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2 Kings: The Truth about Our Troubled World (Preaching the Word Commentary): The Truth about Our Troubled World
Explore the History of Ancient Israel and Judah to Find Hope Amid Division in the World Today
The book of 2 Kings recounts the most tragic period in the Old the collapse of the two nation-states that had once been Israel. Following rebellion against the house of David, God’s people entertained false gods and endured a turbulent succession of kings, none of whom could bring the salvation they desperately needed. In this Preaching the Word volume, John Woodhouse presents a thorough yet accessible study of 2 Kings. Walking passage-by-passage through the text, he examines the destruction of Israel and Judah, and makes practical connections that will help believers endure the troubles of the world today. This expositional commentary is an essential resource for anyone interested in studying, teaching, or preaching the Bible.
Expositional Commentary on 2 In-depth, practical study of the kings and prophets of Israel and Judah Written by pastors for pastors, this commentary is also an accessible resource for students and lay people Part of the Preaching the Word Volumes for 1 Kings and other books of the Bible are also available in the series
The book of 2 Kings recounts the most tragic period in the Old the collapse of the two nation-states that had once been Israel. Following rebellion against the house of David, God’s people entertained false gods and endured a turbulent succession of kings, none of whom could bring the salvation they desperately needed. In this Preaching the Word volume, John Woodhouse presents a thorough yet accessible study of 2 Kings. Walking passage-by-passage through the text, he examines the destruction of Israel and Judah, and makes practical connections that will help believers endure the troubles of the world today. This expositional commentary is an essential resource for anyone interested in studying, teaching, or preaching the Bible.
Expositional Commentary on 2 In-depth, practical study of the kings and prophets of Israel and Judah Written by pastors for pastors, this commentary is also an accessible resource for students and lay people Part of the Preaching the Word Volumes for 1 Kings and other books of the Bible are also available in the series
808 pages, Hardcover
Published March 17, 2026
About the author
John Woodhouse
43 books2 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
John Woodhouse (DPhil, Victoria University of Manchester) served as principal of Moore Theological College in Sydney, Australia, from 2002 to 2013. Previously, he worked in pastoral ministry in a suburb of Sydney. He has published articles in various academic journals and is the author of two volumes in Crossway’s Preaching the Word commentary series.
John Woodhouse (DPhil, Victoria University of Manchester) served as principal of Moore Theological College in Sydney, Australia, from 2002 to 2013. Previously, he worked in pastoral ministry in a suburb of Sydney. He has published articles in various academic journals and is the author of two volumes in Crossway’s Preaching the Word commentary series.
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September 5, 2026
Coming to this book without having used his 1 Kings or his volumes on Samuel, I came with less expectations than many other readers. I was impressed before I even finished the short Introduction. His ability to connect 2 Kings’ value to our day, his clear vision of the faithfulness of God’s Word, and the way he gallantly summarized the main introductory issues of the book in a few short paragraphs won me over in mere minutes. Here’s another thing I came to quickly see about this author – he is an incredibly well-read man. His Endnotes showed the depth he brings to bear in this work. As a case in point, look at his second end note.
As you keep working through the book, what you immediately notice is how nice the sermons are and how it is those Endnotes that provide you so much of what you get in a regular commentary. You will be making a serious mistake if you don’t keep a separate bookmark at the back to check those notes out.
The first sermon on “A Troubled World” really covers some more introductory ideas because it really links what, perhaps, should never have been separated – the books of 1 & 2 Kings. This idea of a troubled world, again, is one of his main focuses for modern application.
Now I just love Elijah and Elisha. Go read “Following Elijah” to see what a jewel we have here. His sermon on 2 Kings 2:16-18 using the Resurrection of Christ to open the passage was ingenious. I need not describe any other individual sermons because this is a consistently outstanding volume. 
These sermons are meaty. Don’t come here looking for catchy outlines because that is not at all what’s going on here. These are the kind of sermons that really wrestle with the text. You know the kind that gives you great help and then sets you free to do your own sermons. I’m convinced this book has been aimed at preachers. Look at the last index, the Index of Sermon Illustrations, if you have any doubts.
Doing this review is going to cost me some money! Now I’m going to go back and buy his other three volumes in the series.
I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
As you keep working through the book, what you immediately notice is how nice the sermons are and how it is those Endnotes that provide you so much of what you get in a regular commentary. You will be making a serious mistake if you don’t keep a separate bookmark at the back to check those notes out.
The first sermon on “A Troubled World” really covers some more introductory ideas because it really links what, perhaps, should never have been separated – the books of 1 & 2 Kings. This idea of a troubled world, again, is one of his main focuses for modern application.
Now I just love Elijah and Elisha. Go read “Following Elijah” to see what a jewel we have here. His sermon on 2 Kings 2:16-18 using the Resurrection of Christ to open the passage was ingenious. I need not describe any other individual sermons because this is a consistently outstanding volume. 
These sermons are meaty. Don’t come here looking for catchy outlines because that is not at all what’s going on here. These are the kind of sermons that really wrestle with the text. You know the kind that gives you great help and then sets you free to do your own sermons. I’m convinced this book has been aimed at preachers. Look at the last index, the Index of Sermon Illustrations, if you have any doubts.
Doing this review is going to cost me some money! Now I’m going to go back and buy his other three volumes in the series.
I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
Displaying 1 - 1 of 1 review