Alec Motyer was a well known British Bible teacher and author who has written lots of commentaries and books on a variety of topics. He had the ability to take the deep theology of Isaiah and the Psalms and root it in the every day life of a Christian. In my opinion his commentary on Isaiah is still the best modern commentary I have read to date. Therefore, when I received this devotional set through the post I was excited! Let me tell you about it.
Motyer by the Day is a devotional collection of Motyer’s writings on Isaiah and the Psalms. I guess this would fall into the ‘premium book’ category as it is beautiful cloth-bound box set with the two books – one on Isaiah and one on the Psalms. Naturally this makes the set a bit pricey – £65 for 114 days of devotions. However, I personally think that it is worth it.
Motyer has done something that I’ve not seen in a devotional before. Each day you’ll find the relevant Bible passage from Isaiah or the Psalms on the left side of the page and little notes on some verses on the right. These notes range from technical comments on the use of Hebrew words to connections between verses and bigger sections in the relevant Bible book. I particularly liked that Motyer uses his own translation, which naturally makes you stop and pay more attention to the text and makes you focus more.
At the end of each daily section there is a ‘thought for the day’ – a short devotional that will encourage you to apply the text and at points Motyer asks some very pointed questions.
I like this devotional so much because it’s an invitation to take up tools with Motyer and dig into God’s Word, mining for God’s wisdom and guidance as we seek to live for him today. This set of devotionals could be used by both lay-Christians and Pastors alike. Motyer sometimes splits the Psalms into smaller sections and his notes on the text would be a great addition to a Pastor’s study time. However, the notes aren’t too detailed that they will go over people’s heads.
If you’re looking for a specifial gift for a friend, for someone going into ministry or even if you just want to dive a bit deeper into Isaiah and the Psalms, I highly recommend this book. I know I will certainly be coming back to it time and time again as the years go by. £65 sounds a bit steep, but it is worth it.
Get your copy here from Christian Focus today and begin the journey of using the tools that Motyer gives you to dig into God’s Word.
*** I received a copy of this book set from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not change the way I rate the books. My views are my own. ***
Chalmers' Blog 