Gods and Kings
March 12, 2007
We have a winner!
Janette, you won Mary DeMuth’s Wishing on Dandelions. Congrats, and thanks for tuning in. I’ll make sure the book gets to you shortly. Hope you enjoy it.
Our Sunday School class is studying the book of Isaiah. Have to admit, my initial reaction was not one of elation. Isaiah’s a pretty deep book. I’ve read it a number of times during my devotions, but there’ve definitely been sections I struggled through. And now our class is studying all sixty-six chapters.
Hm.
But so far, I’m really enjoying the class. We’re only in the first few chapters, but a clear groundwork has been laid for God’s anger with Israel’s sin. Israel has rejected God and practiced evil, even as they go through the motions of worshiping God, and God tells them right in the beginning of the book that He has had enough. He calls them children who’ve rebelled. He calls them people of Gomorrah. He says they’re not even as smart as an ox or donkey who know who their masters are.
Ouch.
When you study the history of Israel during this time, you discover that they were worshiping numerous idols and even dragging some of those idol practices into the Temple. Can you imagine how that must have hurt God? They abandoned Him for twisted, evil, and sometimes inhumane behavior.
And yet, after all those harsh statements about Judah, God offers forgiveness in that amazing verse that says, “Come now, and let us reason together . . . Though your sins are as scarlet, They will be as white as snow.”
How does this relate to fiction?
I recently picked up Lynn Austin’s Gods and Kings. It takes place during King Ahaz’s reign in Judah. That would be King Ahaz — one of the four kings during whose reign Isaiah prophesied.
The book is intense in about three places, and when I got to the point where I realized what was happening or about to happen, I’ll admit I skimmed. But the book showed clearly how wicked and twisted the tribe of Judah had become. Their worship of other gods was not just wrong in that it abandoned God but in that it was horrible and repulsive. And Isaiah enters the picture, speaking God’s warning.
Isaiah is by no means the focal point of Gods and Kings — that belongs to King Ahaz, his son Hezekiah, and the idol worship of Judah. Hezekiah, the fourth king Isaiah prophesied to, is a child growing up in the book and became a king who did serve God. I had to keep reading to see what might have made the diffrence between Hezekiah and his Molech-worshiping father, Ahaz. Despite its few difficult scenes, I found Gods and Kings almost impossible to put down.
I don’t usually read Biblical fiction, but this story seems to stay true to the Biblical texts. Lynn even lists several passages in the Old Testament for you to read, and I do suggest you read them at some point as you read the book. I highly recommend Gods and Kings for an entertaining, well-written read that grabs you from chapter one and doesn’t let go. Check it out, and when you finish, drop me a line here and tell me what you thought.
- On Wednesday, an interview with Kacy Barnett-Gramckow, author of the Genesis Trilogy
- Don’t forget to comment for a chance to win a free book
Comments
7 Responses to “Gods and Kings”
Found my way here from a comment you made from Camy’s blog. I’ll bookmark your site and be back to read again
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This book sounds interesting. I love Biblical fiction (other kinds too), and have even written a couple of Biblical short stories myself.
Please enter me in your contest.
Sally,
This looks like a great book! Isn’t it amazing how God continually wants to reconcile with us! I think that’s the theme running through the book of Hosea as well. Just amazing. Thanks for the review. I’ll have to go find this book.
Wow, I can’t wait to read Wishing on Dandelions! Thanks, Sally! Gods and Kings sounds very interesting. I’m looking forward to your interview with Kacy Barnett-Gramckow. I thought her book The Heavens Before was very well written and I hope to read her other books soon.
Hi Sally,
This book was awesome. I read it thinking at first that I wouldn’t want to read about that era of time but then when I heard Lynn Austin talking about all she went through to get this book pubbed (this was her first) I had to read it. Wow. The book was amazing and I learned so much. I’ve heard the others were really good too. How neat to study Isaiah in Sunday School after reading this book.
Julie
I too am ‘doing’ Isaiah. After initial groans, I’m loving it! The book looks good too! Thanks!
Sally, ok–I meant this book. I’m a little retarted when it comes to figuring out which buttons to click ;o)
LOL. Don’t worry, Elizabeth. We all have our moments.