Tag Archives | devotion

Piercing Heaven

By on in Theology

Today, I completed the prayer book Piercing Heaven, Prayers of the Puritans, edited by Robert Elmer. It is 321 pages and was in frequent use during personal prayer from beginning to end. The book’s prayers were of various notable Puritans who lived from the 1500s through the 1700s. Much of the text was of the Puritans of England who were subjected to the Great Ejection, as 2,000 of them were removed from their churches in 1662. Beyond that period of time, there were a total of 32 authors who wrote their prayers in various forms on numerous topics.

The prayers are organized to fit an occasion, interest, or a person’s spiritual condition. Categories center around petitions, confessions, praises, gratitude, adoration, and affections. They’re a collection of prayers offering a glimpse into the devotional life and spiritual depth of the Puritan tradition. The prayers included in the book reflect the intense, heartfelt devotion and rich theological insights characteristic of the Puritans. Moreover, the book is also organized thematically, with prayers that cover a range of topics such as worship and petitions for various needs.

Elmer’s compilation aims to make these profound prayers accessible to modern readers, helping them to engage with the deep spiritual heritage of the Puritans. The language in the book has been lightly modernized in some cases to make the prayers easier to understand while retaining the original intent and depth. Piercing Heaven serves as a devotional resource for those seeking to deepen their prayer life and connect with the rich tradition of Puritan spirituality.

Some of the most prevalent authors in this collection include:

Richard Baxter – A well-known Puritan theologian and pastor, Baxter is perhaps best remembered for his book The Reformed Pastor. His prayers and writings emphasize practical piety, repentance, and living a life devoted to God.
John Owen – A leading Puritan theologian, Owen’s works reach deeply into theology, especially on topics like the nature of sin, sanctification, and the glory of Christ. His prayers reflect a deep concern for personal holiness and communion with God.
Thomas Watson – Watson was a popular Puritan preacher and author, known for his clear and practical teaching. His works, such as A Body of Divinity and The Doctrine of Repentance, are still widely read today. His prayers are known for their rich theological content and pastoral warmth.
William Gurnall – Best known for his work The Christian in Complete Armour, Gurnall’s prayers and writings focus on spiritual warfare, perseverance, and the strength that comes from God.
John Bunyan – The author of The Pilgrim’s Progress, Bunyan was a Puritan preacher who wrote extensively while imprisoned for his faith. His prayers and writings often reflect themes of the Christian journey, suffering, and the hope of heaven.

These authors, among others included were central figures in the Puritan movement and their prayers capture the depth of Puritan spirituality, characterized by a profound sense of the holiness of God, the seriousness of sin, and the transformative power of grace. The language retains the richness and intensity that marked the Puritans’ approach to communion with God. Through these prayers, readers are invited into a spiritual practice that is both rigorous and deeply personal, encouraging a heartfelt and disciplined approach to prayer.

The value of this book is in its ability to connect modern readers with the rich spiritual heritage of the Puritans while in prayer before God. The prayers serve as both a model and a guide for cultivating a deeper prayer life, emphasizing themes of repentance, humility, and dependence on God. By engaging with these prayers, readers are not only prompted to reflect on their own spiritual state but are also drawn into a more intimate relationship with God. The book offers a valuable resource for those seeking to enrich their spiritual lives, providing timeless prayers that can inspire a deeper commitment to daily devotion and a more profound experience of God’s presence in their lives.

In the Lord I Take Refuge

By on in Literary

In the book “In The LORD I Take Refuge,” the author, Dane Ortlund, wrote a commentary alongside each chapter of the book of Psalms. As a Presbyterian pastor with a Ph.D., he offers reflections and observations of substantive value about the Psalter one chapter at a time. The book is with the ESV text of the Psalms prepared in a format where 150 devotions are presented to readers with the author’s encouragement, exhortation, rebuke, and the occasional call to repentance. He often echoes the Psalmists’ sentiments about the lovingkindness of the LORD through song and poetry. He also explores the range of literary meaning as the Psalms are sometimes imprecatory, messianic, prophetic, and musical in lyric and instruction. The range of inspired material prepared throughout the Psalms is covered in a practical way made relevant to readers immersed in everyday life.

The consistent pattern throughout the text is to bring practical application to the lives of believers. In a sense, this book is a work of ministry from the author to comfort readers, challenge them, and remind them of what God meant through the writers of Scripture. This book is not an academic work of interest but a personal journey of the heart and mind. To reflect on what God says to the reader about highly relevant and pertinent topics of interest. Praise, hardships, enmity, comfort, assurance, and promise are touched upon without scripture references elsewhere but are kept to the message within each Psalm at hand. The title chosen for the book is appropriate because it anchors the reader into the thread of meaning throughout the devotional commentary. In The LORD I Take Refuge covers a lot of ground as it is a call and response, or inform and response way to which the material is absorbed day by day. The book’s central point that the author returns to is the refuge of the LORD as the only true and lasting means of safety, protection, and peace from the issues of life with deep spiritual relevance.

The book’s title draws upon Psalm 11:1 phrase, “In the Lord I Take Refuge.” While the majority text, KJV and NKJV, reference the term “trust” instead of “refuge,” the critical text makes use of the translation rendering “refuge” from the original Hebrew Word defined as a place of safety or shelter. This poetic language brings to mind an image of withdrawal and separation to a place of security for protection. The title aligns with what the author intended to convey as he sought to capture what the Psalmists wrote as a body of work. There wasn’t attention placed on the structural or technical features of the text, as the book is intended as a daily companion of both practical and spiritual messages.

The author also uses the writings of historical figures within early Christianity, including the Reformers and the Puritans, to highlight substantive meaning about perspectives rendered by the Psalmists. In support of the author’s reading and comprehension of the subject matter, with its authoritative scriptural weight, correlating and pertinent perspectives from historical people of influence help drive home the points he continues to offer. The wide array of perspectives Orlund presents from these historical people of God goes a long way to substantiate the credibility of his observations and perspective. The author likely has much to say about the scriptural references, prayers, and reflections of the Patristic fathers, the Reformers, and the Puritans. The wide use of influential people throughout history isn’t for analytical purposes but for their unique perspectives from a time and setting set apart from post-modern society.

As Crossway is the publisher of this devotional book (ISBN: 978-1-4335-7770-3; hardcover, 409 pages), it is suitable for use among numerous people within the Reformed and Renewed traditions of the universal church. While the reflections about each Psalm are from a Reformed perspective, it is evangelical in tone and delivery without compromising the truth and intended meaning of Scripture. While it isn’t recommended that devotional time should be dedicated exclusively to the Psalter, it is a valuable companion to Scripture during personal time in the Word, during family worship and reading, or as a component of private liturgy.