SONGS FOR A SAVIOUR'S BIRTH
By William Philip
IVP. 74 pages. £6.99
ISBN 978 1 783 594 474
This little gem of a book provides just the right, much-needed, stimulus as we once again approach the season of Christmas, both for the preacher and the Bible reader.
In five fine expository chapters, William Philip, minister of The Tron Church, Glasgow, examines the songs of the Incarnation recorded in the first two chapters of Luke's Gospel, on the lips of Elizabeth, Mary, Zechariah, the Angels and lastly, Simeon and Anna. The textual observation is sharp and insightful. The biblical backgrounds and cultural contexts are well handled and illuminate our understanding. Above all, the exposition is clear and warmly practical.
The joy of the gospel
This is preached material, with all the consequent advantages of a loving, relational church context, where pastor and people are at one, sitting under God’s Word. The preacher shares his own heart and draws us into his own excitement and enthusiastic involvement with the text. The five expositions are themselves songs of joy and praise at the wonder of God the Father’s grace in sending the Son to be the saviour of the world. The joy of the gospel is on page after page.
If you are feeling a little jaded at the thought of the run-up to Christmas, let me commend this biblical tonic to you. I found my heart being uplifted, my perceptions broadened and my thankfulness to the Lord deepened for this world-changing event we are about to celebrate again. That was because the Lord Jesus Christ himself is central to the whole book, as he is to all the Scriptures. As he is uplifted, so we are drawn to him.
Finally, the book provides an excellent example of the sort of careful, expository preaching which our churches so much need - exegetically strong, relationally warm, pas-torally sensitive and thoroughly evangelical. My advice is to buy it, read it and pass it on. Its contents are what makes for a really happy Christmas!
