A Long Obedience in the Same Direction by Eugene H. Peterson
Week 2: Chapter 1 — Repentance (Psalm 120)
Read Chapter 1 of A Long Obedience in the Same Direction. Primary text: Psalm 120.
Previewing Week 2 of A Long Obedience in the Same Direction
Read 3 of 7 discussion questions below. Unlock the complete 14-week guide when you’re ready.
Every pilgrimage begins with a turning — and Psalm 120 is the cry of someone who has woken up to how far they are from where they belong.
Discussion Questions
7 questions1.Psalm 120 opens with the psalmist in "Meshech" and dwelling among "the tents of Kedar" — both images of a hostile, alien world far from God's presence. Peterson uses this to describe the condition of every person before repentance. How would you describe the "Meshech" or "Kedar" of your own life before you turned toward God?
2.Peterson distinguishes repentance from mere regret or self-improvement. He insists repentance is not feeling bad about yourself but turning — a change of direction, not just a change of feeling. Does this distinction ring true to you? Have you ever confused the two?
3.The psalmist cries out, "I am for peace, but when I speak, they are for war." Peterson sees in this verse the painful experience of living out of step with the surrounding culture — the loneliness of wanting something different from what the world offers. Where do you feel that kind of loneliness in your own life as a Christian?