GENTLE AND LOWLY
What did Jesus say about his heart?
Gentle and Lowly: The Heart of Christ for Sinners and Sufferers, a book by Dane Ortlund, was published by Crossway in April 2020 and proved to be a timely release as the panic and trepidations of the global pandemic began to spread throughout the world. Suffice it to say that these last two years have spurred on existential questions and concerns in the minds and hearts of countless people. Where are we looking for answers? What is the resolution to our inner-restlessness?
As we search for answers, permit me to ask: How would you describe your heart?
If I were to describe my heart, I would use words like loving or warm, full or at times broken. Whether you’re familiar or unfamiliar with Jesus’ teachings, you may find the words he used to describe his heart intriguing because of how counterintuitive they are. One would expect Jesus to use the words strong or resplendent, courageous or just. But what words did he use? Ortlund believes this question is vital to understanding who Jesus is, yet this question is lost on the world today. What we stand to gain by revisiting this foundational truth will produce a reality-shaping answer for many.
Who is Jesus, really? In other words, what flows out of Jesus naturally toward us (sinners and sufferers) and what do we make of his fundamental claim that he is “gentle and lowly” in heart––bearing in mind that this (Matthew 11:29) is the only instance he spoke about his heart?
Forming an Answer
Ortlund takes multiple approaches throughout the book while building a cumulative answer to the question. He provides an essential rediscovery of this timeless consolation for his readers and begins by defining Jesus’ terms in the opening chapter. This sets the tone for the rest of the conversation, spanning 23 short chapters that contain layers of exposition, varying angles of perspective, and lines of questioning, and the use of different methods, such as conducting word studies that look at the semantic range or cognates of a specific word.
The Puritans
The book contains multiple quotes often from the Puritans (16th century), such as Goodwin, Bunyan, Sibbes, Owen, Flavel, and Edwards, whom Ortlund refers to as guides or coaches. The Puritans were known for writing whole books on a single verse in the Bible––taking a single sentence soaked in theological richness and wringing it dry. With each reference to a literary work, he acknowledges the value of exploring and applying certain principles. Still, he does not shy away from regularly asking the sobering question But is this Biblical? In other words, is it staying faithful to the Scripture in a way that does not import meaning that is alien to the text? The Puritans form a sort of theological scaffolding around the whole of the book. At the same time, the foundation of his argument builds on top of Jesus’ own words, which Ortlund argues finds more bottomless abundance, nuance, and continuity with other vital passages from both the Old and New Testaments.
Themes
We can lose the meaning of words in our lives and often deem them frivolous or empty. They’re just letters grouped together and misused without any real-world impact. If I asked you to describe a loved one, someone you value a great deal or have unfortunately lost, what words would you use? Why say words at all? Words matter. From gesturing and mouthing sounds in our infancy to the words we choose to write out in our will during the twilight of our lives––language, communication, and expression make a difference.
Ortlund interweaves the themes of tenderness and mercy back and forth within the biblical canon (standard). He surveys a well-rounded assortment of authors from the library of 66 books that constitute the Bible. For instance, in the book of Jeremiah 31:20, the Hebrew word "meah," which is often rendered heart in English, literally refers to a person's bowels. "Meah" is used to speak of God's innermost reflex of mercy toward his "dear child," Israel. What implication would that have on your life to know that God's innermost reflex toward you when you are in Christ is one of mercy? (The phrase "in Christ" means taking on his identity. It means placing all of your trust in him alone and not in anything/anyone else, including yourself). Another highlight would be from the books of Lamentations 3:33 and Hosea 11, which describe God's "strange" work of justice coinciding in a nuanced way with his "natural" work of mercy. Many tend to think of God as a capricious cosmic judge whose chief concern is enacting justice to those who commit the most egregious atrocities or those who willfully and continually reject him. Yes, he is perfectly just, and yes, he is the highest possible standard of good, which is his very nature––but a continual stream of mercy flows from his justice and goodness. In the New Testament, we see this in the opening of 2 Corinthians and in Ephesians 2:4, where the Apostle Paul refers to God as the "Father of Mercies" and describes him as being "rich in mercy." There is no sin beyond his sight, either in outward behaviors or internal attitudes of the heart, but he ultimately desires to show us mercy and the way to reconciliation.
My Critique
Ortlund takes meticulous care in landing each point on the runway of our hearts. However, at certain times…