One of the literary arts we have neglected in our fast-paced culture is the art of poetry.  John Piper is a poet.  You know him, perhaps, as a pastor, or as the man whose blog posts or books you have read over the years.  Perhaps you’ve read his most popular book ‘Desiring God‘ (also the namesake of his ministry).

Well this week I wanted to encourage you to take a look at three poems he has written that have had a dramatic impact on me and many others. This week Desiring God released Dr. Piper’s most recent poem, and its just fantastic! It is set to a video backdrop with voice over from some theological titans.  Take a few moments and read, listen, and allow yourself to enjoy God in ways that perhaps you haven’t been recently.  Here are the poems:

The Calvinist  – click here to read the poem and watch the video.

One of my favorite graphs:

See him with his books:
Tree beside the brooks,
Drinking at the root
Till the branch bear fruit.

 

The Innkeeper – click here to check out the book on Amazon.  And click here for a FREE PDF version of the book: The_Innkeeper

One of my favorite graphs:

In two weeks they will crucify

My flesh. But mark this, Jacob, I

Will rise in three days from the dead,

And place my foot upon the head 

Of him who has the power of death. 

 

Ruth: Under the Wings of God – click here to check out the book on Amazon. Click here to download a FREE PDF of the book:Ruth

One of my favorite graphs:

One of my favorite lines: 

Tonight Boaz was by the fire

And wrapped in blankets for attire

young David stood in awe that here

Was his own flesh who, in a year, 

Would have a century of life

Perhaps, on earth and one whose wife

Was his Great-grandma Ruth. He took

His harp and cradled in the crook 

Of his small arm the music of 

A fam’ly’s century of love. 

 

JOB: The Film

In this adaptation of the book of Job, John Piper puts poetry to still images in what is now probably best described as a precursor to the Calvinist poem he just released.  You can learn more about the film here, and see a trailer below: