The dictionary defines analysis as a separating or breaking up of any whole into its parts so as to look at its nature. Synthesis is the putting together of the parts so as to form a whole. Good exposition does both. It takes a portion of the Word of God and breaks it apart so we can see its components and the beauties of each part. Many commentaries stop here. They comment on each of the verses and help us to see the words used and the grammatical intricacies. This is good, but it is not complete. It is good analysis. But the Bible is a whole, and each of its parts make up a whole revelation. It is in the mastery of the whole that each of the parts takes on added significance. That takes years of study and meditation and walking with God. It is the rarified air of synthesis that separates the few from the many, the best from the good, the giants from the men.
I have just scanned two new books published by Gospel Folio Press. The emphasized word is “scanned.” For these books are not appreciated by just scanning. Both of them need time to digest. But the processes of analysis and synthesis came forcibly to my mind as I read them. Both of these men have obviously read widely. They have a grasp of history and of the geography of the land of Israel. They both have a grasp of the Book itself in all its parts. They exhibit the fruits of years of study and devotion to their God. But they are two different men and their writing styles are distinct from one another. Both of these books will do you good.
The first is “The Footprints of the Saviour,” by Jim Flanigan. Mr. Flanigan traces the pathway of our Saviour from Bethlehem to Galilee where He had that intimate talk after His resurrection with the seven who had “gone fishing.” In twelve chapters, he goes with the Saviour to twelve different places where His pathway led Him in doing the Father’s will. He demonstrates a real intimacy with the geography of the land–not just the geography but the interplay between history and geography at these various places. But this isn’t primarily a geography book or even a history book–it is a book that points us to the One who walked here among us, the Son of God who became the Son of Man. This little volume takes us on an illuminating journey with the Eternal God who took on Him flesh and blood and walked the dusty roads of His land in the process of fulfilling His Father’s will. Your temptation will be to read through this book too quickly. It is delightfully written. But slow down and enjoy; meditate and worship. You will be enriched.
The next book calls us to scale some mountains–not just any mountains, not just the foothills and plateaus, but the snowy summits where the air is pure and clean. But more than that, we are invited up the peaks where few men have ever been. At Sinai, the masses stayed at the foot and pled for the display of the holiness and majesty of God to be interpreted to them. They did not wish a face-to- face encounter. The elders dared to come up the mountain partway and eat with God. Then Joshua and Moses went farther. But there was a place where only Moses went and talked with God, seeing His glory as no one had seen Him before.
There are peaks where only the few and the brave have trod and they have been rewarded with a revelation of Him.
Mr. T. Ernest Wilson takes us to these mountains in a book entitled, “Men of the Mountains and Valleys.” Six mountains and men of the Old Testament. Seven mountains and one Man–the man Christ Jesus–in the New. Here on these mountains you will be given insights into who God is and the greatness of His Son as He traversed this scene. This book is filled with keen insights gleaned from years of study and a close walk with God. Here you will find synthesis at its best as the parts are brought together and the exposition of “Christ in all the Scriptures” is emblazoned before us. Read, be instructed, and behold your God!