Gentle and Lowly

Gentle and Lowly: The Heart of Christ for Sufferers and Sinners, Dale Ortlund (Crossway, 2020)

This book has become popular quite quickly, and I can see why. With a gentle, pastoral tone that matches his subject, Dale Ortlund dwells on the character of Jesus as being gentle and lowly, anchoring his exploration in Matthew 11:28-30:

28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (ESV)

Throughout the book, he considers who Christ is, rather than what he has done:

“You might know that Christ died and rose again on your behalf to rinse you clean of all your sin; but do you know his deepest heart for you? Do you live with an awareness not only of his atoning work for your sinfulness but also of his longing heart amid your sinfulness? (p. 15-16)

So he wants to bring us to the heart of Christ for us:

“It is one thing to know the doctrines of the incarnation and the atonement and a hundred other vital doctrines. It is another, more searching matter to know his heart for you.” (p. 16)

Each chapter considers an aspect of Christ, as given in Scripture, and then expounded, often with the input of some Puritan writers. These include:

• his very heart being gentle and lowly. "For the penitent, his heart of gentle embrace is never out matched by our sins and foibles and insecurities and doubts and anxieties and failures." (p. 21) 
• he is able to sympathise with us (Heb 4:15) 
• he can deal gently with us (Heb 5:2). “Looking inside ourselves, we can anticipate only harshness from heaven. Looking out to Christ, we can anticipate only gentleness.” (p. 57) 
• he will never cast us out (Jn 6:37). This was a chapter of great comfort and assurance. 
• he is an advocate, a tender friend, and more. 

There is no avoidance of the reality of Christ’s wrath, anger, or desire for justice and judgement. Yet, Ortlund keeps stressing that Christ errs towards mercy, and that his righteous anger stems from his compassion, being a right response from the one who truly cares.

Then he turns to exploring both God the Father and the Holy Spirit to further round out the truth that our triune God cares, loves, and is merciful.

I appreciated his discussion of God as portrayed in the Old Testament and the natural progression to Christ: 

“When we see Christ unveil his deepest heart as gentle and lowly, he is continuing the natural trajectory of what God had already been revealing about himself throughout the Old Testament. Jesus provides new sharpness to who God is, but not fundamentally new content” (p. 135)

“…the Bible’s revelation of what God’s deepest heart is - that is, what he delights to is most natural to him. Mercy is natural to him. Punishment is unnatural.” (p.140)

This was an interesting discussion of the Puritan Goodwin’s conclusion that his mercy is God’s natural work, but judgment is his strange work. Judgment happens when it must, but his heart bends towards mercy.

I found this book to be both greatly encouraging and deeply comforting. I read only one chapter at a time, more as a devotional. Each gave food for thought, and another entry point into considering Jesus’ love for me and his mercy extended new every morning. As such, its gives great assurance. For those who struggle to know they are loved by Christ, valued by him, and a joy to him, this would be excellent. And for those who tend to focus on what Christ has done - rather than who he is, and how he comes near to us - this is a great reminder of who Christ really is, the one we worship and adore.