Book Review - Communion with God

The following review was written by Emma Nienhuis on the book Communion with God by Herman Hoeksema (Jenison, MI: Reformed Free Publishing, 2011). This review was originally published in the Grandville Gleaner. It has since been edited for grammar and clarity.

Communion with God is the second volume of the devotional writings of Reformed professor Herman Hoeksema. This book consists of meditations that he wrote in the Standard Bearer in the years 1924–1947. Professor David Engelsma selected meditations with the theme of the believer's communion with God for this book.

When I was first asked to review this book, my answer was a swift "yes." Then I opened the book and read the preface. Instant trepidation.

I have personally found that in recent years, I am very much hesitant to state my opinion or even to vocally state my personal beliefs. I know what I believe. I am firm in my beliefs. Yet, I am hesitant to vocalize, let alone put into writing, my beliefs: not out of shame, but fear. Fear that I might misspeak. Fear that I might not have the words to correctly explain my beliefs. Fear that someone might twist my words or take them out of context. This is something that I have been struggling with often.

But then, I read the first chapter, and immediately read it again. "How inexpressibly sweet; how peace affording; how assuring in its influence and strengthening in the time of the trouble it is, that I may draw near to God."

From the first chapter of this book on, it no longer was about a book review. Now, I struggle as I write this to make it into a book review. Hoeksema writes later in chapter 1: "But he drew me first. And I began to draw near unto him by virtue of his drawing." How beautifully simple. How instantly comforting.

This book is comprised of 3 main parts. The first part being communion with God. The chapters found here offer such peace and hope as we strive and struggle in our earthly journey. Always Hoeksema keeps the readers focused on Christ and Christ in us.

The second part is Christian experience. Hoeksema guides the reader through earthly emotions and experiences that the believer has in their lifetime and encourages the believer in the knowledge that we wait. We wait in hope for our Father's house.

The third is Christian activity. In this final part of the book, Hoeksema makes plain that we are to watch and pray as we wait for the Lord's return. To love not the things of this earth and not be deceived by them, but, rather, to give diligence. He states: "For, brethren, he who called us is holy; and unto holiness we are called."

With its short, concise meditations, this book makes for an excellent and comforting devotional. I truly believe that any reader will find this book thoroughly biblical and Christ-centered. As Engelsma writes in the preface: "communion with God is in, through, for and because of Jesus Christ."

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