Thursday, February 27, 2014

Book Review: More Precious Than Gold

More Precious Than Gold: 50 Daily Meditations on the Psalms. Sam Storms. 2009. Crossway. 288 pages. [Source: Review copy]

I love, love, love the book of Psalms. It is not that I love all 150 psalms equally. Or that each and every Psalm speaks to me where I am. But there is so much richness, so much truth, so much grace to be found in this one not-so-little book.

Sam Storms has written 50 meditations in this devotional. These meditations are on individual Psalms. Which psalms inspired meditations? 1, 3, 4, 5, 10, 13, 15, 16, 19, 22, 23, 27, 32, 33, 34, 35, 37, 42, 43, 46, 51, 63, 73, 84, 86, 88, 91, 92-98, 100, 103, 104, 115, 119, 130, 139, 143, 145, 147, 148-150. Several meditations cover the same Psalm.

I would definitely recommend this devotional book. I love Sam Storms' writing style. I love his focus and enthusiasm.

Favorite quotes:
The reason why God does not deal with us according to our sins is that he has dealt with Jesus in accordance with what they require. The reason why God does not repay us according to our iniquities is that he has repaid his Son in accordance with what holiness demands--in perfect harmony, I might add, with the will and voluntary love of the Son himself. (192; Psalm 103:10-12)
God's Word rewards you with restoration of your soul, wisdom for your walk, joy for your heart, enlightenment for your eyes, truth you can count on, and the provision of righteousness. (70; Psalm 19)
God wants nothing more than to heighten and sharpen our sensible awareness of his relegation of himself. And he knows what we don't, namely, that sin anesthetizes our souls and renders us dull and numb to his presence. Every commandment in Scripture, every precept, every prohibition or principle is lovingly designed to lead us away from what otherwise might spoil our appetite for God. (27; Psalm 1)
My aim as a father, preacher, teacher, author, and now grandfather is to hammer home with unrelenting zeal that the joys of knowing Jesus are simply incomparable. His capacity to please knows no rival. We must preach from our pulpits and model in our lives and fill our prayers and labor and suffer and sacrifice greatly to make this truth known. (35; Psalm 4)
© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

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