Book Review: Gleanings in Genesis

Gleanings in Genesis. A.W. Pink. 1922. 420 pages. [Source: Bought]

Gleanings in Genesis is not the first Pink I've read, but, it is the first I've reviewed for my blog.

Arthur W. Pink essentially shares his thoughts chapter by chapter through the book of Genesis--except for when he decides to SKIP. (For some reason he did not bother gleaning anything from Genesis 34.)

Are his thoughts--his gleanings--worth reading? Yes and no. I think Pink was into details, and reading big things into little details. He took Jesus' words that the Scriptures were ALL about HIM quite seriously. I think sometimes his interpretations are a bit of a stretch. Key word: sometimes. I found myself walking in agreement with Pink up to a certain point, and, then him pushing things a bit too far for me to wholeheartedly agree with. Never to the point I yelled at the book though!!!

When Pink was right, he was RIGHT. I found myself wanting to go AMEN!!!! If I wrote in my books, which I usually don't, then this one would have lots of exclamation points and only a few question marks.

Quotes:

Appropriately has Genesis been termed "the seed plot of the Bible," for in it we have, in germ form, almost all of the great doctrines which are afterwards fully developed in the books of Scripture which follow.

The opening sentence of Holy Writ is not to be philosophized about, but is presented as a statement of truth to be received with unquestioning faith.

The Bible is couched in human language, it is addressed to human ears, it was written by human hands, but, in the beginning God "holy men of God spake, moved by the Holy Spirit" (2 Pet. 1:21).

Christ is the key which unlocks the golden doors into the temple of Divine truth. "Search the Scriptures," is His command, "for they are they which testify of Me." And again, He declares, "In the volume of the Book it is written of Me." In every section of the written Word the Personal Word is enshrined—in Genesis as much as in Matthew.

The third chapter in Genesis is one of the most important in all the Word of God.

First, the voice of the tempter was heeded. Instead of saying, "Get thee behind me, Satan," Eve quietly listened to the Evil One challenging the word of Jehovah. Not only so, but she proceeds to parley with him. Next there is a tampering with God’s Word. Eve begins by adding to what God has said—always a fatal course to pursue. "Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it." Next she proceeded to alter God’s Word, "lest ye die." The sharp point of the Spirit’s Sword was blunted. Finally, she altogether omits God’s solemn threat, "Thou shalt surely die." How true it is that "History repeats itself." Such, in brief, is the Divine account of the entry of sin into our world. The will of God was resisted, the word of God was rejected, the way of God was deserted.

It is the call of Divine justice, which cannot overlook sin. It is the call of Divine sorrow, which grieves over the sinner. It is the call of Divine love. which offers redemption from sin. To each and to every one of us the call is reiterated, ‘Where art thou?’"

Walking with God means that we cease taking our own way, that we abandon the world’s way, that we follow the Divine way.

If we would know God we must walk with Him: we must come into living contact with Him, have personal dealings with Him, commune with Him.

If we doubt God’s Word about one thing, we shall have small confidence in it upon another thing.

Observe that the Lord does not say "Go into the ark," but "Come." "Go" would have been a command, "Come" was a gracious invitation; "Go"would have implied that the Lord was bidding Noah depart from Him, "Come" intimated that in the ark the Lord would be present with him. Is it not the same thought as we have in the Gospel—"Come unto Me and I will give you rest!

It is only as we separate ourselves from the world and walk in the path marked out for us by God that we reach the place where strength is to be found, and, it is only thus that we can enter into fellowship with and learn from Him in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

The call which came to Abram comes to each one of his believing children—the call for absolute confidence in God; the call to take Him at His word and step out in simple and unquestioning faith; the call to separate ourselves from the world to a life of pilgrimage in dependency upon Jehovah. The trial of Abram’s faith is also the lot of all his children. Profession must be tested and at times the meal in the barrel will run very low. The failure of Abram is a solemn warning against being occupied with circumstances instead of with God. Look not at the famine but unto God’s faithfulness. Beware of going down to Egypt. The friendship of the world is enmity with God. Time spent in Egypt is wasted. Days lived out of communion with God produce nought but "wood, hay and stubble." 

It was love that "suffered long" with Abram’s failings! It was love that persisted with him in spite of every check and drawback. It was love that now met him and promised to grant the desire of his heart, and in old age give him a son.

To walk before is suggestive of a child running ahead and playing in the presence of his father, conscious of his perfect security because he is just behind. To walk after becomes a servant following his master. To walk with indicates fellowship and friendship. To walk in denotes union.

My reader, there are no chance-happenings, no chance-meetings, no chance delays, no chance losses, no chance anythings in our lives. All is of Divine appointment.

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

Book Review: Lord Teach Us To Pray

Lord, Teach Us To Pray. Alexander Whyte. 1922/1998. Regent College Publishing. 292 pages.

I would say that this is one of the best books on prayer I've ever read, but, since I haven't really read all that many books, that doesn't seem exactly fair. I can say that this book surprised me... in a good way. I can say that it was deep enough, relevant enough, that I read many chapters twice. I can say that I actually cared enough to take notes on at least half of the chapters. (Something I rarely do--even though it's something I probably should be doing as I read nonfiction.)

The book is a collection of sermons preached by Alexander Whyte. It is divided into three parts: part one, introductory and general; part two, some Bible types of prayers; part three, some aspects of the way of prayer.

Part one:

• The Magnificence of Prayer
• The Geometry of Prayer
• The Heart of Man and the Heart of God

Part two:

• Jacob--Wrestling
• Moses--Making Haste
• Elijah--Passionate in Prayer
• Job--Groping
• The Psalmist--Setting the LORD always Before Him
• Habakkuk--On His Watchtower
• Our Lord--Sanctifying Himself
• Our Lord--In the Garden
• One of Paul's Prayers
• One of Paul's Thanksgivings
• The Man Who Knocked At Midnight

Part three:

• Prayer to the Most High
• The Costliness of Prayer
• Reverence in Prayer
• The Pleading Note in Prayer
• Concentration in Prayer
• Imagination in Prayer
• The Forgiving Spirit in Prayer
• The Secret Burden
• The Endless Quest

The book is practical, relevant, devotional, and yet thought-provoking. It surprised me in more than a few places. I didn't exactly agree with every single little thing in each chapter. I found his chapter on the imagination in Christian life to be interesting--not interesting bad or interesting good, just interesting. The way he urges his listeners, his readers, to become part of the Bible, to place themselves in the stories, to fully imagine themselves in the story, on the scene, to practice reading the gospels this way. Well, it was interesting, let's say.

Favorite quotes:

There is nothing in which we need to take so many lessons as in prayer. There is nothing of which we are so utterly ignorant when we first begin; there is nothing in which we are so helpless. And there is nothing else that we are so bad at all our days. We have an inborn, a constitutional, a habitual, and, indeed, an hereditary dislike of prayer, and of everything of the nature of prayer. We are not only ignorant here, and incapable: we are incorrigibly and unconquerably unwilling to learn. And when we begin to learn we need a lesson every day, almost every hour. (257)

Now it is necessary to know, and ever to keep in mind, that prayer is the all-comprehending name that is given to every step in our return to God. True prayer, the richest and the ripest prayer, the most acceptable and the most prevailing prayer, embraces many elements: it is made up of many operations of the mind, and many motions of the heart. (185)

Earth is at its very best, and heaven is at its very highest, when men and angels magnify their office of prayer and of praise before the throne of God. (5)

God himself speaks to us in the language of men, and not in the language of the Godhead. In our reason, and in our conscience, and in His Word and in His Son, God speaks to us in the language of men. (17)

Wherever in all the world there is a human heart, God also is there. And He is there in order to have that heart poured out before Him. (29)

We do not, properly speaking, pour out our hearts before God: we pour our hearts upon God. We do not pour out our hearts before His feet: we pour out our hearts upon His heart. (35)

Not only do God's saints pour out their hearts upon His heart: He pours out His heart upon their hearts. His son has come to us straight out of His Father's heart. (36)

True prayer is colossal work. (51)

Believe me, to pray with all your heart, and strength, that is the last, the greatest achievement of the Christian's warfare on this earth. (50)

Nothing silences, and subdues, and sanctifies our passions but prayer. (76)

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible