Exposition on Prayer

Ronald Quick

I am considering purchasing this resource and was looking for some feedback on it.

http://www.logos.com/product/3440/an-exposition-on-prayer-in-the-bible

Thanks

Jack Caviness

Ronald Quick said:

I am considering purchasing this resource and was looking for some feedback on it.

I purchased it during the Forum Week sale. So far, I have only read the introductory material, but that was quite good. The Table of Contents look extremely thorough. Sorry, I can's provide any additional assistance in your decision. My Reading Plan picks up Monday at Genesis. Should know more in a week.

Rich DeRuiter

Ronald Quick said:

I am considering purchasing this resource and was looking for some feedback on it.

http://www.logos.com/product/3440/an-exposition-on-prayer-in-the-bible

Thanks

Here's a sample from 1Peter 2 (from which I'm preaching these days). The section heading is vv. 2-5, but the verse under immediate consideration are vv 1-10. As you can see there is some general commentary along with some specific application for the believers prayer life. Quote follows:

 

The Acclamation of God
     Four portrayals depict how privileged believers are, and then Peter reminds them of God’s purpose for them in such blessing.
     The portrayals. Some reject Christ (v. 8), but the believers (“you”) are described in four ways as God’s people, all in language that had described OT Israelites, at least the genuine ones among them, as being the Lord’s. Believers now are “a chosen race,” a new unit as OT Israel was an overall entity (Deut. 10:15). They form “a royal priesthood,” each one of them being a believer priest in distinction to Israel having only the Aaronic line as priests. And they are "royal” or “kingly” as heirs of God’s kingdom (1 Pet. 1:4; cf. 1 Thess. 2:12; Rev. 1:6). They constitute “a holy nation” (Matt. 21:43) in comparison with Israel as a national group (Exod. 19:6; Deut. 7:6). And they comprise “a people for God’s own possession” as God had made Israel (Exod. 19:5; Deut. 7:6).
     Peter goes on in v. 10 to enlarge on the fourth description. He stresses the people, specifically the privilege of being these, beneficiaries of God’s mercy.
     The purpose. Being those of the four privileges portrayed, believers are to fulfill God’s purpose. It is “that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.” A word for purpose (hopos) is followed by what the purpose was for which God placed them in these bounties. It is that “you” (the ones portrayed) “might acclaim ….” The word means “to proclaim, report, sound out,” and appears here alone in the NT. What they are to sound out are the “moral excellencies, virtues” (aretas) of God. In Phil. 4:8 the term is one in a list of beautiful qualities that Christians should reflect. Peter again uses it twice, once of the “excellence” that shines in God (2 Pet. 1:3), and another time of the moral attractiveness that should characterize believers (1:5).
     Further help on the idea is in similar OT verses. One is Isa. 42:12, which is a summons to “give glory to the Lord and declare His praise. The context there puts much emphasis on the Lord being worthy for His creating heaven and earth (5), giving life to the people (5), calling His Messiah in righteousness, watching over Him and appointing Him to open blind eyes and release prisoners (6–7), and prevailing over His enemies (13). His glories could include such matters. Another verse is Isa. 43:21 where the Lord says that “the people whom I formed for Myself will declare My praise.” Acclaiming God’s excellencies appears to mean lauding Him for what is to His praise or glory. This could include His splendid works, but if we limit it to these it is too narrow. Closely-related to God’s works that are to His glory, as Ps. 19:1, is the excellency of His very name (Ps. 8:1–2). Peter has already prayed, recognizing that He is “Blessed” (1:3), and the magnificence of what He is He expresses in what He does. Acclamation of Him can be rich with variety citing the wonder of His personal qualities and the bounty of His works. J. R. Michaels on 1 Peter seems to have strong warrant in seeing the “excellencies” as a synonym for Peter’s phrase “glorifying God” (2:12; 4:11, 14b, 16).
     The acclamation could be to men, either privately or when speaking of God’s glories to a group. It also could be in prayer to God when alone or publicly with people. But when one reflects on how the godly of ancient Israel sounded forth God’s excellencies, as in the Psalms, he gains the impression that prayer can be a very large channel of acclaiming Him.
     God’s threefold purpose for His own in 2:1–10 leads on in the context’s flow to many ways that believers can reflect the beauties of God (11ff). This is just as the prospects for their destiny in Chap. 1 gave way to the products that their lives should consistently exemplify.
     It is time to survey principles that can impact prayer. One is that an intimate, healthy intake of the Word should be a catalyst for praying the way that pleases God. Second, we can encourage ourselves in prayer by thinking of how we are related so closely with Christ (a living stone, living stones). Third, since we are priests before God, let us offer up often to Him and see that the things we offer are His delights. Fourth, be always about the spiritual business of sounding out tributes to the Lord. Be alert so that fair-sounding words about Him match with the way our actions make Him appear before others!


James E. Rosscup, An Exposition on Prayer in the Bible: Igniting the Fuel to Flame Our Communication With God (Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 2008), 2602-04.

EDIT: Oops, forgot the feedback: For those who want to create or nurture a tighter link between their prayer life and the Scriptures he can be very helpful - even in those places where the genre of the text is not specifically prayer. However, I wouldn't buy this for its value as a commentary, though he sometimes suggests important points not suggested elsewhere.

Jacob Hantla

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/263341#Comment_263341

Richard DeRuiter said:

 However, I wouldn't buy this for its value as a commentary, though he sometimes suggests important points not suggested elsewhere.

I generally agree with this point...I've owned the resource since it was first published. I have found it very very helpful for some portions of scripture and not as helpful elsewhere (just like most commentaries). He writes from a reformed, dispensational perspective which most closely aligns with my own view at this point...I have found that he regularly offers unique perspectives on passages that I find much more helpful and pithy than most of my commentaries.

Tom Geswein

This was discussed a while back here.  Lots of differing opinions.

Ronald Quick

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/263501#Comment_263501

Thanks for all the input - including the example from the resource.   As much as I would like to get it, my wallet says not now.  I will have to put this on my wish list.