Book Brief - Proverbs: A Mentor Commentary

Proverbs: A Mentor Commentary

John Kitchen

Mentor (September 1, 2006)

As I read this book I thought of the following quote from Monergism Books:

The Humility to Read

I am one person in one place at one time. My experiences and perceptions are limited and colored by the environment in which I live. Therefore, it would be profoundly arrogant of me to think that I can best grow in the knowledge of God through Scripture by myself. Certainly the Holy Spirit is graciously given to all God’s children to enable us to comprehend and be conformed to the truths of the Bible. Nevertheless, one of the primary means of grace God uses in the process of our transformation is the universal-historical community of believers. Within that community, God graciously provides leaders of few and leaders of many to equip the saints for the work of ministry.

It is a humbling thing for me to read a book. Most books take at least several hours of combined time to process, and I have to forsake other distractions in order to focus and benefit from what I am reading. Most of all, I can’t talk back. I am forced to just listen, patiently follow and receive, to think another man’s thoughts after him.

One of the new desires placed into the heart of every believer is the desire to think God’s thoughts after him. Let’s pursue humility by receiving the thoughts of those who have led us and spoken the word of God to us in the most enduring of all earthly mediums: the book.

John A. Kitchen is one of those well suited to equip the saints. In this commentary he focuses on application and points to Christ while providing academic background appropriate for a layman's understanding.

An introduction provides context for the wisdom literature of the Bible. The next thirty one chapters contain comments on each individual verse in each chapter. A beneficial appendix summarizing the wisdom vs. folly theme running through Proverbs is provided. Thematic, subject and scripture indexes, as well as a bibliography, are also provided and helpful for later review and study.

This is a rich commentary for the layman and highly recommended as a reference for anyone.

"...the Christian book of wisdom, finding its highest demonstration and expression in the Person of Jesus Christ, who is wisdom itself."

"A proverb is a compactly constructed sentence packed with practical insight. It is a stubby sentence pregnant with meaning. It is college in a cup."

Rating: Hardback