Old Testament Readings & Devotionals, Volume 2 features Exodus, Leviticus, and Numbers. In addition to documenting the history of the Israelites, these three books also convey the unfolding of God's spiritual plan for his people: redemption, sanctification, and perseverance, respectively. Learn about the multi-faceted grace of God as foreshadowed in the tabernacle system sacrifices and celebrations.
About the Author :
C.M.H. Koenig (a pen name) is an adult missionary kid (MK) and third culture kid (TCK) who grew up overseas and in the United States. Koenig's family had regular devotions since she was a child, and she was encouraged to continue the practice as she grew older. Koenig has read and re-read a number of devotionals and Bible reading plans over the last few decades. The selection and arrangement of these devotions were made with a crucial spiritual goal in mind. "Hawker, Spurgeon, and Winslow provide solid, tasty meat, a veritable feast I wish to share with others. They were abundantly gifted writers." Robert Hawker, a Royal Marine assistant surgeon, Anglican priest, and author, was born 1753 in Exeter, England. He was married aged 19 to Anna Rains, and they had eight children altogether. He was ordained as a minister in 1779. It was in the pulpit that "the Doctor" was best known and loved. Thousands flocked to hear the "Star of the West" preach when he was in London. An Evangelical, he preached the Bible and proclaimed the love of God. (Wikipedia: Robert Hawker 2020) Charles Haddon Spurgeon, an English Particular Baptist preacher and author, was born on 19 June 1834 in Kelvedon, Essex, England. He married Susannah Thompson in 1856 and had twin boys. Spurgeon remains highly influential among Christians of various denominations, among whom he is known as the "Prince of Preachers." (Wikipedia: Charles Spurgeon 2020)
Review :
C.M.H. Koenig's second volume in Old Testament Readings & Devotionals covers the books of Exodus, Leviticus, and Numbers as they reveal God's spiritual plan for his people (redemption, sanctification, and perseverance), and continues the Biblical study introduced in the first book.
It should be forewarned that this is no light synthesis. It's the second book of a projected 14-volume series, and blends an in-depth study of each book of the Bible with devotionals supporting the read.
The readings are deceptively short. Each consists of, generally, one chapter from the Bible, while the associated devotionals provide excerpts from Robert Hawker (1753-1827), Charles H. Spurgeon (1834-1892), or Octavius Winslow's (1808-1878) works. C.M.H. Koenig chose to quote the CSB version in the introductions in cases where the wording wasn't critical to keeping it in the old Authorized (King James) Version (AKJV). There are many versions/translations to choose from.
Readers who follow this study with Bible in hand will find the introductory Biblical passage in italics. This helps locate the key message of the chosen section and juxtapose it with the study quote from one of the above scholars, such as Robert Hawker's comment on Exodus 2:24: "This is a precious scripture. My soul, put a note upon it. No sigh, no groan, no tear of God's people can pass unobserved. He putteth the tears of his people in his bottle. Surely then he can never overlook what gives vent to those tears, the sorrows of the soul."
Readers can read along in whatever Bible version/translation of their choice. Free online versions/translations are available at Bible Gateway (https: //www.biblegateway.com/ ) or YouVersion (https: //www.youversion.com/the-bible-app/ ).
Readings are provided materials for daily contemplation. This allows for a special brand of study that adds depth by spacing out the readings and devotionals for in-depth contemplation.
The works gathered in this collection are especially hard-hitting passages. This is yet another example for Day 56, from Leviticus 20: "... I am the LORD your God who set you apart from the peoples." Leviticus 20:24
Let the Reader remark with me, in the perusal of these verses, the grounds on which the Lord enjoins sanctity of life and manners, and the very strong motives in which it is founded, namely, that the Lord is the God of his people in a covenant way, and that they are his people. So that being thus distinguished as the peculiar objects of his love, reason as well as revelation seems to demand that they should be the peculiar followers of his holy law. See what Moses elsewhere saith of this, Deuteronomy 33:29. (Hawker, Poor Man's Old Testament Commentary: Genesis-Numbers, 512)
This careful juxtaposition of Biblical source material and the reflection expanding its meaning offers essential material suitable for self-study and Bible study groups alike.
C.M.H. Koenig has done the hard work of pulling out selected passages and pairing them with the thought-provoking insights of these seasoned scholars. All the Bible study student needs to do now is reflect upon and apply these meanings to their own understanding of the Bible's intentions and the progression of their own lives.
Bible students of all ages who look for daily devotionals linked to explicit Biblical passages will find this approach revealing and accessible. There is no better way to savor the Scriptures and their underlying meaning than through a well-organized study plan such as this.
By D. Donovan, Senior Reviewer, Midwest Book Review
