Showing posts with label Heavenly Love. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Heavenly Love. Show all posts
Books spotted on sale in Grand Rapids, etc
It was gratifying to see my commentaries on Proverbs and Song of Solomon on sale the other week in Darlington (at the North Yorkshire Bible Rally, courtesy of the Reeth Bookshop). My father-in-law recently sent me the above pic of my book on sale at the RHB bookstore in Grand Rapids. So that's good too. (Perhaps I should point out that "And they crucified him" is by a fellow Welshman and Aber graduate Alun Ebenezer).
Appendices
In five of the six books I have published there have been appendices. These are short essays that contribute to the subject but that are a little outside the immediate orbit. The appendices are as follows
1. Historical Exposition of the Song of Songs (Heavenly Love)
2. Regeneration under the Law of Moses (What the Bible teaches about being born again)
3. Sample historic confessions or creeds that support a monergistic view of regeneration (What the Bible teaches about being born again)
4. Early heresies and kenotic theories (What Jesus is doing now)
5. Understanding the Lord's Supper (What Jesus is doing now)
6. John 16:26-27 (What Jesus is doing now)
7. Intercession of the saints (What Jesus is doing now)
8. For whom does Jesus intercede? (What Jesus is doing now)
9. An untitled appendix listing the ejected ministers by area, based on Colman and Matthews (1662 The Great Ejection)
10. A list of legitimate illustrations used to describe conscience and its workings (Candle in the Wind)
11.The argument for God from conscience (Candle in the Wind)
12. A brief history of Christian thought with regard to conscience and casuistry (Candle in the Wind)
Review of Heavenly Love by David Whitla
Book Review:
Gary Brady, Heavenly Love – The Song of Songs Simply Explained (Darlington, England: Evangelical Press, 2006), Paperback, 256 pages. $15.99
Heavenly Love is one of five commentaries on the Song of Songs that Evangelical Press has published in recent years, and it is certainly one of the best. While three of the five have taken an exclusively – and sometimes rather extreme – allegorical view of this much overlooked Book of the Bible, Brady’s commentary (in the popular Welwyn series) provides a beautifully-balanced commentary that faithfully expounds both the natural and spiritual meaning of the Song.
In dealing with the natural interpretation of the Song, Brady is appropriately frank, but at the same time suitably modest (perhaps occasionally more modest than the text he is expounding!). At times he declines to elaborate on the Song’s imagery, and instead invites the reader to “be wise enough to take a hint” (p.137) where it is especially graphic. It is refreshing to read a contemporary Christian book that celebrates human sexuality and manages to avoid the common extremes of “Victorian” prudery on the one hand and the crass sensationalism of many “emergent church” offerings on the other. “It is no easy task”, Brady comments, “but as Christians we ought to be active in reclaiming this area for Christ. He is sovereign over every part of life, including this one” (p.155). Overall, the author’s contribution to this endeavor is superb, and provides much helpful material for the married and single alike.
When it comes to the spiritual interpretation of the Song as an allegory of Christ’s love for the Church, Brady is equally balanced. While some of his interpretations seem a bit of a stretch at times, he nevertheless lets Scripture interpret itself and wisely rejects some of the most extreme allegories that have been suggested. Brady weaves together the two methods of interpretation by making clear that problems in the marriage relationship are usually preceded by problems in our relationship with Christ. His chapter on spiritual desertion (ch.6) is particularly excellent.
Brady’s writing style is clear, and is illustrated with dozens of song excerpts, from Scottish metrical psalms to Bob Dylan, though he mainly cites Christian hymns. There are also lots of quotations (particularly from the Puritans) though unfortunately there are no references. An interesting appendix outlines the history of interpretations of the Song and a select bibliography of commentaries denotes which interpretation is held by each. The now almost-complete Welwyn Commentary series is one of the best tools on the market for personal devotions, and is also useful for message-preparation for Bible study leaders and pastors. This addition is highly recommended.
David Whitla
Recent Encouragements
At the end of last year I had some unexpected opportunities to promote the Candle in the wind book. Firstly, on the last day of Winter term in London Theological Seminary I was able to stand in for someone else due to give a lecture in the pastoralia course, which I was very glad to do. I summarised four chapters of the book and enjoyed the interchange with the students.
Then a little later someone from the show Janet Mefferd Today (who I have worked with in the past) was in touch about an interview by 'phone on the new book. I was more than happy to oblige. Originally it was to be a live interview but the plan was altered. It made me feel a little less nervous. The interview should air before the end of the month. Excuse my cold!
Also at the end of last year I received an email from a pastor in Indonesia saying how much he had appreciated the book on regeneration and in the new year I bumped into a fellow pastor here in the UK who has been preaching through Song of Solomon. Almost in despair at finding the sort of help he was looking for he came across my book Heavenly Love and has found it really helpful. I was so encouraged to hear that.
Others let me know that they are benefiting from the books, most often the commentary on Proverbs.
Welwyn Commentary Song of Solomon
Heavenly Love: Song of Solomon Simply Explained
- Publisher: Evangelical Press
- Publication Date: 2006
- Pages: 256
"In all the world there is nothing to equal the day on which the Song of Songs was given to Israel, for all the Scriptures are holy, but the Song of Songs is the Holy of Holies." This statement by a second-century rabbi contrasts sharply with the attitude of some Christians today, who apparently have little place for this book in their thinking or practice. They hardly ever quote it, read it, or reflect on it. Such extremes remind us that the book has sometimes been controversial. More than one scholar has called the Song of Songs the most difficult book to interpret in the Old Testament.
Gary Brady adopts the view that, when he wrote, the biblical author had in mind both a natural and a spiritual understanding, and that those who originally received the book as Scripture understood it both in terms of human love and intimacy and as a portrait of the loving relationship between God and his people. In our own day a study of this ancient book is crucially needed in both these areas.
Firstly, in this modern world of mass media, through advertising, cinema, television, and the World Wide Web, we are inundated with false images of love, sex, and marriage. We are bombarded with misleading ideas and, even if we are able to keep our minds pure, it is still very easy for inaccurate concepts to worm their way in and have their debilitating effect on us. All of us - single, married, divorced, widowed, young, old, male, female - need to be crystal clear on this vital subject.
Secondly, there is the vital issue of intimacy with Jesus Christ. One of the purposes of this commentary is to help us see how lovely the Lord Jesus is, how attractive, how appealing. The aim is for us to see again something of Christ's beauty and glory, his comeliness and splendour, and so to be drawn to him. The Song of Songs can be of tremendous help to us in this direction.
Gary Brady adopts the view that, when he wrote, the biblical author had in mind both a natural and a spiritual understanding, and that those who originally received the book as Scripture understood it both in terms of human love and intimacy and as a portrait of the loving relationship between God and his people. In our own day a study of this ancient book is crucially needed in both these areas.
Firstly, in this modern world of mass media, through advertising, cinema, television, and the World Wide Web, we are inundated with false images of love, sex, and marriage. We are bombarded with misleading ideas and, even if we are able to keep our minds pure, it is still very easy for inaccurate concepts to worm their way in and have their debilitating effect on us. All of us - single, married, divorced, widowed, young, old, male, female - need to be crystal clear on this vital subject.
Secondly, there is the vital issue of intimacy with Jesus Christ. One of the purposes of this commentary is to help us see how lovely the Lord Jesus is, how attractive, how appealing. The aim is for us to see again something of Christ's beauty and glory, his comeliness and splendour, and so to be drawn to him. The Song of Songs can be of tremendous help to us in this direction.
Review Heavenly Love English Churchman
HEAVENLY LOVE The Song of Songs simply explained by Gary Brady Evangelical Press (Welwyn Commentary Series) -paperback - 256 pages. £8.95 ISBN 0 85234 606 9
I remember in the 1950s attending a theological course and having large sections of the Song of Solomon read to me by another student on the first day of the new academic year. He had fallen in love, become engaged, and only the Song could express his feelings! The student concerned went on to become a high-ranking Salvation Army Officer who married his beloved fiancee and ‘they lived happily ever after’.
Perhaps few Passages of Scripture evoke more strong feeling and division than the Song of Songs (another title). Many historical figures have argued whether or not it should be in the Canon at all. Certainty, it has been a happy hunting ground for all kinds of strange and outrageous claims and not a few have cast the writing to one side as unintelligible, beyond logical explanation, or unworthy because of its frank and erotic style.
The intensely personal speeches of Canticles (a third name) take two main forms: dialogue and soliloquy. The power of the poetry lies in the expressed intensity of love and devotion. It is also filled with rich imagery and previous generations of Christians might feel this is far too detailed for Western tastes. However, in contemporary Britain, where concepts of sexuality and decency have undergone a revolution, it might now be considered rather tame. One great strength of Brady's new commentary is that it provides a corrective to false images of love, sex, and marriage, and it stimulates integrity of mind and purity in practice. The author is quite clear in his own thinking, both a natural and spiritual understanding are required for correct exposition of the Song. Coupled with this is the key to the book - a portrait of the loving relationship between God and His people.
In reality, interpretations of the Song of Solomon have been almost without number. Rabbis and Church Fathers mainly adopted an allegorical method. Some modern conservatives opted for the typical method, whilst F Delitzsch, building on Origen and Milton, chose the dramatic interpretation. Critical scholars have chosen to think of this disputed canonical book in terms of nuptial songs or love-poems. The tragedy is that Ministers, especially highly-pressured Pastors, have failed to give the Song of Songs the place it deserves, They may feel inadequate in the hermeneutical field, or think our present society, including the church, has enough exposure to sex, without adding to it. Thereby, the Devil robs us of a precious portion of God's Word.
Those who wish to pursue the critical arguments and wrestle with scholars will need to look elsewhere. Those charged with “feeding the flock of Christ and preaching the whole counsel of God" will find Gary Brady's latest commentary extremely useful. Like most of the Welwyn Commentaries, there is a rich combination of sound exegesis, devotional and expository thought, and clear outline. The busy pastor and heavily-committed layman will find much to inform.
In parish and local ministry my own style of preaching has been, over forty years, expository and systematic. Over a quarter of a century ago I attempted to expound Song of Solomon and I gave up after six sermons. I do not think I would have done so today, with Gary Brady's refreshing and encouraging little book. I have no doubt the author will be criticised for his exposition by a few, admired by many including myself and appreciated by the majority. I trust the doubters will not only buy this excellent volume but remember the words of a great Old Testament scholar, sadly no longr with us, ‘Not only does it (The Song of Songs) speak of the purity of human love, but by its very inclusion in the Canon it reminds us of a love that is purer than our own.' (E J Young).
Rt Revd Dr J Barry Shucksmith, Royal Navy (Rtd)
English Churchman (May/June)
Review of Heavenly Love in EN
HEAVENLY LOVE The Song of Songs By Gary Brady Evangelical Press. 256 pages. £8.95 ISBN 0 85234 606 9
Living in a world where mistaken and perverted ideas of what true love is abound, and where the spoiling of God-given sexuality is seen to be the norm: it is refreshing to pick up a book that deals with these issues seriously and biblically.
In 12 chapters of easy-to-read length, the author explores what the Song of Solomon says about the intimate love affair of a young couple, reflecting on the 'nature' of true love in its awakenings, its continuings and its failings; dealing with the issues of intimate sexuality in love sensitively and honestly, while continually drawing our attention to the covenant relationship of love on both the vertical and horizontal levels. The author helpfully sets out the varying historical interpretations of the book and then tells us where he is coming from himself. Written with commitment to the meaning of the text and yet sprinkled throughout with humour, poetry and songs from writers and singers of secular and Christian persuasion, this commentary is a blend of commonsense interpretation along with heart-warming practical application. I'm sure we have here a good handbook for pastors to recommend to prospective couples to study, for singles wanting help in anticipation of meeting a partner, and for those of us who are married, a good read `together'. Indeed for Christians everywhere who feel the need for the spark of their first love for Christ to be re-ignited, this would be a positive read. Of all books that I look at, I appreciate the most those that make me get up and do something about my life (probably because I need it). This commentary does just that! I enjoyed reading it and would commend it enthusiastically.
Brian Moody, pastor of Dorking Road Baptist Church, Epsom, Surrey
May 2006
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