Every hymn begins its life as a poem?and we can give our favorite hymns fresh life by returning to their poetic roots. This anthology of several centuries’ worth of great hymns invites us to experience these works as devotional poetry?to slow down and savor their wellturned phrases, their surprising metaphors, and their evocative language. English professor Leland Ryken provides some historical background for each hymn, but his focus is on literary analysis. Combined with relevant Scripture texts, the result is a wonderfully devotional and poetic study of the Christian faith, drawing on hymns such as “What a Friend We Have in Jesus,” “Jesus, Lover of My Soul,” “For All the Saints,” and many more.
