Evaluation

Overall Score: 8.2/10

A pastorally wise guide for teaching the church to lament faithfully.

Publication Date(s): 2022

Pages: 1248

ISBN: 978-1433546488

Faithfulness to the Text: 8.2/10

We are helped to follow the text closely, with careful attention to the poems as they are written.

Christ Centredness: 8/10

We are pointed to the Lord’s mercy and ultimate fulfilment, without using Christ as a shortcut that bypasses lament.

Depth of Insight: 8.1/10

We receive good help with structure and themes, especially useful for teaching the book in the life of the church.

Clarity of Writing: 8.3/10

The writing is clear, which helps us move from reading to teaching with fewer distractions.

Pastoral Usefulness: 8.5/10

We are helped to apply lament to pastoral situations with care, patience, and biblical realism.

Readability: 8.2/10

The material is accessible and consultable, with a tone suited to church ministry.

Summary

At a Glance

Length: 1248 pages
Type: Expository (Mid-Level)
Theo. Perspective: Broadly Evangelical
Overall score: 8.2 / 10
Strength: Strong pastoral usefulness for preaching in seasons of sorrow.
Limitation: Those wanting deeper technical engagement with Hebrew poetry may still add a specialist volume.

In Lamentations, ESV Expository Commentary, David W. Baker helps us teach lament as faithful worship, giving the church words for grief that remain anchored in the Lord.

We are helped to see the structure and movement of the poems, so our teaching respects the form and serves real pastoral needs.

Why Should I Own This Commentary?

We should own this volume when we want to help the church learn to suffer biblically. It supports careful exposition, and it helps us apply the text without rushing past the pain.

It also assists sermon planning, because it shows how the poems progress and how key refrains shape the theology of the book.

For pastoral ministry, it offers a steady companion for preaching in seasons of loss and hardship.

Closing Recommendation

We recommend Lamentations, ESV Expository Commentary for pastors and teachers who want to handle grief with biblical realism and durable hope.

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.

Where to buy

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