Book Review: Exalting Jesus in 1 & 2 Kings by Tony Merida

When it comes to the Old Testament, there are some Christians that want to avoid it. Sometimes reading the Old Testament may feel like you are reading a history book where you are study the events you know and avoid the rest because it does not interest you. At times for me, reading the Old Testament can be depressing because you see a God who pursues His creation and they want nothing to with Him. Those who want to honor God fall short because of moral failures or they have been deceived.

The books of 1 & 2 Kings are two of those Old Testament books that can cause Christians to be depressed, of course, I am speaking from my own experience in reading the Old Testament. What we fail to see that is the Old Testament, including 1 & 2 Kings, point us to Jesus Christ. The gospel of Luke tells us that when Jesus began teaching the two men on the road to Emmaus, he began "with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself" (Luke 24:27).

Tony Merida has taken the books of 1 & 2 Kings and show us how they point us to Christ. One of the main points is that Jesus is a better King than all of the kings in these two books. He also wrote that "Kings is about worship, the word, and weakness." In worship, we refer to the worship of God alone and not idols. In the word, God told His people how to love. Finally, weakness is about how every human king has limitations, which is why Jesus is a better King.

Merida takes each chapter and addresses what is happening the story of Kings. He also applies it to our modern living and takes us through the gospel. This commentary is part of a series of commentaries that are easy to read for those who are preparing a sermon or teaching a small group. You can even use them in your own personal Bible Study.

I must admit, a commentary on 1 & 2 Kings is not one I would pick up just for the fun of it, but I am happy to recommend this commentary and any others in this series.

Thanks B&H Publishing Group for letting me review this book.