I confess to taking a lucky dip approach to Proverbs, grabbing at nuggets of wisdom for a quick fix. And cherry-picking themes by threading random verses together!
Birkett has transformed my sloppy ways and helped me to see that Proverbs has structure and progression: a series of wisdom lectures with a particular purpose and people in view; beginning with lessons for the gullible youth and proceeding to lessons for the mature leader or teacher. In each example, wisdom training brings increasing godliness for thriving now and future reward.
Birkett is a skilled expositor who pays careful attention to the Hebrew text, noting nuances otherwise lost in translation without being overly technical. One sees the wood as well as the trees! Each section is introduced and NIV text cited (but for erroneous editorial omissions 14v28, p.166 and 27v5-22, p.228) followed by a verse-by-verse exegesis full of careful and contemporary application. Weighty in richness but light enough to digest. Exactly as the original author intends.
Drawing on the works of Overbeck, Waltke and others (although a bibliography is missing) and using a plethora of Biblical cross-referencing, there are no wasted words. Pithy Proverbs paired with pithy explanation. I particularly enjoyed the introduction which sets Proverbs in the context of wisdom literature, defining wisdom and the wise person from a Christocentric perspective. Thoughtfully instructive.
Altogether, this makes Birkett’s Commentary on Proverbs not only useful to those who preach and teach, but accessible for the earnest believer seeking wisdom. With minor editorial corrections, I highly commend.
PROVERBS The Hodder Bible Commentary By Kirsten Birkett. Hodder & Stoughton. 254 pages. £22.99 ISBN 978 1 399 819 350
