"Rebels and Exiles" by Matthew S. Harmon. A Review

 

Rebels and Exiles: A Biblical Theology of Sin and Redemption

Matthew S. Harmon

IVP Academic

www.ivpress.com

ISBN:  978-0-8308-5541-4; October 2020; $22.00

 

Many centuries ago an African pastor and theologian wrote the story of his life as a prayer. He began his prayerful tale with these words, “You awake us to delight in your praise; for you made us for yourself, and our hearts are restless until they rest in you” (Augustine, “Confessions,” Book 1, Sec. 1). That restless longing is chronicled in a new 184-page paperback by Matthew S. Harmon, commentary writer, author, and professor of New Testament studies at Grace College and Theological Seminary in Winona Lake, Indiana. “Rebels and Exiles: A Biblical Theology of Sin and Redemption,” one of the most recent installments in IVP Academic’s “The Essential Studies in Biblical Theology” edited by Benjamin L. Gladd, is an easy trek through the Scripture’s story, circling back round to the longing of our restless hearts.

 

The volume progresses along with the Scripture’s development, from protology (first things) to eschatology (final things). The format of the book is the good creation-fall-redemption-new creation movement. But through it all Harmon shows the place of exile, the longing restlessness, and how God is moving us toward home. He tackles the way the Tabernacle and Temple spoke to the restless longing for home by being a small garden of Eden. He also moves along the biblical arc through the early centuries of Israel, the prophets, the expulsions from the land, the unsatisfying returns to the land, the coming of Jesus and his mission, to the way the Apostles promoted our exilic place in the world now, and the new heavens and new earth. All the way through Harmon shows God’s promise: he will have his people, they will have a place, and his presence will be with them there.

 

The author describes what he means by exile, that it is not “limited to those who are physically away from their home. Even people who are living in their homeland can feel a sense of exile when their beliefs conflict with that of the dominant culture” (2). In other words, exile can rightly describe any sense of alienation, estrangement, or displacement whether physically, geographically or spiritually. And he does not leave us without hope of home. In fact, for Christians who find themselves often at odds with the dominant culture, and thus in exile, he gives much thoughtful encouragement, for our “common life together as people who have been redeemed out of our spiritual exile enables us to live as an outpost of God’s kingdom in this fallen world” (144). Our storied lives together are always pointing to home, so that other restless hearts may sense the direction, and join us in this God-engraced trek until the new heavens and new earth come. Where we will be his people, forever in the place he gives us, that is full of his presence.

 

Augustine was right about our restless hearts, and “Rebels and Exiles” speaks to that longing. This volume is an ideal college class book, especially for teachers who want to give their students the bigger picture of Scripture. It is perfect for new believers, and seasoned saints. It can make a very useful source document for Christian education adult classes in any congregation. I highly recommend the book.

 

I’m very thankful that IVP Academic sent me the copy of the book used for this review. They made no demands on me, other than that I should bring forth an honest analysis. Thus, I have done, and thus it is so.