2009 Preaching Survey of the Year's Best Books for Preachers

Other important Old Testament commentaries include 1 Samuel: Looking for a Leader by John Woodhouse (Crossway). Woodhouse, who serves as principal of Moore Theological College in Sydney, Australia, has contributed this volume to the "Preaching the Word" series edited by R. Kent Hughes, long-time pastor of the College Church at Wheaton. Now retired as senior pastor of that church, Hughes devotes himself to a ministry of writing, including the editing of this important commentary series. The "Preaching the Word" series is written by and for preachers and is primarily devoted to exposition. Woodhouse's volume on 1 Samuel continues the proud tradition of this commentary series.

The other new volume in that series, 1 and 2 Peter and Jude: Sharing Christ's Sufferings, is written by David R. Helm, who serves on the teaching team at Holy Trinity Church in Chicago. These important New Testament books offer great practical application, but are also concerned with the church's responsibility to protect and to defend the faith against counterfeits in every generation.

Evangelical Press has released two volumes in its commentary series. Job by Hywel R. Jones would be helpful to preachers seeking a model of how to teach and communicate this important section of the Old Testament wisdom literature. We neglect so much if we neglect Job. As Martin Luther explained, Job is "as magnificent and sublime as no other book of Scripture." Another worthy volume in the same series is released by Allan M. Harman. Harman, who teaches at Presbyterian Theological College in Melbourne, Australia, explains that the biblical narratives "are clearly intended, in the first place, to be a blessing to readers or hearers of the Bible. They enable us to visualize events, and think in concrete terms, rather than being faced with abstract propositions. The appeal to the mind in this way is important, and we should utilize these accounts to the full. The narratives are an integral part of the history of the people of God and hence part of our history." That attitude informs Harman's approach, and preachers will find his volume of value.

Similarly, Iain M. Duguid has written the volume Daniel in the "Reformed Expository Commentary" series (P&R Publishing). Duguid teaches at Grove City College in Pennsylvania and at Westminster Seminary in California. One of the unique contributions of this volume is Duguid's Christological focus. Preachers who have looked to Daniel without such a clear focus on Christ will be both informed and inspired by Duguid's approach.