Book Review: WonderFull: Ancient Psalms Ever New by Marty Machowski
For those laboring to deliver the full counsel of God for their children, author Marty Machowski has produced a soon-to-be released resource that has the potential to be of great help: a new book entitled WonderFull: Ancient Psalms Ever New. Filled with the same brilliant artwork—courtesy of Andy McGuire—as Machowski’s excellent previous work (The Ology: Ancient Truths Ever New), this latest release aims to equip parents and children to study through the Psalms, gleaning a greater knowledge of God that manifests itself in deeper faith and more profound worship of Him. It’s been my pleasure to review a copy of the book provided by the publisher to discover how this resource can be used for that purpose.
Machowski explains the book’s purpose in his introduction:
WonderFull is designed to help children grow in knowing and loving God through reading the Psalms and learning to use them to guide worship and prayer. It is my hope that in this journey of learning to apply the Psalms to life through prayer you will be amazed at how they connect together. While each psalm carries its own message, its connection with the psalms around it add to the story.
For example, notice how Psalm 23 doesn’t stand alone. It follows Psalm 22, which looks ahead to Christ’s crucifixion. Thus, we are meant to read “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want” in the shadow of the cross. The reason we need not be afraid of the valley of the shadow of death is because our Good Shepherd, Jesus, died for us.
With an explanation like that, what’s evident is that this work is not a typical children’s book. Instead, it carries with it the kind of theological depth that is both worthy of Scripture itself, and is vitally important for the spiritual development of children.
The Format
This book shines in a number of ways.
First, it’s creative. The format of the book is as follows: it begins with a fictional backstory of a child named Oliver who comes across the WonderFull book in his grandpa’s library. Tucking the book under his arm, Oliver runs outside and sits under a tree to read it. Later, his grandpa notices the book is gone, and heads outside to meet him. Together they sit down and begin walking through the book, which leads them into a study of the Psalms.
After that introduction, the fictional storyline pauses for a moment, and the book begins walking through psalm after psalm, highlighting key theological truths, linking the psalm with others, and providing points of application. The fictional narrative is later woven back in after each of the five major divisions of the Psalms, describing Oliver’s response to what he’s learning. For example, later in the story, we find that Oliver’s grandpa gets sick and passes away. As Oliver is grieving, he learns to lean upon the truths of the Psalms that he was taught, finding comfort in God’s Word. In the end, Oliver reflects on his incredible study of the Psalms (begun with his grandpa and finished with his father), and commits to passing on all that he’s learned. Thus, the fictional story serves as a palette upon which Machowski is able to demonstrate the ability of the Psalms to address real situations in life. Finally, an appendix to the book provides an even more extensive treatment of twenty-five select psalms, presenting deeper questions for study, and diving into the particular psalm to find answers.
Second of all, this book is comprehensive. Rather than touching on only a select number of well-known psalms, like Psalm 1, 23, or 90, Machowski hits on every single psalm. Whereas many devotional books might address only well-known passages, this book—coming at over 200 pages—goes a different route and provides material for all of the Psalms, assisting those who are committed to the full counsel of God. Admittedly, not every psalm gets its own full page treatment. There are several pages in which a number of psalms are grouped together, based on a common theological truth. Yet, every single psalm is, at a minimum, touched on and applied, making this book useful for a study of all one hundred and fifty psalms.
Third and finally, this book is contextual. Whereas many devotional books (especially those related to the Psalms) are saddled with acontextual anecdotes and emotionally charged language, this book does no such thing. Instead, Machowski makes a point to first explain the actual historical setting of the psalm, then touches on the theology of the psalm, and finally ends with an application.
For example, on page 100, he writes of Psalm 74 as follows:
When the Israelites refused to turn from their sin, they were destroyed by another nation, called Babylon. As a result, they lost their temple and all of their belongings. Now, they are looking back on all that’s happened and turning to God for help. They are searching for God and hoping to find him. They cry out: Please don’t forget us! Remember we are your chosen people. Please help us!
He then goes on to describe the faithfulness of God as an attribute that the Israelites could depend upon, noting what God had done for the Israelites in the past:
The Israelites have hope because they remember God’s power—that he is the only God who can save. He chose them and rescued them from slavery and opened the Red Sea so they could escape Egypt’s army. He gave them signs and miracles. They’ve seen his power and know what he can do. So, they choose to remember him and depend on his deliverance.
Finally, he brings it home with a point of application:
We also need to remember God’s faithfulness to us. How has he helped you in the past? Think back on his faithfulness, and trust that he will be your Helper again.
A second page for Psalm 74 displays brilliant artwork with even further application, encouraging children to make a list of the aspects of God’s faithfulness to the Israelites followed by a list of the ways in which God has been faithful to them in their own lives.
A Worthy Resource
Based on the aforementioned qualities of this book, it’s no surprise that it finds high praise from men like Dr. Joel Beeke, who says, “The Psalms are the heart of the Bible and pulse with the living heartbeat of God’s faithfulness. How precious is a book like this that teaches children to know and love the Psalms for the way they point us to Christ! WonderFull is tenderly written and beautifully illustrated, and will be a delight for grandparents and parents to share with their dear little ones.”
Similarly, scholar Tremper Longman III says, “Martin Luther called the book of Psalms ‘a little Bible, and the summary of the Old Testament,’ while John Calvin caught the spirit of the book when he said it was a ‘mirror of the soul.’ In WonderFull: Ancient Psalms Ever New, Marty Machowski beautifully describes the Psalms in such a way that it will appeal to children’s minds and hearts, while Andy McGuire provides compelling illustrations. Children and parents alike will learn and grow by reading this illuminating book.”
Though I’m nowhere in the league of these academics, I too would like to join in commending this book as a worthy resource. As you raise your children verse by verse, according to the principles and purposes of expository parenting, this work will undoubtedly assist you in your efforts.
The book is set to be released on September 28, 2020, and is available for pre-sale here: https://www.amazon.com/WonderFull-Ancient-Psalms-Ever-New/dp/1948130742
More info on Marty Machowski, as well as his other works, can be found here: http://www.martymachowski.com
Additional information from the publisher, New Growth Press, can be found here: https://newgrowthpress.com/wonderfull