I seem to always be looking for an edge in my devotional life. Like an offensive-coordinator in football I am constantly surveying what I have in terms of resources and how to best utilize them for maximum return. As a result I change things up a lot, shuffling in a lot of different resources, perhaps to keep the defense guessing, but more to be more productive.
One of my favorite resources is my favorite Bible. The Literary Study Bible (ESV) came out a few years back. It has been a great blessing and tool in my life.
From the publisher:
The ESV Literary Study Bible approaches the Bible as literature and shows how the application of literary tools of analysis helps tremendously in reading and understanding the Bible. Readers are introduced to the literary features of each book of the Bible and to each section within each book. While traditional Bibles are reference books, this is truly a reader’s Bible. The format and commentary make it ideal for private devotional reading, for preachers and Bible teachers, and for use in group Bible studies.
The Literary Study Bible is a Study Bible but it is probably not thick enough to stop a bullet, like some other excellent resources. I love these other Study Bibles, and I use them, but they are a little too big and too distracting for me as I do my daily Bible reading.
So how does the Literary Study Bible pull off the Study Bible title? It still provides book introductions, key themes, format, and its place within the big-picture of the Bible. But it is more compressed.
Perhaps it is in their aim:
The twofold goal of the ESV Literary Study Bible is clearly stated, “(1) to make the Bible reader friendly and (2) to show how application of literary tools of analysis helps in reading and understanding the Bible” (xvii).
The Bible is more reader friendly in that it is in a single column, does not have chapter headers, the study noties are concise and distinct, and the notes summarize and anticipate chapters.
In terms of the literary approach they help to unpack the Bible as a literary work. This is something a guy like me, who excelled at being absent in English and Literature classes, really appreciates.
One reviewer, who was a Bible and English teacher said this:
Literary elements, such as symbolism, rhetoric, metaphors and themes, are all part of the introductory and summary material. Instead of being a commentary or an “answer” book, the ESVLSB gives the information and guidance that will allow all kinds of Christians of diverse backgrounds and theologies to use and benefit from this Bible.
There is also a glossary of literary terms that help you to understand how the various literary features of the Bible.
General editors, Leland and Philip Graham Ryken have done an outstanding job with this resource. Utilizying some of their gold from the very helpful Ryken’s Bible Handbook they strike the right balance of teaching, guiding and getting out of the way so you can read, discover and marvel. The Literary Study Bible is a unique Bible that excels in the type of devotional offense I am trying to run. This is why it’s my favorite Bible. Give it a look for yourself (Westminster Books or Amazon.com).