Do you like to read on vacation? I do, and I think I’m not alone. Every year the New York Times offers a summer book preview for those who want to spend at least part of their vacation between the covers of a good book (or in front of the screen of their favorite e-reader). If you search online, you’ll find blog posts with titles like “5 Books That Must Go On Your Beach Vacation Reading List” or “12 Books to Elevate Your Vacation Reading List.”
For my part, I usually try to use vacation time to catch up on some unfinished book or to read a couple of books that don’t seem to fit into my usual reading schedule. This year, I took along four books in addition to my Bible and the hymn story devotional that we have been reading as a family. And while we were visiting a town in southern Illinois, I picked up three other hardcovers at a library book sale, so I had plenty of reading to stay occupied. During our 3 weeks away, I managed to finish one book I had already begun, read a second book, and make significant progress on two others. Let me tell you a little about them.
This book is an attempt to clear away the clutter of modern methods of Bible interpretation which call for all sorts of special knowledge of the culture of the Ancient Near East and also of the types of literature found throughout the Bible. Henebury bemoans the fact that “no longer does ‘the plain reading of Scripture’ command respect. We seemingly cannot comprehend God’s Word if we are not up-to-date on the latest fads.” And so he seeks instead to offer an approach to theology that takes God at his word and assumes that he means what he says and says what he means in plain language for everyone to understand. “This book,” says Henebury, “is for the people of God; for all who want to grow in the knowledge of the Old Testament – which is to be treated with every bit as much regard as the New. The Old Testament is a book of covenants; more especially Yahweh’s covenants. His covenants point to Christ; and Christ is ‘all in all.’”
To be sure, The Words of the Covenant is not light reading, and I took my time underlining and marking up the pages as I went, but I found it to be worth the effort. Part 1 focuses on the nature and purpose of covenant in God’s relationship with man. Part 2 deals with what Henebury calls “The Creation Project,” which is God’s plan to reign over the earth he has made. In Part 3 we have a short history of Israel as a nation from the Exodus to the Exile. Part 4 deals with the Psalms and Wisdom books. Parts 5 and 6 discuss Israel’s prophets, following a more-or-less chronological arrangement. The final section, Part 7, examines the expectations which God’s covenants throughout the OT would lead his people to have in the days leading up the coming of Christ.
In the final analysis, Henebury has asked questions that need to be answered by every serious student of God’s word. For example, How does God expect us to interpret his word? And, Will God keep his word as given or revise it in light of later (read NT) revelation? God has raised certain expectations by the oaths he has sworn to men, and he invites us to take his words on faith and look for their fulfillment when Jesus comes again.
I started this little book one day while the kids were playing at the beach, and finished it the next day. At only 88 pages, it is very brief, yet Pastor Allberry packs a great deal of biblical wisdom into its pages. He is a single pastor who experiences same-sex attraction and writes with clarity and compassion on this topic. He affirms without embarrassment that God’s word condemns any sexual activity outside the bounds of marriage, which by definition excludes any and all homosexual behavior. But he also reminds us that God’s love extends to all people, and the church ought to demonstrate that love to those struggling with same-sex attraction in intentional and practical ways.
What I appreciate most about this book is the gentle, pastoral tone which seeks to lead the reader to have a closer fellowship with Christ and his church. Allberry has great insights both for those who experience same-sex attraction and singles who do not. He understands loneliness and offers helpful advice on how the church can better serve singles in general, especially those who do not easily fit into the mold of traditional church culture.
This book was recommended to me by another pastor several years ago. I purchased it in 2015 and it has sat on my bookshelf ever since; it just never seemed like the right time to pick it up and start. But now I have read about 80% of the way through this book, and I understand why it was so highly recommended. It is not easy for me to think about my emotions: how I’m feeling or why I feel the way I do. It is even harder for me to discuss them. But this book has given me much food for thought.
For example, in discussing the differences between righteous and unrighteous anger Allender and Longman state that our problem is not that we get too angry, but that usually we are not angry enough. We become angry at small things, but we ignore our sins which really deserve the full weight of our fury. If we experienced anger the way God does we would be more angry, not less, but our anger would be directed at those things which are truly worth being angry about, like sin and injustice. Other chapters discuss what it means to fear the Lord (hint: it’s way more than just having respect for him), and the difference between jealousy and envy (jealousy may be good, but envy is not). The Cry of the Soul is stirring me to examine my emotions and allow them to lead me to know God better, and I wish I hadn’t waited so long to pick it up.