Book Review: Thus Sayeth the Lord by Julie Davis

Thus Sayeth the Lord: A Fresh Take on the Prophets by Julie Davis

Biblical prophets are often thought of as a bunch of shabbily dressed grumpy guys giving bad news to the people of God. "You've been disobedient and God is going to smite you good!" is the expected message. While that is often the case, many times prophets look to a brighter Messianic future, set people back on the path of righteousness, or call down smiting on Israel's enemies. The devil, as they say, is in the details. Unfortunately, just jumping into the prophets is a daunting task, with source material amounting to hundreds of pages in any bible.

In this delightfully accessible book, Julie Davis reviews almost two dozen prophets in easily consumed doses. She gives brief biographies, what the individual prophets are famous for, and how they are applicable to contemporary life. She starts each chapter with passages to read from the Bible, kind of a "highlights reel," which is especially handy for those prophets who don't get their own named books (like Samuel or Miriam). Davis also points out that the best place to hear the messages of the prophets is the Catholic liturgy, where the readings are often paired up with their fulfillment in the Gospels. Best of all, she connects the prophets' messages and life examples to contemporary problems. Everyone has dealt with issues like when to speak up or how to be patient in adverse circumstances. She's honest and heartfelt, even using examples from her own life.

The book reads quickly and makes a handy reference to delve deeper into any particular prophet. Davis recommends other other scriptural overviews and commentaries for further reading.

Highly recommended.