Book Review: Gentle and Lowly | Dane Ortlund

Exploring the true and natural heart of God

You can buy or check out the book here.

Overview:

Ortlund starts the book with this important claim: “there’s only one place where Jesus tells us about his own heart” (page 17).

Gentle and Lowly focuses on the meaning and implications of Matthew 11: 28–30 where Jesus says:

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.”
Matthew 11:28–30 (ESV)

Ortlund returns to this passage in every part of the book exploring the great love and compassion that God has for us—that is his people whom have come into fellowship with him through the Lord Jesus Christ.

The title reveals the main two aspects of which the first part of the book unpacks—the fact that Jesus is at his core gentle and lowly in heart.

“The heart, in biblical terms, is not part of who we are but the center of who we are. Our heart is what defines and directs us.” (18)

Ortlund clarifies early on that this is not who he is to “everyone, indiscriminately” (21). Rather, it is who he is to those who come to him and take upon themselves his yoke. This line was rather brief, but an essential note as the study began. This clarity is rather important as we explore who Jesus is. To the believer, Jesus is full of compassion and tenderness. This is where the study truly begins.

Ortlund’s primary task is truly a legitimate contextual issue. The Christian West has been formed in large part from the preaching of protestant revivalists to an emerging apocalyptic urgency. Themes of hell, judgment, atonement, rapture, and sacrifice were popular in the 1900s leading to many having a strict, stern, harsh, distant, or demanding view of God.

Ortlund acknowledges that there are many aspects of God, and that all of them contain at least some aspect of truth when trying to understand the depth of God’s being. Yet, he believes the true life of the believer rests in the understanding of God’s true and natural heart for us—one of compassion, love, and gentleness.

God’s heart is also what he does (25). He cannot help but to pour out his healing, love, forgiveness, and kindness of those who desire it, yet do not deserve it. “Jesus given to us in the Gospels is not simply one who loves, but one who is love.” (27).

As a result of our modern Christian expression and theological frameworks, we find it easy for us to pit ourselves as enemies of God, even after coming into relationship with him. We must come to an intentional awareness of God’s desire to move toward sin, rather than away from it.

This is the primary objective of Gentle and Lowly—exploring the true heart of God that comes most naturally to him. While there are many other aspects—all of which have their own weight and importance in their own right and place—the nature of God that comes most often and naturally is compassion and gentleness.

Writing, Form, and Structure:

Ortlund structures the book into 23 short chapters. In total, its about 216 pages; averaging 9-10 pages per chapter.

The writing is clear and engaging, though the first half of the book seems to be a bit more content rich than the latter half.

There are lots of quotations that are formatted well and easy to read. These quotes are helpful and well connected to the main commentary.

Ortlund’s writing is largely easy to read and simple to understand. His explanations are clear. He reminds me is a few ways of Max Lucado as he writes to really help the average reader understand his book’s message—which at its core ought to be a blessing to all those who partake. (Its been several years, but at least in my mind, I felt similar vibes to Lucado’s Traveling Light.)

This could be read by middle schoolers, and by high school, teenagers should be able to meaningfully engage and benefit from the book’s content and conversation.

Concerns:

The negatives for this are pretty singular in nature. Ortlund is explicitly and unapologetically reformed. He is widely involved in reformed circles and ministries. If you are unfamiliar with the reformed tradition, check out this video and begin your own research.

To me personally, this is not a problem. I was able to identify, evaluate, and engage with the reformed material and deal with it accordingly. There were many statements that I outright disagreed with and rejected as a disservice to the book, but most of them were simple theological biases that were largely not impactful to my reading experience.

For casual or unfamiliar readers, this may be problematic if reformed theology is not desirable, affirmed, or tolerated. To be clear, there is a clear, heavy, and widespread implication of reformed beliefs in the book.

For growing readers and believers, I think it is good to read widely (assuming you have a healthy and positive community around you to aid in the evaluating process).

In line with the reformed beliefs are the reformed quotations. Ortlund relies heavily on Thomas Goodwin, BB Warfield, Richard Sibbes, John Bunyan, and Jonathan Edwards. All of which draw from Puritan, Anglican or other reformed traditions. These few reformed theologians and writers make up the vast majority of quotations in the book. Thus, the scope of external sources is relatively narrow. A concern I personally would raise.

I could also argue that the latter half of the book is less helpful than the opening, but that may just be that the opening content is where a lot of the challenging content is. The latter half, thus seeks to iron out some of those observations and conclusions.

Positives:

For those who can get over or weigh out the large reformed bias of the author, the book was enjoyable, helpful, thoughtful, and challenging.

Contextually, Gentle and Lowly, addresses a need in the western church—we struggle to know how God actually feels and acts toward us. We grew up with such condemnation and awareness of sin, that we reflect that intensity back on God. There is a balance we must all find, and this book ought to aid us in reflection to better find that balance.

Ortlund does not give way as many more progressive churches have with abandoning morality or responsibility in holiness. Yet, he probes that maybe we have misunderstood the heart of God and his constant grace for those who genuinely believe in him and seek his yoke.

For those who take on his yoke, they ought to begin to see his true heart—one of gentleness, desiring to pour out on those who are willing to receive.

As stated above, the book is readable for most.

This book will be most beneficial for those who take seriously the information, weighing it out, then taking time to reflect and experience the heart of God.

If you are wanting to pickup a copy of Gentle and Lowly, you can use my link below on Amazon! (Using my link sends me a small commission:) thanks)