Get Wise by Bob Merritt: A Book Review
Thank you, Bob Merritt, for doing what I have always wanted to do: sifting through the random assortment of life-giving wisdom in the book of Proverbs and categorizing the verses according to theme.
As a pastor, Merritt knows that the book of Proverbs contains the wise words that our hearts need. In fact, he equates having a wise heart with spiritual sensitivity, and then highlights eleven other extremely practical aspects of living where the application of godly wisdom to daily decisions can make the difference between success and failure, triumph and defeat, life and death. These categories fall into four major groupings: Personal Wisdom, Relational Wisdom, Family Wisdom, and Successful Wisdom.
Although the book reads just as Baker’s category (Christian Living) implies, it could also serve well as a teacher’s guide since it includes discussion questions and a focus verse for each chapter. Merritt’s personal experiences have just the right blend of grimace and grin to hit home — his transparency is heartwarming. I actually could not help but read parts of the book out loud to my husband and kids, and they had the same reaction. The next time I teach from the book of Proverbs, this book will be nearby as I study.
I received this book free from Baker Publishing Group. The opinions I have expressed are my own, and I was not required to write a positive review. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html.