Paul Luckraft reviews the second book in Steve Maltz's 'God' trilogy (2014).

In his follow-up to God's Signature, Steve Maltz offers us an overview of the entire Old Testament, emphasising its Jewishness and unearthing some of the deeper meanings of the Hebrew text.

In the prologue he admits this is not an exhaustive commentary on the Hebrew Scriptures "but rather a meandering and we won't be visiting the popular beauty spots...Instead, we will be lifting up stones and poking around in the undergrowth...following the unique quirks of the Hebrew mind [and] making connections...often crossing over boundaries erected by theologians to keep us nice and ordered" (p9).

Part One: the Old Testament Story

The book is in two parts, with Part One ('Word') tackling all the books of the Old Testament but in a slightly different order to most English Bibles. Here, as in God's Signature, Maltz is using the One New Man Bible, which he describes as "like walking a well-worn route, but with better fitting boots" (p10). So Job is placed early, among the patriarchs, and Ezra-Nehemiah towards the end, providing a better chronological understanding than our usual Bibles.

Part One forms 90% of the book and is largely a re-telling of the Old Testament story, seeking glimpses of patterns and repeated ideas. Maltz promises us observations, remarks and curiosities as we go on this journey through the Hebrew scriptures, but for most of the time we are simply given a re-capping of the texts. For me there were not enough of these titbits and extra insights to make the book totally absorbing.

Maltz offers an overview of the entire Old Testament, emphasising its Jewishness and unearthing some of the deeper meanings of the Hebrew text.

Nevertheless, this is a very useful resource for teachers and preachers to get a feel for an Old Testament book before turning to commentaries and other material for more concentrated study. Younger Christians would also benefit from the overview Maltz provides and this book will act as an encouragement to get to know the Old Testament better.

Themes and Threads

As always, Maltz is keen to be 'un-Greek' in his approach and reveal how the Hebrew mindset is the best way to tackle these texts. Typically, he will say 'here's the usual understanding' and then explain that though this is not necessarily wrong, it is not the only way - and here's more to think about.

Maltz is successful in convincing us that there is nothing 'old' about the Old Testament. Rather, in its pages we can discover a living God, a real character who is thoroughly involved in the affairs of men.

Finding recurring themes is a good way of demonstrating the validity of these scriptures and the nature of God. One such connecting thread, 'The Way of the Lord', is particularly informative, with clear links into the New Testament and to Jesus himself.

Maltz successfully convinces us that there is nothing 'old' about the Old Testament – rather, in its pages we discover the living God.

The Beginning of a Journey?

Part Two ('Themes') attempts to draw together some of the themes that have emerged in Part One under three main chapter headings: 'Some things we learn about God', 'Some things we learn about man', and 'Some other things we learn' (a typical Maltzian miscellany!).

In some ways, Part Two deserves more space than the remaining 10% of the book allowed. Many themes are rather briefly dealt with and I felt a bit short-changed at times. Nevertheless, there are some very good topics considered here, such as 'The Jews have an undeniable future' and 'There's a lot that hasn't happened yet' – though two pages hardly does justice to the many yet-to-be-fulfilled prophecies!

Overall, this is another high quality offering from a fertile mind that is soaked in the scriptures and Spirit-informed. Here is a book that can be read through all at once and also dipped into later as a Bible study aid. The end of the book is really a beginning, as it inspires you to go back to the Old Testament and read it again and again and...

God's Blueprint (220 pages) is available to purchase from Saffron Planet Publishing for £10. All three of Steve Maltz's 'God trilogy' are currently on special offer for £20 (you save £10), until 6 July 2016.