Christian Book Notes

Henry, Matthew. Revised and edited by O. Palmer Robertson. A Way To Pray: A Biblical Method for Enriching Your Prayer Life and Language by Shaping Your Words with Scripture. Edinburgh: The Banner of Truth Trust, 2010. 420 pp. $24.00. Purchase at Westminster for $16.80.

Introduction

Matthew Henry is no stranger to evangelical Christianity. His 6 Volume devotional commentary is second to none in terms of use and practicality. What many do not realize is that he actually stopped the writing of that commentary so he could write A Method for Prayer, with Scripture Expressions Proper to be Used under Each Head which was published in 1710.

O. Palmer Robertson is a graduate of Belhaven College and Westminster Theological Seminary.  He has pastored congregations in Mississippi, Pennsylvania, Missouri, and Maryland. He has taught in Westminster, Knoxe, Reformed, and Covenant Seminaries in the United States and is currently the Principal and Director of African Bible University in Kampala, Uganda.  He has written numerous thought provoking books. It has been in his dream to update Matthew Henry’s monumental work, A Method for Prayer.

Summary

A Way to Pray consists of nine chapters offering major categories with numerous sub-categories for which to guide one’s prayer time. These categories include praise, confession, petition, thanksgiving, intercession, prayers for particular occasions, how to conclude our prayers, an expanded look at the Lord’s Prayer, and shorter forms of prayer. Also included is a short and expanded summary of prayer topics as well as a very helpful subject index.

Review

If you are not familiar with Henry’s A Method for Prayer, then you really have no idea what gold you are missing. Quite honestly, I had only heard of it in passing and did not give it a second thought until the Pocket Puritan edition Sampler from A Way to Pray came across my desk for review. As soon as I checked that out, I was immediately hooked. Having been taught the art and discipline of praying through Scripture by Donald S. Whitney, I was immediately drawn to the book.

It is important to note that while Robertson did update the language of Henry, he very much did his own translation which is more dynamic (thought for thought) rather than the literal translations so many are using today. This helps with the flow of the prayer as one reads through the topical verses under each category. He did, however, painstakingly make sure that each prayer that is offered comes from a text that is significant for that particular topic in its original context.

Recommendation

Just as the Valley of Vision has been a number one seller for The Banner of Truth Trust, I believe A Way to Pray will become the next number one. Both are biblically saturated and both works seek to glorify God in one’s prayer life. A Way to Pray simply has the text of Scripture on its side which will allow it to become the best selling book on prayer in Banner of Truth’s warehouse.

I would recommend getting both the full book and the Sampler. You can carry the sampler around with you wherever you go while the larger book can sit close at hand in your house. To have a topical prayer guide of Bible verses is invaluable. I fully believe that if you use A Way to Pray as it is meant to be used, your prayer life will not only greatly increase, but your communion with God will do so as well.

You can purchase the larger work as well as the Pocket Puritan Sampler here.

A Way to Pray by Matthew Henry (edited & revised by O. Palmer Robertson) Most evangelical Christians know of Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Bible, but few are as familiar with his A Method for Prayer, with Scripture Expressions Proper to be Used under Each Head (1710).  This work consists almost entirely of Scripture, arranged under various headings, to help Christians to pray in harmony with the truth of God, revealed in his Word.  First published three hundred years ago, it has been revised and updated by O. Palmer Robertson to allow the language of prayer to be expressed in today’s idiom.  It is sent out in the confidence that God will continue to honour his own Word, as it is redirected back to him in the form of heartfelt prayer. FROM THE INTRODUCTION by O. Palmer Robertson Prayer in this form is nothing more and nothing less than what the old Puritans called ‘pleading the promises’.  God has made promises to his people.  His people respond by redirecting those promises to the Lord in the form of prayer.  How could a God who is faithful to his word fail to answer prayers of this kind?  He has promised.  He will honour that promise.  If Christians would join together and form their prayers with the maturity and insight provided by Scripture itself, the impact on the world could not be measured.” TABLE OF CONTENTS: Appreciation Introduction How to Read this Book 1: Praise 2: Confession 3: Petition 4: Thanksgiving 5: Intercession 6: Prayers for Particular Occasions 7: Concluding Our Prayers 8: The Lord’s Prayer Expanded 9: Shorter Forms of Prayer A Short Summary of Prayer Topics An Expanded Summary of Prayer Topics Subject Index ————————————————————————————– A WAY TO PRAY: A Biblical Method for Enriching Your Prayer Life and Language by Shaping Your Words with Scripture by Matthew Henry ISBN: 978-1-84871-087-0 440 pages, Clothbound List Price: $24.00 (U.S. currency)

Ligon Duncan has made available his edited version of Matthew Henry’s book A Method of Prayer for free.  The language has been updated and the Scripture references have been rewritten using the ESV instead of the KJV.

You can download the book for free at MatthewHenry.org.  While at the website, you can register to receive daily emails from the book.  While there you can check out more resources to aid you in public prayer and sign up to receive more resources for prayer.

I hope that you would take advantage of this opportunity to read one of the greatest resources on prayer from perhaps one of the most recognized writers in Christian literature.  If you are like me and you would rather have the physical book in your hands, you can purchase it from Westminster for $9.59.