The Word Became Fresh: How to Preach from Old Testament Narrative Texts

Written by Dale Ralph Davis Reviewed By Greg R. Scharf

Davis is a pastor who previously taught Old Testament at Reformed Theological Seminary in Jackson, Mississippi. He is the author of very helpful commentaries on Joshua, Judges, 1 and 2 Samuel and 1 and 2 Kings. His winsome combination of “rigorous study and devotional warmth” (p. ii) in those volumes marks this volume that focuses on “proper interpretation of Old Testament narratives in preparation for preaching” (p. i). Davis’s organization of the book, his helpful endnotes, combined with his down-home language and sermon-illustration—like anecdotes serve that aim well.

Davis begins with a plea for prayer as foundational and lays out his own questions with which he gets at intention, context, structure, content, and appropriation of the preaching portion. From there he lists nine peculiarities of narrative, all of which he illustrates from biblical passages he intentionally selects from parts of the OT other than those on which he has written commentaries.

The next chapter, titled “Theology,” reveals Davis’s hermeneutic. He tells us that he is using the term “to refer to the theology of the biblical text, that is, what the text means to say about God, his ways, and his works. Or to put it a bit differently, I use the term to refer to the intended message of the biblical text” (p. 31). Davis believes that biblical narrative texts foundationally teach us about God. The balance of the chapter demonstrates how preachers can detect that theological intention and how a seminal text such as Gen 12:1–9 helps us interpret later texts.

The fourth chapter unpacks how placement of the text in its context and its lay-out (i.e., the internal structure of the text) shed light on its meaning. In preaching, Davis uses only literary structures that are simple enough to explain to his listeners (pp. 52–53). Once again, the examples lend credence to his approach.

Chapter five tackles a few “repulsive” passages, those considered too dull, racy, gory, or severe. By demonstrating how Scripture itself views these stories, he rehabilitates them for preaching. Chapter six effectively takes a macroscopic view that, like his other techniques, brings to light things that are actually in the text but would not be seen at closer range.

After cautioning readers not to glibly assume that we know how the text wants to be applied, the seventh chapter suggests some “application handles” to look for. Then Davis ends the chapter with another caution in application: “don’t claim too much from narrative” (p. 115). The seventh chapter brings us back to the theocentric focus and wonders aloud “if a good chunk of our hermeneutical problem may simply be a heart problem. Maybe we get off the track in our interpretation because our eyes are fastened on the wrong object.” (p. 133). The final chapter is a synthesis pointing to ways to turn observations into expositions.

The great strength of this volume is its accessibility. Any preacher who ministers in English should be able to grasp Davis’s ideas and enjoy doing so. He teaches by example or “sample” (p. 71) as he calls those texts he explores to display his hermeneutical method. Copious illustrations, weighted somewhat toward World War II themes (cf. pp. 54, 66, 102, 152), foster reader-engagement and give the text an almost oral style. “Down-home” language (e.g., scuzzball, grunt work, riffraff, spitting distance) reinforces the informality. Endnotes provide helpful pointers toward further study and bibliographic backing for positions taken in the text. Beyond the immediate appeal to the preachers and students for whom he is writing (p. 3), Davis models how to preach Christ from the OT without disrespecting the preaching portion itself (cf. “implicit messianism,” p. 90).

Are there weaknesses? A Scripture index would make it easier for students to review how Davis handles various passages. Are there cautions for the reader? In the preface, Davis confesses that his experience teaching a course on expository preaching over a decade ago clarified his resolve not to do so again but to stick to interpretation. That may be because getting from text to sermon is neither easy nor easy to teach. Davis makes it look easy, but that appearance can be deceptive. His skill in interpreting preaching portions rests on a broad and deep knowledge of the whole OT that many of us who preach do not have. He may see connections that others miss. We may, if we are not careful, imagine connections that aren’t really there. Suffice it to say that we should be cautious in trying to replicate his methods, not because they are inherently faulty, but because they necessitate a thorough knowledge of the book, corpus and Testament. If, on the other hand, this book drives preachers to aspire to a deeper understanding of the OT so that they can preach its texts better, Pastor Davis’s efforts will have been richly repaid.


Greg R. Scharf

Trinity Evangelical Divinity School

Deerfield, Illinois, USA

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