Eric A. Seibert - Enjoying the Old Testament: A Creative Guide to Encountering Scripture

A NUMBER OF YEARS AGO, I was meeting with a student on campus. As we talked, he shared something that stuck with me. He said that many of his friends had little interest in reading the Bible. It wasnt just that some people had a hard time understanding the Bible (though many certainly do) or that the Bible contains unfamiliar customs and practices (though it certainly does). Rather, the issue was deeper than that. They were just not interested. This got me thinking. How can we help people want to open the Bible? What can be done to increase their desire to read Scripture and get more involved with it? I am thankful to this student, whose name I have forgotten (sorry!), for setting me on this path.

Every book has a long list of people to thank, and this one is no different. Let me begin with a word of thanks to all the students I have had the privilege of teaching over the years in classes like Encountering the Bible, Old Testament Literature, and Selected Old Testament Books. You have taught me so much and have given me opportunities to test-drive some of the ideas contained in this book.

I owe an incalculable debt of gratitude to three Old Testament professors for instilling in me a deep and abiding love for this part of the Bible. My passion for the Old Testament was kindled under the wise and skillful teaching of Terry Brensinger, to whom this book is dedicated. Were it not for him, it is difficult to say what direction my life and vocational path would have taken. John Oswalt was also instrumental in cultivating my deepening interest in this part of the Bible. Though our scholarship moves in some very different directions, I remain grateful for the privilege of sitting under his excellent instruction during my time in seminary. Herbert Huffmon introduced me to the power of persuasion in the prophets and opened the treasures of the ancient world to me. I benefited greatly from the time and energy he invested in my life during my doctoral studies.

To each of you, I offer my heartfelt thanks for the crucial role you have played in my journey. Your love for the Old Testament has encouraged mine in countless ways. As you will see, I have incorporated a number of things into this book that I first learned from the three of you. I have tried to give appropriate credit where things seemed most derivative. Beyond that, I am hopeful this general word of acknowledgment will suffice as an adequate substitute for what would otherwise require many, many more footnotes.

A number of people read a draft of this manuscript and provided valuable comments and feedback, making it much better than anything I could have produced on my own. I owe each of them my thanks and gratitude: Terry Brensinger, John Byron, Emily Cowser, Michelle Curtis, Jay McDermond, Elisa Joy Seibert, Hannah Sledge, Brian Smith, Chris Wenger, and Mitch Wirth. I deeply appreciate you taking time away for a hundred other things you could have been doing to read and comment on this book. Your insights and questions enhanced my work in so many ways, and I have freely incorporated many of your suggestions into the final version. Of course, all remaining shortcomings and errors are my own.

Jay McDermond takes the prize for being the first person to read through the entire manuscript and return it marked with manyoften humorouscomments (though I confess to some disappointment for feedback written in blue rather than purple ink). Your early enthusiasm for this book was a great encouragement to me.

Michelle, your comments were immensely helpful to me at many points. Thank you for reading this manuscript so carefully and for offering such excellent feedback. My happy Old Testament book, as you liked to call it, is now finished and is quite a bit happier thanks to you.

As always, a very special word of thanks is due to Elisa, my beloved wife of thirty years. Your consistent mantra of you have good things to offer has worked its way deep into my soul. It gives me courage to write and speak with the hope that it actually makes some difference. Thank you for reading and commenting on yet another book, and for believing in me and supporting me. Life with you is a gift of grace that brings me great joy and keeps my work in perspective. You are a blessing beyond compare.

Writing while parenting is no easy task, and I am grateful to Nathan, Rebecca, and Hannah for putting up with a book writing Daddy. I owe each of you an ice cream cone and a friendly wrestling session (no, you are not getting unlimited screen time).

I also owe my parents a great debt of gratitude for regularly watching the kids so I could have time to write. Thank you for sacrificing so much and giving so freely of your time so I could write and tend to other things that needed to be done. I hope you feel some pride and satisfaction knowing what an important role you played in making this book possible. Dad, I hope you can now rest in peace knowing this book is finally finished. I only wish you were still here so I could give you a copy in person. I love you, Dad and Mom, always and forever!