Songs of Zion by James Montgomery

What would you do if you found a book that combined your love for Scripture, your love for poetry and your love for hymns? You would probably read it in two days like I did.

As I’ve studied the Psalms, I’ve been impressed by the number of hymn writers who have devoted entire books to them. Charles Wesley did one and so did James Montgomery. His “Songs of Zion: Imitations of the Psalms” was published in 1828. While pricey at Amazon, I was able to read it for free at Internet Archive. (There is a link for downloading it to your kindle.)

Since I’ve been doing a deep dive in the Psalms over the last few years, I’ve became very familiar with a few of them and readily saw Montgomery’s skill in capturing their essence. His rhyme scheme was occasionally monotonous, but his word choices were a constant delight. Imagine a more charming synonym for hymns of praise than “songs of sacred mirth.”

Below are a few of my favorite examples of his "imitations."  

Psalm 42:11 – Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him, my Savior and my God. (NIV)

Montgomery’s version

Why, my soul, art thou perplexed?

Why with faithless trouble vexed?

Hope in God, whose saving name

Thou shalt joyfully proclaim.

 

Psalm 91:11-16

He shall charge His angel legions,

Watch and ward o’er thee to keep,

Though thou walk through hostile regions,

Though in desert-wilds thou sleep;

On the lion vainly roaring,

On his young, thy foot shall tread,

And, the dragon’s den exploring,

Thou shalt bruise the serpent’s head.

 

Since with pure and firm affection,

Thou on God hast set they love,

With the wings of His protection,

He will shield thee from above;

Thou shalt call on Him in trouble,

He will hearken, He will save, 

Here for grief reward thee double,

Crown with life beyond the grave.

Psalm 116:14 - I will fulfill my vows to the Lord in the presence of all his people. (NIV)

Montgomery:

Thou God of covenanted grace,

Hear and record my vow,

While in Thy courts I seek Thy face,

And at Thine altar bow.

Psalm 124:7 - We have escaped like a bird from the fowler’s snare; the snare has been broken, and we have escaped.

 Montgomery:

Our soul escaped the toils;

As from the fowler’s snare,

The bird, with disentangled wings

Flits through the boundless air.

Final thoughts: I used to have a friend who read the Bible in a different version every year because he never wanted the words to become so familiar that he had to stop thinking about them. Montgomery's poems would serve the same purpose.

A worthwhile book for lovers of devotional poetry. 

Blessings, 

My Favorite Elizabeth Goudge Books

Elizabeth Goudge (1900-1984) was an English writer of novels and children's fiction. While her books could not be classed as "Christian fiction" (Thank goodness!), her stories are often interwoven with Christian themes, which is what makes them so powerful. 

I read my first Goudge book in 1988 (The Scent of Water), but did not become a devoted fan until I read The Dean's Watch several years later. By that time I'd weaned myself away from romance novels and was ready for love stories with more stubstance to them. In some ways her writings are anti-romance because they take a very serious, "unfluffy" view of love. 

Here are my four favorite stand-alone titles, followed by her most famous trilogy. Sadly, the prices for these at Amazon are quite high (with the exception of Green Dolphin Street); I purchased all of my copies of these books through other online bookstores.

The Dean's Watch - If I could have only one Goudge book, it would be this one. Adam Ayscough is a man who struggles to relate to people and learns that loving others comes at a high cost. (This is the theme of almost every Goudge title!) My 2012 review is here.

The Rosemary Tree - Vicar John Wentworth seems to be failing at everything. But in this novel he grows in his understanding of what it means to live well. (Reviewed here)

Island Magic - This story takes place on the Channel islands and tells the tale of a couple with five children in dire circumstances. Can their love survive all the challenges? (Reviewed here)

Green Dolphin Street - Sisters Marianne and Marguerite compete for the love of young William Ozanne. Neither of them could have predicted the earth-shattering results of the choice he makes. (Reviewed here)

The Eliot Family Trilogy: 

The Bird in the Tree (reviewed here)

Pilgrim's Inn (reviewed here)

The Heart of the Family. I did not review this when I read it in 2019 because it was my least favorite of the three, but I'm eager to re-read it since a book blogger friend once expressed her very high opinion of it. (She wrote: "I have found some readers are not as fond of The Heart of the Family as the other two, but I adore it. I think it particularly speaks to those who are older or who have suffered deeply.")  

If you are looking for light romance, you will be disappointed. But if you are wanting to read books that will train your heart to love more deeply, then Goudge will definitely nudge you in the right direction.

Blessings,