John Woodhouse's newly released commentary, "1 Samuel: Looking for a Leader', sets a new high water mark in preaching from the Old Testament.

Reading it is even better than listening to his recent CMS Summer School talks. What's more it's not just a "boffin's" commentary.

Sure, it's called a "commentary" and published in the Preaching the Word series (General Editor: Kent Hughes " who has visited Sydney a number of times). But it's genuinely suitable for any Christian interested in understanding a critical period of Old Testament history.

The narrative of 1 Samuel provides vital insights into how God deals with human rebellion in the death of Jesus.

What begins with Israel's rejection of rule by God himself, and seeking a "leader like the nations', and plays out in every subsequent form of rejection of God's rule, is fulfilled when great David's greater son is identified as "my Son, whom I love' (Mk 1:11).

John Woodhouse's careful and compelling treatment of the text enables the glory of God's grace powerfully to shine through.

The wonder lies in God's answer to those who reject his rule.

We learn that Jesus is the leader and rescuer so desperately needed by fallen humans. And, we find that the death of his Son pays the penalty for our rejection of God's rule in the first place.

John has broken 1 Samuel down into 49 bite-sized chunks. Each is a comfortable single-session read for the non-scholar as well as the serious preacher.

The power of John's applications lies in the introduction to each section. In these he engages the reader with a critical issue for believers in any age.

On the way through each section, he not only shows how the text provides the answer to that issue, he shows how what God was doing then has been fulfilled in Christ.

His is no moralizing on the Old Testament in one giant leap from 11th century BC Canaan to 21st century Sydney.

Rather, he shows how this part of the Old Testament flows out of the Exodus covenant and underpins all that is fulfilled both in the death and resurrection of "the leader after God's own heart' and when the kingdom of God comes in power and glory (1 Cor. 15:24).

It's good value and easy, engaging reading for anyone who wants to understand the Old Testament and is prepared to reflect on its challenges for us today.

It's also a first rate model for anyone who wants to learn how to explain the Old Testament in today's world.