaches, and teaches
the Word from a biblically Reformed, historically redemptive
perspective. Consequently, not only will you see the
faithfulness of God throughout, remembering and keeping his
promises to his people, but also how God’s plan of salvation is
revealed and developed in this book.
As with other books in this
series, but especially this book, there is clearly demonstrated
exegesis and solid theology that undergirds Exodus, giving
creative ideas on preaching and teaching Exodus for today’s
audience. Why this commentary is so special to the author is
stated in the preface. These expositions of Exodus were preached
while Ryken was substituting for Dr. James Boice “during, and
after his sudden illness and death.”
Ryken explains that one must
study Exodus in its historical context of the Pentateuch, the
five books of Moses. Then we must see how it connects with the
rest of the Old and New Testaments. Over and over, he
underscores the importance of following the Reformation
principle of allowing Scripture to interpret Scripture; that
seen from this perspective, “the Bible is an extended
interpretation of the exodus. Thus the way to understand Exodus
is to study the book itself in the context of the entire Bible.”
Ryken emphasizes that Exodus is not only a great story, it is
also history and a history that focuses on redemption of Israel
as well as the church today.
When read, studied, taught, and
preached from this vantage, you cannot help but see the glory of
God revealed. This is what the Psalmist saw and wrote about in
Psalm 106, says Ryken. |