Hey readers of Leap Over a Wall by Eugene Peterson...
As a way to capture the impact of this experience of reading & engaging in pub discussions, click the "post comment" link below & share a brief response to these questions:
1. What's your primary takeaway (insight, learning, inspiration, etc.) from reading about the life of David?
2. Peterson writes on page 5 that "David deals with God." What insights about God or walking with God did you discover or remember through this reading?
3. What's your favorite scene/story from David's life, and why?
3 comments:
Share your comments & takeaways here...
Bruce Yule: Pastor Kurt, thank you so much for putting this reading together. I enjoyed the topic as well as the fellowship with other men in the church.
1. What's your primary takeaway (insight, learning, inspiration, etc.) from reading about the life of David? For me, the primary takeaway about David was that he was a real person. He had emotions, successes/failures, mistakes. He was not a hero but a real man, trying to do God's will. This made him very approachable to me as I could see parallels to my life where I try to live my life in a way that God will approve but events and human weakness sometimes overcome. Knowing that God still supported David, failings and all, helps me to not be as hard on myself.
2. Peterson writes on page 5 that "David deals with God." What insights about God or walking with God did you discover or remember through this reading? I think to understand this quote, you have to understand the context. Peterson is writing about being truly alive when we're dealing with God. This, to me, means that we are at our most vulnerable, our true selves when dealing/talking/working with God. There are no secrets, he knows me, all of me.
3. What's your favorite scene/story from David's life, and why? My favorite is at the very beginning when Samuel is looking for the next ruler of Israel to anoint. He knows it is a son of Jesse and Jesse had many fine sons. I pictured a big town gathering and each son being paraded in front of Samuel. David was overlooked and was out in the field tending the sheep. A small boy doing menial labor. Samuel asked if that was all the sons and Jesse at first said yes, but then remembered David, almost as an afterthought. As the youngest of three boys, I could relate. Hand me downs, older brothers that were good at sports, parents that were just tired. Yet God saw something in David. David was the underdog, and I often felt that I was as well. I have always rooted for the underdogs; the rags to riches stories, the overcoming of adversity, the WSU Cougars. David was not supposed to amount to much but with Gods help, he became King.
Great to read your reflections, Bruce! Let's hear it for the underdogs...and the God who sees something in them.
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