Evaluation
Overall Score: 8.1/10
A sober, pastoral exposition of Judges that helps us preach sin’s spiral and God’s mercy with clarity and force.
Summary
At a Glance
- Length
- 350 pages
- Type
- Expository (Mid-Level)
- Theo. Perspective
- Reformed
- Overall score
- 8.1 / 10
- Strength
- Clear moral seriousness and steady application shaped by the text.
- Limitation
- Less support for modern technical debates and recent scholarship.
We find Fausset’s Judges a vigorous exposition that helps us trace the book’s downward spiral with soberness, and its flashes of deliverance with gratitude. He keeps the narrative moving, but he also keeps asking what the Lord is teaching His people through repeated compromise and repeated mercy.
The tone is frank about sin and realistic about the church’s need for godly leadership. It is particularly helpful when we want our preaching to expose idols, warn against gradual drift, and yet still hold out the Lord’s patience and power to save.
Why Should I Own This Commentary?
We should own this commentary because it helps us preach the moral darkness of Judges without turning it into mere shock value. It keeps the focus on covenant faithfulness, the cost of unbelief, and the Lord’s mercy toward undeserving people.
We also benefit from its clear warnings. It helps us apply Judges to congregational life in a way that is searching but not cynical, and it pushes us toward humble dependence rather than clever leadership techniques.
For weekly preparation, it gives solid guidance that supports clear exposition and honest pastoral application.
Closing Recommendation
We recommend this as a useful mid level commentary for preaching Judges, especially when we want help drawing out the book’s spiritual lessons with sobriety. Pair it with a modern volume for extra historical detail, but this remains strong for pastoral direction and moral clarity.
As pastoral next steps, we can visit the Bible Book Overview, browse Top Recommendations, and use the Reformed Commentary Index to build a wiser working library.
Classification
- Level: Mid-level
- Best For: Busy pastors, General readers, Pastors-in-training
- Priority: Strong recommendation
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