William Boekestein and Rob Ventura write, “We are not a meditative generation. Frantic busyness is often seen as a virtue…. But those who are close with God discipline their minds to turn to him and his ever-present help” (89). For that reason, Boekestein and Ventura offer contemporary Christians a gift in their book, God is Our Refuge and Strength: 150 Devotionals through the Psalms. With this devotional, they join a chorus of voices attesting to the value of the Book of Psalms for the spiritual life of today’s church. Their unique contribution can be summed up in a single word: challenge.

Studying the Book of Psalms is, indeed, challenging. The sheer number of Psalms can impede deep familiarity with the book, and the length of particular Psalms, like Psalm 119, can be daunting. The content and tone of certain Psalms can confuse or trouble contemporary readers, while the stylistic qualities of ancient Hebrew poetry demand interpretive skill. Boekestein and Ventura are able to say something brief and helpful about all 150 Psalms while recognizing the impossibility of saying everything. Their work provides an accessible field guide to this book of the Bible for dedicated students of God’s Word.

The introduction explores how the Psalms are distinct from the rest of the Scriptures and why they matter for Christians today. Believers often find it difficult to talk to God in the full variety of life’s circumstances. The Psalms challenge our preferences and comfort levels, provide models and inspiration for prayer, lay a foundation for biblical worship, and increase our love for the Lord Jesus Christ.

Yet the Psalms are also not an instruction manual for spirituality. They rest outside the reach of a pragmatic worldview interested only in “how-to” approaches to faith. The Psalms give utterance to the deepest recesses of the human heart while honoring what cannot be spoken. Additionally, the Psalms demonstrate a divinely inspired ambiguity as they portray both the history of Israel and “the greater story of Jesus who is the true Davidic King and representative of God’s people” (xxi). The authors also acknowledge the uncomfortable character of Psalms that call for God’s judgment on evil persons and regimes. Ironically, the Psalms lose their power for the Christian church when we feel too much at home with them. Their chief purpose is not therapeutic but Christocentric; they serve to reshape self-centered sinners into heavenly-minded saints.

After their succinct but thorough introduction, Boekestein and Ventura proceed directly into a series of short essays on each Psalm, usually three to five paragraphs in length. The three goals they set for their commentary are “exegetical, practical, and experiential” (xv–xvi). Exegetically, these brief devotions suggest a central theme of each Psalm while interweaving other relevant Scripture passages. The book omits the full text of each Psalm, requiring readers to follow along in their own Bibles or psalters. Throughout, the authors quote individual verses from a variety of translations, from the King James to the English Standard Version to The Message; perhaps multiple articulations give greater insight into the poetry of the Psalms.

Practically, the book is full of accessible and pastoral implications. For instance, commenting on the structure of Psalm 4, Boekestein and Ventura write, “This is the best way to face any trial: Start with God, end with God. Pour out your heart before him, then rest in his loving care. His promises are true, and he will never fail those who trust him” (6). Other summaries include citations that invite further study and heuristic aids that could assist pastors and worship leaders, such as “four faithful responses to ungodly pride” in Psalm 94 (134). The Reformed tradition is present implicitly and at times overtly—for instance, Psalm 107 is illuminated in light of the three divisions of the Heidelberg Catechism. The book takes for granted that God’s people have historically been a singing people, and it is encouraging to find references to rhymed versions of the Psalms as well as hymns that echo their redemptive themes.

Experientially, the devotional is not saccharine or superficial. Boekestein and Ventura write as pastors who daily feel their own brokenness and the brokenness of the congregations they lead. They are clear that the faith portrayed in the Psalms is not the domain of “jolly and carefree people” (13), and they are not afraid to admit when a Psalm may be “uncomfortable” and “shocking” (61). At times, the applications become repetitive, just as the Psalms themselves recount themes that faithful people know and continually forget: trust the righteous Judge, cry out to God in faith, and pursue wisdom grounded in God’s revelation. The theme of human relationships also recurs, as in Psalms 54–56, where friendship and betrayal are highlighted. In each case the authors treat the Psalms as sources of direction and inspiration for believers to love God and others more ardently.

Being simple but not formulaic, this devotional is adaptable to a variety of scenarios. For instance, someone could read one Psalm from the Bible each morning and the accompanying commentary each evening. Or a household could sing a musical version of each Psalm while using this book as a framework for family devotions and prayer.

The authors never stray from their central goal: not merely knowing the Psalms, but knowing God in the Psalms. Indeed, the Book of Psalms helps us know God both through doctrinal clarity and through the recognition of what cannot be uttered—what can be only indirectly gestured towards through poetry and song. As the Belgic Confession states, He is not only “good” but “the overflowing source of all good” (Article 1).

Michael R. Kearney is an assistant professor of communication at Dordt University in Sioux Center, IA.