Leap Over a Wall Study Guide: Earthy Spirituality for Everyday Christians

by Eugene H. Peterson, Michael M. Smith

Get better acquainted with David, yourself, and the God who provides refuge and peace.
David―shepherd boy, king of Israel, man after God’s own heart―wasn’t perfect; he was just a person who had an intimate relationship with his Creator, whom he credited with his accomplishments. As he wrote in Psalm 18, “It is you who light my lamp; the Lord my God lightens my darkness. For by you I can run against a troop, and by my God I can leap over a wall” (verses 28-29, ESV).

This refreshing study guide by Eugene H. Peterson, translator of The Message , helps you get to know David by introducing you to those who knew him and were impacted by him. By seeing how God enabled David to do great things, you’ll be better able to recognize how God is working in your life today.

Genres: Christian

160 pages, Paperback

First published July 21, 2011

About the author

Eugene H. Peterson was a pastor, scholar, author, and poet. For many years he was James M. Houston Professor of Spiritual Theology at Regent College in Vancouver, British Columbia. He also served as founding pastor of Christ Our King Presbyterian Church in Bel Air, Maryland. He had written over thirty books, including Gold Medallion Book Award winner The Message: The Bible in Contemporary Language a contemporary translation of the Bible. After retiring from full-time teaching, Eugene and his wife Jan lived in the Big Sky Country of rural Montana. He died in October 2018.

Reviews

[Ian · Rating 5 out of 5]

This study guide made my time exploring the humanity of Jesus so much more enriching. The chapters are the same in both books and each has questions across 3 sections: David's story, The Bigger Story and Your Story with a closing prayerful reflection exercise.

There's plenty of room to write responses and the questions are challenging forcing you to spend time in prayerful reflection.

If you're thinking of reading Leap over a Wall, then grab this study guide at the same time. You'll find you'll capture so much more from responding to the various questions.

[Luke · Rating 4 out of 5]

If we were going to use this book for a discussion or a Bible study, this book might be a useful resource. Doesn't really add much to the book, but presents some discussion questions that might add a little.

[Afton Rorvik · Rating 5 out of 5]

I so enjoyed reading this book and savoring it slowly. Peterson tells stories so well, something he learned from his Norwegian story-telling mother, who had a particular fondness for the David stories in the Bible, the focus of Leap Over a Wall.
Peterson, also the translator of The Message, writes, "The Holy Spirit's literary genre of choice is story. Story isn't a simple or naive form of speech from which we graduate to the more sophisticated "higher" language of philosophy or mathematics, leaving the stories behind for children and the less educated. From beginning to end, our Scripture are primarily written in the form of story."

[Ryland Hennessey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Phenomenal and thought-provoking. An absolute slam-dunk from Eugene, weaving threads of Narnian story-telling into one of the most well-known Bible characters. Also gives an interesting perspective on his famous translation of the Bible, The Message Translation.

[Jeff · Rating 4 out of 5]

Uses the story of David, in the Holy Bible, and about you and I, and how we can also come through great difficulty by using faith!

[Stephanie Clark]

For someone who has to lead people, still messes up, loves God, messes up some more and then still has to rule, this gives the life and story of David a fresh, new perspective. It humanizes a guy who we can sometimes idolize and helps us to realize how our story continues this raw, earthy spirituality as we live our lives seeking to honor God.

[Tyrean · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best Bible Study guides I've ever read. This thought-provoking book gets into the depths of King David's life, and the narrative of the whole story of God. I lingered over each page of this book, soaking in the language and the ideas.

[Carl · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Peterson's writing style, his earthy language, and the way he brings both ancient stories and modern settings together into a clear picture of a life lived in God's sight. Great book about David's life.