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David (vol. 1)David for dummiesDAVID (Vol. 1) New Christians, Bible class teachers and occasional preachers, among others, will welcome this easily read series of ten studies in the early life of David, before he became king. Each study is followed by appropriate suggestions for further research, consideration and discussion. This is one of a new range of ‘Face to Face’ encounters with biblical characters in which Samuel and Elijah have already appeared. If the rest line up to this standard, they will be very useful. It might be thought that at 90 pages this will be a lightweight work. This is deceptive, because Michael misses very little of importance, gives convincing explanations of difficulties confronted, and frequently relates the Psalms to David’s experiences. I hope I shall not spoil a longstanding friendship by commenting that I don’t think King Saul could have been both a backslider (52) and a false professor in the mould of Judas Iscariot (75), or by asking, in the light of Hebrews 11:31, if Rahab was not really a godly woman when she helped the Hebrew spies? But the great thing about this book is the profusion of practical applications both to personal life and to church life. For example, ‘We should recognise physical weakness when it comes upon us. It is not good to “bite everyone’s head off” just because we want to be “martyrs” and soldier on unreasonably … We should remember that someone said that “graveyards are full of indispensable people”.’ Next volume please!Clifford Pond, © Evangelicals Now - April 2007 |