Devotional literature comes in many different forms. One of the most common is a short passage of scripture followed by some brief text to help you contemplate that scripture. At a surface level this short book is an example of the genre. However, in the hands of Dr. Plantinga it becomes something more than a quick sip of scripture before rushing into your day. Dr. Plantinga helps the reader see the scripture text through fresh eyes. The result is a desire to follow the instructions of the introduction to "mull over," "consider," and "dwell on" the scriptural text. After the readings I often found myself sitting and thinking through the scripture passage I had read at the beginning of the reading and how it might make a difference in the daily business of living.

The readings were a bit uneven in their ability to engage my imagination but they always left me with something helpful to explore. I highly recommend, *Under the Wings of God* to anyone looking for an aid to scripture contemplation and application.

Plantinga does a brilliant job of joining the practical to the spiritual...as it should be. Everything was delivered succinctly and beautifully. This is a wonderful companion for any pilgrim.

While I'm always thrilled to see books that encourage going beyond a shallow "plain reading of the text", I find myself wanting more theological and contextual depth and less modern-day spin on the text.

Plantinga writes very well and clearly has a good grasp of Scripture. He's an absorbing storyteller.

As he states in his introduction, reflecting or meditating on Scripture is an important spiritual practice and these 20 reflections certainly make you reflect on both the verses plus the meaning Plantinga draws out.

Each reflection is 4-5 pages long and are based on a particular set of verses. As is always a good idea when meditating on Scripture, Plantinga encourages the reader to read the entire chapter that he's drawing out the particular reflection.

I felt the various 'topics' were a bit hit and miss. I appreciate each day's was a unique reflection and were able to standalone, however, I guess I was hoping there might be some undercurrent of a theme that might pull them together. As a result, some days reflections weren't as interesting as others.

There were some beauties, however. The last one on Job is an excellent perspective on this most challenging of books and I'm certain I will reflect on it again.

Don't let my review discourage you, as some of the other ones are quite glowing in their praise.

I was fortunate to receive and early ebook copy from the publisher via NetGalley with no expectation of a favourable review.

I read and very much enjoyed one of Plantinga's books (Engaging God's World: A Christian Vision of Faith, Learning, and Living) in college, so was particularly excited to see this book appear on NetGalley.

Now I want to go re-read _Engaging God's World_, lol!

Plantinga writes engagingly and informally in _Under the Wings of God_--the perfect approach to a devotional. He notes in the introduction a desire for the reader to really engage with Scripture, and he absolutely succeeds here. So many devotionals on the market today are just a verse or two and a page of extrapolation--not so this read, for which I am thankful. It includes (or points the reader to) extended passages of scripture, along with decently lengthy writings of Plantinga's own. Christ ought to be what we focus on most, and I certainly feel this read helps with that.

Meaningful and thought-provoking; 4/5 stars.

I received an eARC of the book from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

If you're only going to buy one devotional type of book this year, I have no hesitation in recommending that it ought to be Plantinga's "Under the Wings of God." The author has the ability to take passages the reader assumes they are familiar with, and open them up so that the reader can see the powerful, glorious truths in them. I have never read another author with the ability to communicate as powerfully and pastorally as Plantinga. He has a deft touch, chastening when necessary, elsewhere encouraging, depending on the passage he is bringing to life, always providing an illustration or explanation that perfectly fits the point he is bringing to the fore. Reading this book will grow your understanding of the God revealed in Scripture, and help you grow in your faith and love for God.

It's been a long time since a Christian book has challenged me or offered me something new to think about, but Under the Wings of God was a pleasant surprise. The author has not only chosen some Scripture that is not-as-often-talked-about in the church, but he's drawn on some really unique images to try to paint the picture for the reader. In addition, he tells a few stories about the Scriptures themselves that are new to me, and well, sometimes that spark is what I need to be reminded that God is always doing something new...even in the ageless things He's always doing.

It's not a complex read by any means, but definitely engaging. It stirs the soul. Add it to your list today, and give yourself time to soak in each chapter.

Ordinary believers honour the Bible. Church-goers read the Bible. Academics analyze the Bible. Devotees meditate on the Bible. Pastors preach the Bible. Authors write about the Bible. It would seem like the Bible is used in so many different ways. Those seeking a closer walk with God will not be content with any form of superficial reading. They will also meditate and contemplate the Word of God. As purposed in the cover of this book, renowned Professor Cornelius Plantinga shares 20 reflections to help us grow deeper in faith. In each chapter, he begins with the full Bible passage and a brief description. This is followed by a reflection which occupies the bulk of the chapter. Ending each chapter is a prayer. Plantinga starts with Ps 91 where a cursory reading would say it is about security in God. A deeper reading would be an exhortation not to worry. He takes the greatest commandment in Matthew 22:37 and applies it powerfully to the intellectual pursuit of God, something that some ordinary believers tend to dismiss as a mere academic exercise. The key lies in the reason for the study: Loving God more with the mind. We read about Colossians 3's exhortation to patience and how the author connects it with other attributes like anger management. Some of the most powerful reflections happen to be the way conventional beliefs are turned on their heads. For example, in Exodus 32, the text describes how the Israelites turned away from God and worshiped the golden calf. Plantinga describes the episode in such a way that we can all see the dangers and pain of adultery. While most people would dismiss Israel then as the adulterous nation that is only bent on disappointing God, a closer reading reveals that was not the case. They may have worshiped other gods but they still have the desire to worship the True God. They simply are people who practice spiritual polygamy. While the Bible condemns adultery in its strongest terms, there is also grace that overwhelms punishment for sin. Following this thread, in Genesis 4:1-16, there is the story of Cain and Abel where jealousy turned to murder. This led to the banishment of Cain who became cursed to be a restless wanderer. Further reflection points to a man though tarnished by sin still desires a close relationship with God. This is not something that we can pick up unless we observe the way the text was written. 

My Thoughts
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This book is more than just a devotional. It is an insightful book about theological truths that point to the practice of the attributes of the fruit of the Spirit. There are many stories and illustrations that accompany each passage. Like a sermon, they provide clarity to the key points of the biblical texts. What makes it most engaging was how Plantinga takes our understanding to a whole new level, one that encapsulates the love of God even in the midst of sin and suffering. By bringing theological truths into greater clarity, he makes the study of the Bible interesting. Hopefully, this will not make anyone shy about the pursuit of theology. The author also gives the devotional a practical flavour. In the chapter on "Practice Hospitality," he provides "Nine little habits of highly hospitable people" to supplement the reflection on Romans 12:9-12. At the same time, knowing the limits in which we have, he adopts a gracious acknowledgment that we should share what we could and not be guilty about what we could not do. These twenty reflections will set the stage for readers to do their own reflections as well.

This is no ordinary devotional. It is both instructional and inspirational. Instructional because of the faithfulness to the meaning and contexts of the Bible and inspirational because of the way it reveals the character of God to us. It is also interesting to note how Plantinga ends the book with a reflection on Job. A superficial reading of Job frontloads us that the whole tragedy that affects Job begins with a bet. Critics would accuse God of being unfair to Job. If we simply read and limit ourselves to the story of Job, we would have missed the point of the Bible. By linking us to the person of Christ, who suffered unjustly, we would see Job as a glimpse of the greater redemption that is to come in history. Perhaps, that is the way we should conclude our reflections on the Bible, just like in our prayers, we conclude in the Name of Jesus. That is a good way to declare our faith.

Cornelius (Neal) Plantinga (PhD, Princeton Theological Seminary) is senior research fellow at the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship and president emeritus of Calvin Theological Seminary in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He is the author of many books, including the Christianity Today Book Award winners Not the Way It's Supposed to Be, Engaging God's World, and Reading for Preaching. His most recent book is Morning and Evening Prayers. Plantinga has also served on the boards of Books & Culture, First Things, and Reformed Journal.

Rating: 4.5 stars of 5.

conrade
This book has been provided courtesy of Brazos Press and NetGalley without requiring a positive review. All opinions offered above are mine unless otherwise stated or implied.

Cornelius Plantinga begins "Under the Wings of God" emphasizing the importance of meditation as a spiritual discipline. Accordingly, this book of twenty biblical reflections is meant to help the reader find deeper meaning in the Word of God. If the reader finds “something nourishing among these reflections,” then Plantinga “will have fulfilled [his] purpose.”

"Under the Wings of God" is best suited for someone with a general understanding of Scripture. Each reflection consists of a proposed scriptural reading followed by a reflection that concludes with prayer. The format is pretty standard and best read as a devotional—i.e. one reflection per day.

Unfortunately, I was unable to get past the language throughout book to describe God. It gives (at least in my mind) a misleading impression of who God is. For example, the phrase “on the loose” is understood to mean “having escaped from confinement.” It is usually used in an unfavorable context, hence giving it a negative connotation. Notwithstanding this, Plantinga uses the phrase to describe God and His actions. He states:

Jesus is God on the loose. He’s a beautiful Savior, but he’s also big trouble. He’s the mediator of all creation, but he’s also the Savior who brawls with demons in graveyards.
Jesus Christ is God on the loose. We’re never safe from his approach. The love of God is strong and true, but it’s also out to kill our old self and raise up our new self, and this means pain. We can’t rise until we die. And so, God slays in order to save. People sometimes talk as if meeting God would be like meeting a friend for coffee, or taking a walk in a garden with somebody who looks pleasant and friendly. People think that meeting God would be like meeting Mr. Rogers.
The truth is that meeting God would be more like getting electrocuted. God slays in order to save, and the desire to meet God is therefore a death wish.

While I do not necessarily disagree with the theological basis of this “argument,” I do not, however, agree with the language and perception of God it conveys. After reading this, I thought:
1) If God is on the loose, when was He confined to begin with?
2) I cannot see Jesus’ engaging in a brawl.
3) What view or perspective does Plantinga have of God?
4) This language seems more fitting for the ancient gods of ancient Greeks and/or of Ancient Near Eastern
mythology than for the Judeo-Christian God.

Notwithstanding my issues with the language used throughout Under the Wings of God, there are gems to be found within the contents of its reflections. I appreciated the concepts presented in this book and each reflection brought to my attention things that led to further musing and reflection.

In summary, given my disagreement with the apparent vocabulary of the book, I have difficulty recommending "Under the Wings of God" to family and friends. But I am sure there will be readers out there who are of the same mindset as Plantinga and will not have any issue with the language. These will undoubtedly find much nourishment within the pages of this book.

Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

“We are like fledglings who scuttle under the wings of their parent. The forces of evil beat on those wings with everything they have… But no final evil can get to us because those wings have never folded.” This is what Cornelius Plantinga Jr. writes in response to Psalm 91.

That, and many other parts of Under the Wings of God, surprised me with their ability to show me scripture in a new light. Cornelius takes twenty passages from scripture and reflects on them in ways that remind me of Eugene Peterson and James Martin--ways that only someone who has lived a life of thoughtful and prayerful reflection can. This was my first encounter with him and I think there’s much more to uncover. The spiritual reflections read like mini sermons, yet thankfully, there is less reliance on commentary and more reliance on experience and plain readings of scripture.

Just read this:

“How do you tell whether somebody is fit for heaven? You look for hospitality. “I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in” (Matt. 25:35). The readiness to welcome a stranger.” How ordinary and yet, how true. And what a commentary on modern American (and Evangelical) politics. It’s insights like these that challenge me and hopefully will challenge those around me to integrate simple concepts, like “etiquette” and “politeness” into deep theological reflection on the state of my heart.

Cornelius makes the Bible feel a bit more like poetry and I’m grateful for it. No more wooden Bible studies with canned questions about life application and “where do we go from here” responses. These reflections are more of an open-ended adventure and they breathe new life into Scripture. Well done.

The book Under the Wings of God is so much more than a devotional, although it could serve as one. The author masterfully incorporates Bible verses and stories with insight he has gleaned from life experience, wisdom from older texts, and references to popular culture reads. This is a multi-layered work that provided me with a deeper appreciation for Christian teaching. I consider myself a non-denominationalist and the author's perspective challenged me to go deeper with concepts re: Job, patience, humility, and even Christ's death on the cross. I respect the essence of all teachings and I found nothing offensive in this work, and yet, that's not to say the author is a lukewarm teacher. He is not! He is a true believer and if he does not make one out of you, the reader, at the very least you will come away edified and enlightened.