Book Alert: The Majesty of God in the Old Testament

 Title: The Majesty of God in the Old Testament: A Guide for Preaching and Teaching
 Author: Walter Kaiser
 Publisher: Baker Academic
 Publishing Date: July 2007
 Pages: 176
 Format: Paperback
 ISBN: 0-8010-3244X 
 Retail Price: $16.99
 Table of Contents: n/a
 Intro: n/a
 Sample Chapter: n/a

From Baker Academic: 

God’s unsurpassed majesty and greatness is an aspect of biblical truth that is often lacking in contemporary preaching and teaching, and thus often lacking in the consciousness of modern Christians. In The Majesty of God in the Old Testament, respected scholar Walter Kaiser confronts this lamentable deficiency with verve. He suggests that a key way to recapture this important doctrine in the ministry of the church is through the preaching of the Old Testament–itself an oft-neglected or mishandled discipline.

Kaiser shows how today’s preacher might address these deficiencies by walking through an exposition of ten great Old Testament passages that are rife with evidence of God’s majesty. He also demonstrates how various types of preparatory studies–word, historical/archaeological, thematic, Bible background, and theological–can be used to help pastors make the Old Testament more relevant to their congregations. In addition, he addresses potential problems peculiar to the preaching of the Old Testament. The reader, whether seminary student, preacher, or teacher, will not only be challenged to incorporate such proclamation into his or her ministry but will also be personally uplifted through these studies that magnify God’s greatness.

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Other books by Walter Kaiser:

Toward an Exegetical Theology: Biblical Exegesis for Preaching and Teaching
Preaching and Teaching from the Old Testament
Mission in the Old Testament: Israel as a Light to the Nations
Toward an Old Testament Theology
Uses of the Old Testament in the New
Back Toward the Future: Hints for Interpreting Biblical Prophecy

Initial Thoughts:

In recent years, there have been several books which have focused on the lives of certain Old Testament characters.  These books either were basically written for two purposes: biographically to highlight the “heroes” of the OT, or practically to focus on leadership principles that can be gleaned from their examples.  However, this approach to the Old Testament is faulty for one glaring reason.  The central figure in the Old Testament is not Abraham, Moses, David, or Elijah but rather the GOD of Abraham, Moses, David, and Elijah.  Throughout the Old Testament, the character, providence, and work of Almighty God is on display, and it is the majesty of our God that Walter Kaiser points us to in his book.

There has been an exciting new emphasis on preaching and teaching from the Old Testament that is exegetically sound and relevant to today.  I hope that this book will make it into the hands of pastors as well as Sunday School teachers who want to glean more from the inspired texts of the Old Testament which speak so powerfully to the greatness and glory of our covenant keeping God.  In the end, I pray we can all join a man after God’s own heart who once prayed:

“Blessed are you, O Lord, the God of Israel our father, forever and ever. Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is yours. Yours is the kingdom, O Lord, and you are exalted as head above all. Both riches and honor come from you, and you rule over all. In your hand are power and might, and in your hand it is to make great and to give strength to all. And now we thank you, our God, and praise your glorious name.”
1 Chronicles 29:10-13

Endorsements:

“Rarely does a book come along that elucidates with both scope and depth the breathtaking splendor of the character of God, all while modeling how to preach and teach the sacred text. Walter Kaiser applies his passion for God’s multifaceted majesty with wonderful biblical scholarship and insightful shepherding sensitivity. This work is a window into the grandeur of God, helping us to see that if we refuse to properly proclaim the unequaled God of the Bible correctly, we will never see ourselves, our culture, and his church in the proper light. Kaiser skillfully steers us on the right path to exposit and enjoy these biblical vistas of the Majesty on High.”
–Dorington G. Little, senior pastor, First Congregational Church, Hamilton, Massachusetts

“Hats off to Walt Kaiser for demonstrating again that, in the end, the Scriptures are about the greatness of God. Using passage after passage of the Old Testament, Kaiser reminds us that the real subject of the Bible is God himself: his marvelous person, his wisdom-filled ways, his loving will. This book will serve as a bracing theocentric tonic for all who are determined to avoid those anthropocentric treatments of Scripture that seem so prevalent today.”
–Duane Litfin, president, Wheaton College

“Those who preach about the greatness of God do business in deep waters. The Majesty of God in the Old Testament by Walter Kaiser will help all of us who read, teach, or preach to navigate those waters.”
–Haddon Robinson, author, Biblical Preaching; Harold John Ockenga Professor of Preaching, Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary

“From a veteran Old Testament scholar come model expositions of ten passages that highlight aspects of the greatness of God, all laid out as resources for preachers and teachers to draw from. These object lessons are truly a breath of fresh air.”
–J. I. Packer, Board of Governors’ Professor of Theology, Regent College

“Walter C. Kaiser helps readers capture a glimpse of the incredible nature of God as portrayed in the Old Testament. Each chapter features an aspect of God that cumulatively acclaims his majesty and serves as a model for preaching and teaching. Readers will be drawn to the pages of the Old Testament to see and experience the thrill of knowing this great God and being known by him.”
–Scott M. Gibson, Haddon W. Robinson Professor of Preaching and ministry director of the Center for Preaching, Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary

“Kaiser unpacks the vast wealth of several key Old Testament passages about God and his glory. These studies are wonderful and instructive examples of how to do biblical exposition and are especially fine examples of how to deal with ‘Old Testament’ passages. But much more than that, each chapter will bring you face to face with the divine majesty in a powerful and life-changing way. Clear, straightforward, accessible, and precise, this is a superb resource in every way.”
–John MacArthur, president, Grace to You

“I can’t think of anyone better to lift our sight to the stimulating reality of the majesty of God than my friend Walt Kaiser. Unfortunately, God has often been tarnished by the smallness of our minds. Kaiser’s winsome yet direct and clear writing will put the magnificent reality of God’s glory in its proper perspective.”
–Joe Stowell, teaching pastor, Harvest Bible Chapel; former president, Moody Bible Institute

Walter C. Kaiser Jr. (PhD, Brandeis University) is president emeritus and Colman Mockler Distinguished Professor of Old Testament at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. He is the author of more than thirty books, including Mission in the Old Testament and Preaching and Teaching from the Old Testament.