Dark Threads the Weaver Needs

by Herbert Lockyer

Suffering is an age-old question that has puzzled the people of God since time began. After all, if our God is both a loving and an all-powerful being, why does He allow such pain and suffering in the world? At the age of eighty-two, legendary Bible scholar Dr. Herbert Lockyer took on this question. As he watched his wife of sixty-six years slowly fade from loving spouse to an incapacitated person who needed his constant care, it caused him to look upon her afflicted, helpless form, and ask, O my God, why? In this outstanding work, Lockyer does not present ideas on how to cope with suffering but teaches how to pass through it, removing self-pity and using personal trials as a springboard to help others. In the midst of his darkest hour, Lockyer examines the problem of human suffering in light of God's love and His eternal plan.

Genres: Christian

83 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1979

About the author

Dr. Herbert Lockyer was born in London in 1886, and held pastorates in Scotland and England for 25 years before coming to the United States in 1935. In 1937 he received the honorary Doctor of Divinity degree from Northwestern Evangelical Seminary. In 1955 he returned to England where he lived for many years. He then returned to the United States where he continued to devote time to the writing ministry until his death in November of 1984.

Reviews

[Tuesdayschild · Rating 4 out of 5]

Though the book is slight, only 129 pages long, it was not a fast, easy read for me: time is needed to pause and reflect on so many portions.
The highlights I’ve shared, via the kindle edition, speak for this deeply profound wee book more than I can.

[Randy Corn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I bought this book in 1984 and like so many others just put it on my shelf intending to get around to reading it. Well, here it is 34 years later and I have finally done it! I was motivated to read this book for a couple of reasons. First, I have been working my way through books on death and dying and the subject of suffering seems like a next logical area to explore. Second, Carol Reid has asked me to write an article for RHP on suffering and I thought this book might inform my thinking on the subject as well as give me some good quotes or illustrations. I do believe it will accomplish that end.

This book grew out of the experience of the author both as a pastor and personally. He saw suffering of all sorts in the lives of his people but then he experienced it personally when his wife became an invalid and it was his task to care for her. This is no abstract treatise on the subject. He brings together every scripture that I can think of on this general subject. I suppose that ought to be expected from the author of all of “All” books which were so popular in the last generation. That phrase “last generation” brings to mind the only weakness of this brief book to me, it is dated. The approach of writers of the generation or two before mine was to quote poetry to make a point memorable. I am not sure what it says about this generation but poetry just doesn’t connect. Maybe we are just a less literate people.

The bottom line with this book is to call the reader to remember that God is God and suffering, of what ever sort, doesn’t catch Him by surprise. Specifically it is call to renewed faith in the sovereignty of God. Do we really believe that God has lost control when really bad things come our way? Do we really believe in Romans 8:28? It is a good question and one that I was helped with by reading this book.

[Autumn Slaght · Rating 4 out of 5]

Herbert Lockyer has a very soft and soothing writing style. In this book, he addresses a hot topic both in his time and today: Suffering. This is not your everyday cliche filled book from a Christian perspective. Herbert Lockyer actually LIVED what he was writing. He reaches out to the hurting human heart and speaks the words that we can relate to and be soothed by. Yet at the same time, it's not for the faint of heart. It is a very honest book that addresses a lot of questions. How to deal with suffering. Why do we suffer? And reminds us that the ultimate Comfort that we will find is in the Man of all Sorrows, who knows very intimately the depths of our pain.

[Brandon Vaughan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have always been a fan of Dr. Lockyer’s “All” series. And even though I have some slight theological differences with him about some statements made in this book, overall it was an amazing read. The poetry alone is outstanding. The poem about the Weaver was worth the price of the book by itself. I would encourage anyone going through a trial to read this book.

[Kari McDowell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not a huge fan of this one. The final chapter was encouraging but it felt like overall the book was not very empathetic or compassionate. Perhaps I’m just more sensitive to that than some, or it could be a generational thing. Lots of poetry, too, as another reviewer mentioned (which can be a good or a bad thing depending on how much you like poetry).

[Stephanie Anderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

excellent