When one first picks up Crossway Book’s Exodus: Saved for God’s Glory, part of the Preaching The Word commentary set, one is no doubt impressed by sheer size of the book. Philip Ryken’s commentary weighs in at a massive 1247 pages. This is 1247 pages of pure gold. Ryken is the Senior Minister at Tenth Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia. The book itself is a collection of the 102 sermons he preached at Tenth Presbyterian Church. The sermons are exegetical, meticulously researched and inspiring. Philip is the predecessor to the late James Montgomery Boice, who Pastored Tenth Presbyterian Church from 1968 until his death in the year 2000. Ryken began to preach these messages before Boice’s sudden illness which eventually took his life. He continued the series during the illness and after the death of Boice. The study of the God of the exodus must have been a tremendous blessing to a congregation mourning the death of a beloved pastor, and welcoming in a new pastor. As you read the sermons, you cannot escape the truth that the God of the exodus is the God to Whom all glory is due. Throughout his sermons, Ryken calls attention to the fact that the Children of Israel, who were God’s chosen people, were to bring glory to God. God’s rescue of the Children of Israel was to show the nations that He was the Lord. He helps us understand the culture and times of the Ancient Near East world of the Children of Israel and their adversaries.
Exodus: Saved for God’s Glory is different from a typical commentary. It is not a scholarly commentary in the sense that it breaks down every word of every verse. It doesn’t break down the Hebrew, unless the author is making a point as part of a sermon. The book fits the style of the Preaching the Word commentary set; sermons, plain and simple. And, that is what I love about it. As a pastor I am always looking for tools that will enhance my time in the Word, my understanding of the text and my preaching to my congregation. It is refreshing to see how others break down passages of Scripture. It is clear that Mr. Ryken is a student of the Word. He places a high emphasis on Scripture. In today’s culture where pastors are encouraged to preach shorter and shorter sermons, and shorter and shorter sermon series, Ryken stands apart. The sermons are lengthy (usually 10-12 pages), and they are interesting. He preaches as one who has a firm grasp on the subject but isn’t pious. As you read his illustrations, often times from everyday life, you feel like he is the kind of person that you’d having a meal with. His illustrations are challenging, often humorous, and always relevant.
One of my favorite parts of this commentary is the vast section of notes
(37 pages) at the end of the book. His bibliography comes alive in these pages. There are hundreds of helpful books that are outlined in these pages. Ryken, a Presbyterian pastor is reformed in his theology. So, you see people that you would expect to appear in the notes section (John Calvin, James Montgomery Boice, Tim Keller, etc.). He also quotes extensively from the likes of Spurgeon, Luther, Lewis, and MacArthur. He then surprises you with quotes from Eugene Peterson, Bill Gates and even Dr. Seuss. There is also an exhaustive Scripture index and a helpful index of sermon illustrations. If you are looking for a good illustration for any series, this index could be quite helpful. His illustrations work for more than just Exodus.
I wouldn’t hesitate recommending Ryken’s book to the average person in the pew on Sunday morning. If somebody wanted to take several months to study the book of Exodus, this book could be a great resource to help them as they go through the process. I highly recommend Exodus: Saved For God’s Glory. What a great commentary on a foundational book to the Christian faith. If you are preaching through Exodus, you will want this book on your shelf.
Reviewed by Brian Schulenburg
