Evaluation
Overall Score: 7.8/10
A pastorally realistic, theologically reliable and readable commentary on Job that supports preaching and teaching well.
Summary
At a Glance
- Length
- 128 pages
- Type
- Application, Expositional, Homiletical
- Theo. Perspective
- Broadly Evangelical
- Overall score
- 7.8 / 10
- Strength
- Makes a difficult book minister to ministers — clear, usable and gospel-aware.
- Limitation
- Does not provide exhaustive technical or original-language scholarship for advanced research.
In The Message of Job, David J. Atkinson delivers an accessible and pastor-shaped commentary on the book of Job, guiding us into its heart of suffering, lament, divine encounter and hope. He walks through Job’s trials, the speeches of his friends, God’s response from the whirlwind, and the restoration narrative, all the while pointing to how this ancient text speaks into the pressing life realities of congregations and pastors.
Atkinson combines narrative clarity with pastoral empathy — he is interested not just in what the text says about suffering, but in how the people of God live it out. The book invites us to consider not merely the “why” of suffering but the “Who”-that-stands-with-us, and it encourages a gospel-shaped reflection on loss, integrity and divine presence. Within the Bible Speaks Today series this volume occupies the mid-level space: neither a full technical monograph nor a devotional sketch, but a teaching-friendly commentary that brings Job’s world into vivid connection with our own.
Why Should I Own This Commentary?
For the busy pastor or Bible-teacher who is either considering a sermon series on Job or helping a congregation to navigate suffering, this volume offers a well-structured and theologically safe companion. Job is often bypassed in preaching, yet the themes of identification, lament, wisdom and restoration are deeply rich for pastoral ministry. Atkinson equips the reader with clear outlines, thematic reflections and practical questions that enable preaching, teaching or small group use.
Theologically, Atkinson writes from within the evangelical tradition of the Bible Speaks Today series, and his pastoral sensitivity aligns well with Reformed convictions of God’s sovereignty, human need and gospel hope. While it does not engage every critical-historical or original-language issue, it holds Scripture’s authority, attends to suffering honestly, and does so with generous pastoral tact. It aids the Reformed pastor who seeks a readable yet serious commentary that integrates theology and ministry concerns.
That said, if one’s need is for advanced original-language exegesis, full lexical and textual criticism of Job, or extensive interaction with high-end scholarship, this commentary will not be the only resource you need. It is best considered as a strong teaching and preaching tool, rather than a specialist academic volume.
Closing Recommendation
We recommend The Message of Job as a **strong recommendation** for pastors, pastors-in-training and lay-teachers seeking a faithful, readable and ministry-oriented guide to Job. It will serve sermon preparation, teaching series and pastoral reflection with clarity, theological soundness and practical warmth.
Classification
- Level: Mid-level
- Best For: Busy pastors, Lay readers / small groups, Pastors-in-training
- Priority: Strong recommendation