An Incredible Biblical Resource for Children and Parents - Part 2

Yesterday, I pointed to an incredible set of Bible commentaries for children, Herein is Love Commentary Series, from Shepherd Press. Thus far, Genesis-Numbers is complete with more to come from author Nancy E. Ganz, who has done an excellent job of making the message of the first four books of the Pentateuch more accessible to children and families. Yesterday, I provided excerpts from Genesis and Exodus. Today comes a sampling from Leviticus and Numbers.

From Leviticus, A Commentary for Children, three of six reasons why children should study such a seemingly archaic book in the OT:

1.It is the Word of God and that is reason enough? 2. It is the middle book in the Pentateuch and (as the middle child of three sisters), "Don't ever overlook the one in the middle!" Leviticus was the third book written by Moses, to whom God spoke face to face as a man speaks to his friend (Exodus 33:11). We must never dismiss or neglect the words of a man so favoured by God. 3. Leviticus is a book which concerns itself with the worship of God! What could be more important?

On the moral law, the 10 Commandments in Leviticus, as it points to Christ and salvation by grace. Note the absence of works righteousness, moralism or sentimentality found in many presentations of the 10 Commandments to children (and adults!):

No man can save himself. No man can enter heaven by his own perfection. No man can attain eternal life by keeping the commandments. It is impossible. Only God can save us...It is by grace we have bee saved, through faith, and this not from ourselves; it is the gift of God, not by works, so that no one can boast. Our hope should be in God's Word, our trust should be in God's Love and our faith should be in God's Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. If we forsake all to follow Christ and His Gospel, He promises us not only blessings in this life, but in the age to come...eternal life.

On the New Covenant significance of the conclusion of Numbers:

Most importantly, this final account in Numbers foreshadows the grace of God in our time, when he grants his children - both sons and daughters - an equal share in the greater inheritance through faith in Jesus Christ. It was foretold in the Old Covenant when the Lord declared, "And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy ... Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days ... And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved" (Joel 2:28-29, 32). It was confirmed in the New Testament (in Galatians 3:26-4:7).

I cannot commend these children's commentaries highly enough. They are filled with biblical meat and are utterly devoid of the cotton candy theology that so typifies much Christian children's literature. Each commentary thoroughly (and clearly) explains the text in its original context with appropriate attention to its historical-redemptive context. Ganz also provides penetrating application and shows how all the texts are fulfilled in the New Covenant and its surety, Jesus Christ, our Lord.

Fathers, the New Year may be a great time to pick up these commentaries and begin teaching your families the first four books of God's Word. Without the books of Moses, the Gospel makes no sense. As Augustine so famously heard in a Milan garden, take up and read.

Again, all four books are available here from the Shepherd Press website.