Why so much Isaiah during Advent?

 It's Isaiah-this and Isaiah-that all the way through the readings for Advent. Why? Well, consider this —Jesus began his ministry by quoting Isaiah. When it comes to Messianic prophecies, no one nails it like Isaiah and, of course, Jesus knew it.

I was really pleased to hear recently about a father who was reading bits of my chapter about Isaiah to his 5th and 6th grade sons to help them understand the Isaiah-Jesus connection.

If you've got prophet questions or prophet blocks, Thus Sayeth the Lord might be just what you need. It's accessible, it's accurate (complete with Nihil Obstat and and imprimatur), and it might help you see that the prophets still matter right here, right now in 2020.

You can read the Jonah and Deborah chapters at the links. The Amazon  sample has the first couple of chapters.

It makes a great Christmas gift — for yourself or others! Pick it up in paperback or for the Kindle at Amazon.

 

A Review of Thus Sayeth the Lord That Makes Me Very Proud

Some recommended reading for your month of All Souls, Advent, or Ordinary-Time Bible study needs. Excellent intro to the prophets by Julie Davis.

Final verdict: This is a fantastic offering that fills a void in the Bible-study literature. I highly recommend this book if you are looking for a readable, down-to-earth introduction to the prophets that is a balanced combination of Bible study and reflections for personal inspiration and spiritual growth.

This wonderful review of my book Thus Sayeth the Lord comes from Jennifer Fitz. It's lovely to have someone I respect so much give such a glowing recommendation. It makes me really proud! 

Do go read the whole thing! I'll leave you with a last bit that filled me with more pride.

What makes this book especially good: Julie writes the book from the perspective of a former atheist, of a faithful-but-normal Catholic, and as someone engaged for decades now in a constant two-way conversation with the wider culture. You can tell that she really understands how people struggle with the faith and what it’s like to be looking at Christianity and scratching your head and wondering if the Catholic faith has anything, at all, to offer somebody like you.

Her depth and breadth of experience shows on every page, and the end result is a book that is exquisitely suited to parish Bible study groups, where participants may vary from curious-non-believers to earnest disciples, all thrown together in one classroom to puzzle out what can be a very daunting topic.

 

More positive reviews for Thus Sayeth the Lord

I'm delighted to see these good reviews and wanted to share a bit with you:

She starts each chapter with passages to read from the Bible, kind of a "highlights reel," which is especially handy for those prophets who don't get their own named books (like Samuel or Miriam). Davis also points out that the best place to hear the messages of the prophets is the Catholic liturgy, where the readings are often paired up with their fulfillment in the Gospels. Best of all, she connects the prophets' messages and life examples to contemporary problems. Everyone has dealt with issues like when to speak up or how to be patient in adverse circumstances. She's honest and heartfelt, even using examples from her own life.

Joseph

========

his would make an excellent Bible study for adults or teens. There is much to be gleaned by longtime disciples, but Julie's down-to-earth, friendly, welcoming, and understanding point of view make this book suitable for those who are just learning about the Catholic faith for the first time, or who have serious reservations about certain aspects of the faith.

Jon

======

I was happy to find that this book is very accessible, with an incredibly conversational, colloquial style (Galaxy Quest and MCU references, anyone?) that makes these ancient stories feel timeless and relatable. At the same time, it's extremely informative and provides copious citations and annotations for further reference, and I learned a lot about the minor prophets and gained deeper understanding of the major prophets.

Oftentimes I find that I don't get as much out of the "further reflections" or "how does this relate to us" sections of modern prayer or scriptural study books as I am meant to. In this book, however, Julie Davis's discreet personal reflections (no over-sharing here), insightful analysis, and gentle questions really made me stop and think - and develop a greater reverence for the wisdom and example of the prophets. Definitely recommended!

Kimberly

If you haven't tried Thus Sayeth the Lord, it is available in both Kindle and print.

If you've found the book helpful and haven't left a review, please consider doing so. They really do help people find the book.

"Sometimes you put off a book review because you are nervous that you will not do it justice."

That's how Jeff Miller (a.k.a. The Curt Jester in Catholic blogging) begins his review of Thus Sayeth the Lord. I couldn't be more complimented by that sentiment.

I have respected Jeff for so long for his discernment, sense of humor, and love of the faith. For him to give a glowing review such as the one he left on his blog, Amazon and Good Reads means so much to me.

He also touched on something that hasn't been brought up by anyone else.

There is a whimsical aspect to this book that both pulls you in and surprises you. From the typefaces used to the folksy way that Julie naturally communicates you might think that these are just quick summarizations. Easy to digest, but not really serious scholarship and insight. The easy to digest part is correct until you get hit upside-the-head with a flash of insight and you wonder “Why didn’t I notice this before?” Then you start to notice the serious study invested to be able to pass on the work of scriptural scholars.

I myself almost had forgotten the amount of research and study I did into the prophets before I wrote about each one. Thank you Jeff for noticing and reminding me!

Go read the whole review to see what else he points out.

And then get your very own copy!

Callooh Callay! Thus Sayeth the Lord print version releases TODAY!

Thus Sayeth the Lord was originally slated to release on March 31 but Covid-19 intervened. The Kindle version has been available but now you can get the print version.

I love the layout on this book and you can get it for yourself now!

Head on over to Amazon and pick up your own copy!

A Terrific Review from a Demanding Reader : "Davis knows how to dress scholarship in casual clothes"

Patrick O'Hannigan and I have known each other for many years, both through this blog and over at Good Reads. I know he's not always easy to please, so that made me very pleased with his review of Thus Sayeth the Lord. It's coming out in actual print — woohoo! — next Monday.

Slide on over to Amazon for all of Patrick's review (as well as others) and order your own copy. Here's a bit of Patrick's.

Emotional intelligence and biblical scholarship wrapped into one package can be intimidating, but here they are not, because Davis is patrolling the scriptural outfield. This book presents brief, insightful examinations of people like Moses, Deborah, and Elijah. It also draws practical moral advice from each of their stories. It's great stuff.

A lovely review from Mrs. Darwin for Thus Sayeth the Lord

... Underneath the conversational tone is a deep knowledge of scripture and a love for these prickly characters who are the pillars of the Old Testament.

Although Julie Davis doesn't sugarcoat any of the apocalyptic weirdness of Ezekiel or the marital imagery of Hosea, this book is appropriate for and accessible to teenagers, a perfect gateway to a deeper scriptural literacy.

Many thanks for the review which may be read in its entirety at Amazon — where the Kindle book is still on sale for $2.99!

The print version will (finally) be available June 22!

Let me read you a chapter of Thus Sayeth the Lord

I'll Be Reading a Chapter of My New Book on Facebook Tomorrow

Friday, May 8

3:00 p.m. Central Time

My personal Facebook page

I'll be reading a chapter of Thus Sayeth the Lord: A Fresh Take on the Prophets.

If you miss the specific livestream reading, don't worry. Our Sunday Visitor will have the video living on its YouTube page later. And it will stay up on Facebook as a recorded video.

It'll be fun! A personal reading of one of my favorite chapters! Tune in to see which of the 18 prophets I choose!

A Very Nice Review — "Believe That Subtitle!"

Many thanks to Susan Vigilante for her review on Amazon.

When I opened "Thus Sayeth the Lord" I was expecting something, you know, churchy. I couldn't have been more wrong. Julie Davis's "fresh take" on all prophets major and minor prophets is just that- a completely different way of thinking about all prophets minor and major, from Moses (I never thought of him as a prophet, either!) to Jesus Himself. She strips away all the musty scents of incense and grandiose intonations and gives it to us straight: "To become holy is to become more authentically who we are." This utterly engaging book would be perfect for all readers from young adult and up. Highly recommended.

Remember Thus Sayeth the Lord is on a deep discount at Amazon right now - just $2.99 for the ebook. Get a copy now!

$2.99 Kindle Sale on Thus Sayeth the Lord!

April 27 - May 11, 2020

OSV has a temporary deep discount on the Thus Sayeth the Lord e-book for $2.99 on Amazon!

Get it now! 

And tell your friends!

I'll be on Meet the Author on Radio Maria - today at 2:00 CST!

Each week Ken Huck talks with Catholic authors on Meet the Author on Radio Maria about their books, both recent publications and older works that have stood the test of time.

And today it is me! We're gonna talk about the prophets in a way that goes down easy!

Listen live at 3 pm ET.

Also, use your Echo or other device to listen. Simply say "Alexa, play Radio Maria USA" and you will be connected in seconds.

New Reviews for Thus Sayeth the Lord!

This Book is for Everyone

"I'm not a church-going spiritual kind of person but I am a spiritual person. I wasn't sure what I would find in Thus Sayeth the Lord. If it was all churchy I was outta there. But I was so happily engaged with a description and take on the prophets that I could relate to...that made me stop and think. Reread...think more. How often does that happen in a book? It was such a birds-eye view on big situations and brought into the perspective of today. Pretty interesting how now looking at current events is pretty relatable to what was going on for the prophets to deal with in their day. So buy it and enjoy...you will LOL, I promise!" — Lisa Montgomery

=================

Well worth the small cost for the fresh take.

"This book provides a refreshing down to earth look at some of the most interesting individuals in the Bible. It humanizes them and allows us a glimpse into their mentality and faith. " — John Austin

=================

A Good Introduction

"The Old Testament prophets are often hard to get a grip on, as each is embedded in a particular situation in time that usually isn’t familiar to the reader. They can seem detached, unrelated to anything in our current experience. Davis does an excellent job of making the prophets human for us, putting them in context, and making them relevant. As such, it’s an excellent starting for deeper study, and engaging and entertaining in its own right." — William Duquette

=================

Hear the word of the Lord with different ears

"Julie has a special way of listening to anything she reads or watches. She can't seem to ignore what God may be saying in even the most mundane, everyday things and events around us. That is how she listens to God speaking through his designated prophets, the ones in the Bible that we sometimes skirt in our own reading out of confusion, or sometimes fear of what we might hear. The prophets Julie has heard in writing this book may do and say scary things, and she can still help us hear the mercy and comfort our God wants to give us for our own lives." — Patsy Edinburgh

Many thanks to those who took the time to review my book! Here's where you can get your copy!

See Me on a Live Webcast on OSV Today - 1 Central Time

This webcast will be a half-hour interview about - of course - my new book Thus Sayeth the Lord: A Fresh Take on the Prophets.

Here's where you can see it and it will be on-demand about an hour after we finish - so you can really see it any time at your convenience.

It looks as if you have to register to watch.

Christopher Closeup interview about Thus Sayeth the Lord

I had the great pleasure of being interviewed by Tony Rossi of The Christopher Closeup.

Our interview will air this Sunday, March 29th, on Sirius-XM's The Catholic Channel (129) at 7:00am and 11:30am Eastern - and on Relevant Radio at 7:00am Eastern.


It will be released as a podcast during Holy Week.

An early positive comment on Thus Sayeth the Lord

We've been reading this out loud as a family and just finished the Deborah chapter. The kids love it, and everyone has been paying good attention and asking intelligent questions. Thanks for writing such a fun book on a complex topic!

Mrs. Darwin (from DarwinCatholic blog) commented after I announced the e-book is now for sale on Amazon.

I couldn't be more pleased. Will be very interested to hear how they handle Hosea, which I say right up front is not a family friendly prophet!

Pick up your e-book today! You might be surprised how the prophets can help you handle our hard times today!

Living With Deborah: Privileged to Collaborate

For the final bit of the Deborah chapter in my new book, Thus Sayeth the Lord — let's look at the man in this equation — the general Barak.

Previously in the chapter: part 1, part 2, part 3

LIVING WITH DEBORAH
Privileged to Collaborate

We’ve focused on woman-power, but let’s look at Barak, the other major player in this story. He is respected enough to rally ten thousand warriors and lead them to a blowout victory. That’s not the kind of guy who usually comes running when a woman orders, even if she is a judge and prophetess. But Barak respects Deborah’s authority enough to respond to her summons.

Deborah is literally using God’s words, saying, “I will draw Sisera, the general of Jabin’s army, to meet you by the river Kishon with his chariots and his troops; and I will give him into your hand.”

But Barak hesitates, saying, “If you will go with me.” That “if” changed the ultimate hero of the battle, with Jael getting the glory of Sisera’s death. Why does Barak put conditions on his obedience? Is he afraid? Does he or do his troops need a tangible “talisman” of God’s favor? Does he doubt God’s power? We simply don’t know. Again, this story is about God’s victory, not individuals’ internal journeys.

I get Barak. “Yes, but … ” seems to be one of my favorite phrases when God’s desires come to me. No one’s asking me to face down nine hundred weapons of mass destruction, but taking dinner to an ill neighbor down the street can feel just as daunting when I don’t know her.

Sometimes, I’m afraid; sometimes, I’m doubting; and sometimes, I want control. “Sure thing, God, great idea — let me just add a wrinkle. If that doesn’t work, then we’ll go with your plan.” God keeps shoving us out of our comfort zones in the hopes that someday we’ll say yes and then shut up. Just so we can see, like Deborah and Jael, how amazing it can be when things get messy and God works them out.

Barak is included in a list of heroes of the faith in Hebrews 11 where Saint Paul says, “out of weakness they were made powerful, became strong in battle, and turned back foreign invaders.” I take solace in the fact that God used Barak despite his weakness, whatever it was.

This is what I’ve got to remember. Every time I answer God’s commands, I am rewarded with overflowing generosity. My life becomes richer, I become stronger in faith, and I know God a little more personally.

Also, Barak doesn’t hold a grudge or blame people for his shortcomings. He’s right there with Deborah singing that celebration hymn. That also encourages me to keep the right perspective and rejoice in God’s victory no matter how imperfect my collaboration might be.

I still haven’t gotten that victory party with roasted sheep and Bollywood dancing, but a girl can always hope!

If you liked what you've been reading, don't wait. Thus Sayeth the Lord comes out on March 31. Preorder your copy now!

Living With Deborah: Crushing It For God

From my new book, Thus Sayeth the Lord — let's take a look at how the ladies get it done it when it comes to the prophet business.

Previously in the chapter: part 1, part 2

LIVING WITH DEBORAH
Crushing It For God

Deborah’s the whole package: legal counselor, prophetess, military commander, wife, and singer. But these only tell us the things she does, not who she is. Some of the prophets just will not shut up about how they’re feeling or what’s being done to them. Jeremiah wishes he’d never been born and is known as the weeping prophet. Elijah has to have an angel coax him back into action with a catered meal after he lies down under a tree saying, “I’m done. Take me now, Lord.”

Deborah? She’s kicking butt and taking names. We don’t know — or, frankly, care — how she restores order when bandits roam freely, what it does to her marriage to become a prophetess and judge, or what it’s like to be a battlefield commander with Barak. She serves God without hesitation, without doubt, and with her whole heart.

Jael too, though not a prophet or judge, didn’t mess around. We don’t know why she breaks nearly every taboo in the book to get Sisera in a position where she can kill him. Women never invited men into their tents and — do we have to say it — it’s terrible hospitality to kill guests. Especially don’t kill the guest if he’s an ally, because now we’re in covenant-breaking territory. But Jael is all in.

Whatever God ordered up, these ladies got it done.

I love that the storytellers didn’t try to clean things up. Women prophesying, leading armies, executing enemies — it’s all on the table when you’re telling God’s story. If he gets messy, that’s how we’re gonna tell it. From their point of view, these unlikely heroes are just one more proof that only God could maneuver this whole crazy plan into working.

You can’t lock God in a box. His ways are mysterious. God reads hearts, not genders or job descriptions. He knows who we are and what we can do. Our job is to cooperate by stepping out in faith and doing what he asks of us. Just wear your boots, because it might get messy.

Tomorrow in part 4 we'll take a look at the guy in this story — the general Barak.

Don't forget the book giveaway! Sign up here!

If you liked what you've been reading, don't wait. Thus Sayeth the Lord comes out on March 31. Preorder your copy now!

Living with Deborah: Both Sides Now

Part 2 of the Deborah chapter from my new book, Thus Sayeth the Lord — let's take a look at how two versions of the same story help us have a nuanced view.

Part 1 is here.

LIVING WITH DEBORAH
Both Sides Now

There are only two chapters about Deborah, and the second one retells the first, but in poetry.

The prose chapter is a well-constructed, complete story. We get the religious and historical setting, Deborah’s and Barak’s roles, God’s instructions, battle strategy, and Sisera’s death. It’s a nice, tidy package.

The poetic chapter is dramatic and fun because it’s a celebration song. This is when it gets personal, immediate, and full of interesting details. Deborah stops bandits plaguing travelers, tribes are shamed for skipping battle, and “the onrushing torrent, the torrent Kishon” washed away the enemy.

What I find most poignant in Deborah’s song is a bit imagining Sisera’s mother when he never comes home.

Out of the window she peered,
the mother of Sisera gazed through the lattice:
“Why is his chariot so long in coming?
Why do the hoofbeats of his chariots tarry?” (Jgs 5:26)

Deborah clearly sings this triumphantly, especially since the next lines are from the mother’s maids saying that Sisera’s probably just picking out the best slave girls and loot to bring home. For me it brings home the fact that Sisera is someone’s son, just like all those other warriors. It makes all those people feel vividly alive for me. It’s a touch, however chilling, that we don’t often get.

These two versions are like reading the book and seeing the movie. Each has a slightly different attitude, while both communicate the truth. Scripture does this all the time. That’s why Genesis has two versions of Adam’s creation, and four Gospels tell Jesus’ life story.

What can’t be ignored in either version of this story is that it is God’s story, first and foremost. Deborah, Barak, and Jael are important, but the storytellers are really talking about God’s protection of his beloved people. In case we don’t get it, right after Jael nails Sisera with that tent peg, we’re told, “So on that day God subdued Jabin the king of Canaan before the sons of Israel.” Bam. The victory is God’s.

As much as I love looking at Deborah’s story from several angles, I tend to resist this sort of view in my own life. The big picture of my own story is so often told from different points of view by my husband and children, family and friends. If I’m not too wedded to my own version, I can learn more about myself, good or bad. My life is enriched when I open myself up to community and allow myself to be known more fully.

Tomorrow in part 3 we'll take a closer look at the two ladies who crush it for God - and what that means in our own lives.

Don't forget the book giveaway! Sign up here!

If you liked what you've been reading, don't wait. Thus Sayeth the Lord comes out on March 31. Preorder your copy now!

Deborah — Kicking Ass and Taking Names

From my new book, Thus Sayeth the Lord — we looked last week at Jonah. Now, let's take a look at how the ladies can crush it when it comes to the prophet business.

We're going to read about Deborah. She's going to change your mind about ancient Jews and gender roles.

DEBORAH

Kicking Ass and Taking Names

Now Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lappidoth, was judging Israel at that time.

Judges 4:4

What to Read

• Judges 4–5

Deborah’s story is two short chapters that turn popular ideas about ancient Jews and gender roles upside down.

You know how you have bad habits, vow to reform, and then fall back into the same things over and over? Once Joshua (the leader after Moses) dies, that’s the Israelites’s main problem. With no single leader to keep them on the straight and narrow, the tribes fall into a recognizable cycle. They idolize pagan gods, and God lets them reap what they sow. Nearby nations invade, and God doesn’t stop them. Eventually, the Israelites get the point and repent, wailing for help. God raises a hero (a.k.a. judge) to restore his people.

Although every sin-oppression-repentance spiral is depressingly the same, the heroes God raises each time are startlingly different. Trust God to handle each problem with creative flair. And he’s willing to keep on doing it as long as they need. The Book of Judges is one long, action-packed look at God and his heroes.

Deborah is one of the lesser known judges and prophets, but her short story is one of the most unusual. Among other things, the only other person in the entire Bible to be both a judge and a prophet is Samuel, so she’s a rarely gifted individual.

Quick Take on Deborah

With Deborah, God is at his most surprising because, first of all, he gives the Jews an unconventional female leader. Not a man. Not someone like Miriam, who’s always mentioned alongside her brothers. Deborah’s a married woman, but her husband is just mentioned in passing. Her personal life isn’t the point here. She sits under her palm tree in the mountains, judging Israel and laying down some of the most immediately provable prophecies in the entire Bible.

For twenty years, Israel has been in the power of the Canaanites. Their general, Sisera, is oppressing the heck out of everyone with his nine hundred iron chariots, the newest thing in military tech.

Deborah summons Israel’s top general, Barak, giving him God’s command to take ten thousand men and march to the Kishon River, where Sisera will be delivered into his power. Barak says, “OK, but only if you come, too.” Without missing a beat, Deb replies, “No prob. But now a woman is going to kill their general. Coulda been your gig, but … there you go!”

With that intro, we all think it’s going to be Deborah dealing the final blow, but surprise! It’s a new player, Jael, with her handy tent peg and hammer!

It goes down like this: God sends rain, which floods right down the Kishon River and washes away those awesome chariots. All the Canaanites are slaughtered on the field of battle, except Sisera, who runs away on foot. Smart or coward? You decide.

He winds up at a tent where his ally’s wife, Jael, is home alone. She offers him a jug of milk, and when he’s off guard, she takes a tent peg and drives it through Sisera’s temple with a big mallet.

One translation says the peg went through his skull into the dirt beneath his head. That is graphic. And impressive. Barak shows up too late, but he can’t say God didn’t warn him. He leads the warriors, but the special glory goes to Deborah and Jael.

Then Deborah and Barak sing a victory hymn that poetically retells the story. This is the high point of a huge celebration party with lots of roasted sheep, wine, and Bollywood-style dancing. OK, the party isn’t described in the Bible, but that’s how it goes in my head. You can just feel the joy and triumph coming through.

And there was peace for forty years.

Tomorrow in part 2 we'll compare the prose and poetic versions of the story and see what why two versions are better than one.

Don't forget the book giveaway! Sign up here!

If you liked what you've been reading, don't wait. Thus Sayeth the Lord comes out on March 31. Preorder your copy now!