Leap over a Wall: Earthy Spirituality for Everyday Christians by Eugene H. Peterson (2002) Paperback

by Eugene H. Peterson

Paperback

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

[Michael Hinnen · Rating 4 out of 5]

The David story has always been difficult for me to interpret and understand. But Peterson does a great job explaining the life of David with his imaginative exegesis, examining David’s earthy spirituality, and always connecting his story to Jesus.

At times, I think he idealizes David. But I love his approach to understanding David’s story. “David isn’t David apart from God. None of us is. Most of what we’re reading about in David is God in David. Spirituality, but earthy spirituality. The David story keeps us in touch with our humanity— all of which has to do with God. There’s no part of our humanity that isn’t God-created and God-conditioned” (pg. 138).

4/5 stars

[Bobby Gilbert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Near the end of 2023 I read through the Biblical books of 1 & 2 Samuel, and absolutely fell in love with the story. Some months later I felt like doing a deeper study into David's life, yet lacked the time. I was nearing the end of the "The Pastor" memoir, I found much joy when I found out from a professor at my college that Pastor Eugene wrote a book on the life of David. I ordered it immediately and was brought into the very real world of David by cultivating and experiencing a biblical imagination that has filled my mind, heart, and has touched my very soul. Pastor Eugene writes with the understanding of life as a story, and scripture as a story. I feel almost as if Peterson wrote this book in mind for me and readers like myself. Whether it was at "En Gedi," "Ziklag," or in the royal city of "Jerusalem," I was in the company of David and his men. I seriously recommend this read for lovers of stories and the wonderful world of the Old Testament!

[Mike Shaw · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved it.

We know more about David’s life than any other charter in the Bible - and the author examines David’s life and how we can learn from his life.

Some chapters hit me more than others, (maybe just where I am at) but Eugene Peterson is simply amazing with his mastery of being able to translate Biblical times to modern day, relevant, applications to our daily lives.

Highly recommend.

[Claire Stanovich]

I'll read anything this man writes. He's so attuned to stories and their importance, as well as the imaginative nature of humanity - it's alive! David's earthy, raw story continually points towards Jesus' ultimate story. Wilderness & Company & Religion were my favorite chapters.

Good words:
"The image of David vaulting over the wall catches my attention. David running, coming to a stone wall, and without hesitation leaping the wall and continuing on his way - running towards Goliath, running from Saul, pursuing God, meeting Jonathan, rounding up stray sheep, whatever, but running. And leaping. Certainly not strolling or loitering. David's is a most exuberant story" (11). EXUBERANT!

"In the solitude and silence and emptiness of the wilderness, uncluttered and undistracted by what everyone else was saying and doing, David was able to see God's glory where no one else could see it - in Saul" (77).

"Pretty much people do the same old thing generation after generation. Sinning doesn't take much imagination. But forgiveness and salvation? That's a different story: every time it happens, it's fresh, original, catching us by surprise" (190). He's too good to us.

"That Motley collection of unloved and unlovable people - the distressed, the debtors, the discontented - achieved a remarkable and high-spirited camaraderie, a morale explicitly noted in the summarizing retrospective of David's company" (95).

"My mother was good with words; she was also good with tones. In her storytelling I not only saw whole worlds come into being, I felt them within me through the timbre of her voice" (2).

[Corinne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredible commentary on the life of David. I love that it’s in chronological order, a true story form, starting at David’s anointing all the way to his death and everything inbetween. Reads like a story; it’s amazing. I didn’t read a single chapter of this book (all 20 chapters) without being throughly enveloped in scripture passages. This book truly inspired and stirred me up to be reading my Bible more!! I personally had my bible with me every time I read this book, because each chapter had me wanting to go read the referenced passages myself. Overall highly recommend, even if you’re not particularly interested in David, or not sure why someone would want to study just one biblical character in-depth in particular, you’ll understand the beauty after you read this!!

[Emily Sanchez · Rating 4 out of 5]

“The Jesus story presupposes the David story. David. Why David? There are several strands that make up the answer, but prominent among them is David’s earthiness. He’s so emphatically human: David fighting, praying, loving, sinning. David conditioned by the morals and assumptions of a brutal Iron Age culture. David with his eight wives. David angry; David devious; David generous; David dancing. There’s nothing, absolutely nothing, that God can’t and doesn’t use to work his salvation and holiness into our lives. If we’re going to get the most out of the Jesus story, we’ll first want to soak our imaginations in the David story.”

[Mallory Garrison · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m sure I don’t need to sell any one on anything by Eugene Peterson. But I found so much life and appreciation for theology, the story of David, the little ordinary things of life through this book. Beautiful and pretty straight to the point. Makes a beautiful coffee companion.

[Garrett Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

There aren’t to many books out there on the life of David, but this one encapsulates his life beautifully. Especially as his life points to the life of an even better Shepard king. Truly a fascinating life and one worthy to learn from.

[Abbie Chamberlain · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rarely disappoints!

[Amber · Rating 5 out of 5]

amazing!