The Pleasures of God

Though I still have the last chapter to go, I think it is safe to say that The Pleasures of God ranks up there as one of my favorite theology books of all time. I love the way John Piper makes profound concepts accessible to me. I get to wrestle with truths and eventually pin them down as they settle into my soul. But more than that, Piper lifts my eyes upward so that I am able to more clearly see and exalt God for who He is.

Here's an excerpt from the chapter The Pleasure of God in Doing Good to All Who Hope in Him:

"Sometimes we joke and say about a marriage, "The honeymoon is over." But that's because we are finite. We can't sustain a honeymoon level of intensity and affection. We can't foresee the irritations that come with long-term familiarity. We can't stay as fit and handsome as we were then. We can't come up with enough new things to keep the relationship that fresh. But God says his joy over his people is like a bridegroom over a bride. He is talking about honeymoon intensity and honeymoon pleasures and honeymoon energy and excitement and enthusiasm and enjoyment. He is trying to get into our hearts what he means when he says he rejoices over us with all his heart.

"And add to this, that with God the honeymoon never ends. He is infinite in power and wisdom and creativity and love. And so he has no trouble sustaining a honeymoon level of intensity; he can foresee all the future quirks of our personality and has decided he will keep what's good for us and change what isn't; he will always be as handsome as he ever was, and will see to it that we get more and more beautiful forever; and he is infinitely creative to think of new things to do together so that there will be no boredom for the next trillion ages of millenniums."

Selah.

I'm sorry to see this book end but am eagerly anticipating my next Piper book, Desiring God.

"Who is like you, O Lord, among the gods? Who is like you, majestic in holiness, awesome in glorious deeds, doing wonders?" Exodus 15:11