The Poetic Wonder of Isaac Watts by Douglas Bond {Review}

I purchased this book and I’m reviewing of my own volition. Now you — and the FCC — know.

I’ve been wanting to read through Reformation Trust’s series of biographies, The Long Line of Godly Men Profiles, for a while now. Douglas Bond is one of my very favorite biographers and historical fiction writers, so I started with The Poetic Wonder of Isaac Watts (Reformation Trust, 2013).

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To be honest, I knew next to nothing about Watts, as I enjoy music, but I’ve never really studied it. We can blame that on both postmodern music in churches, and the fact that I honestly cannot count in time to a beat. I abandoned musical studies early on. Imagine my excitement, then, when I discovered that Watts wrote both “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross”, and “Joy to the World! The Lord is Come”, songs I know and love.

I was doubly excited when I found that the line of books was completely appropriate for middle and high school students! This book is 138 pages of actual text with chapter subheadings, a conversational style, and plenty of white space. The other two I now own are similarly written (those are by series editor Steven J. Lawson). I thought I’d review this biography for you because I’m just so excited about the series.

Isaac Watts (1674-1748) was a theologian, pastor, and hymnwriter. Actually, he is referred to as the “Father of English Hymnody”. The author of some 750 hymns and 50 books, Watts incredibly spent 36 years of his life ill and on bedrest. Friends, if you ever question whether God can truly be glorified in the midst of pain and suffering (which, of course, he sovereignly allows)–refer to Isaac Watts.

I appreciate Douglas Bond’s candid evaluation of the biographical figures he profiles. For Watts, Mr. Bond emphasizes the fact that the hymnwriter was always focused on glorifying God alone. He contrasts this desire with the poetry and writings of today, which primarily glorify the writer. As a writer, I found this evaluation cautionary. I think glorifying God alone is a worthy consideration for our students as they undertake more serious communication. (It’s a worthy consideration for us as adults, too!) Honestly, I always learn so much from biographies, and more so from those written by Mr. Bond, as I find his theology to be biblically based, and his commentary always stretches me to grow in some way.

I read to my boys (both in middle school) from the sections on Isaac Watts’ childhood. They both found the story engaging, and quite funny in parts. I know they’ll enjoy the full biography later this year as we study the period of time directly following the Reformation.

For middle and high school students, The Poetic Wonder of Isaac Watts is a great choice, and the entire A Long Line of Godly Men Profile series looks wonderful.

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