A Long Obedience in the Same Direction by Eugene H. Peterson
Week 8: Chapter 7 — Work (Psalm 126)
Read Chapter 7 of A Long Obedience in the Same Direction. Primary text: Psalm 126.
Previewing Week 8 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.
Psalm 126 holds together two things that feel like opposites: the laughter of God's surprising restoration and the tears of faithful sowing — and Peterson shows us why both belong to the life of discipleship.
Discussion Questions
7 questions1.Psalm 126 begins with a memory of liberation — "When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dreamed" — and then turns to a present experience of ongoing difficulty. Peterson sees this as the normal rhythm of the Christian life: grace remembered, struggle continued. Does this rhythm match your experience?
2.Peterson discusses the image of "those who sow in tears" who will "reap with songs of joy." He uses this to build a theology of work — that faithful, even painful labor is not wasted but is the seed of future harvest. Is there work in your life right now that feels like sowing in tears? What does it take to keep sowing?
3.Peterson warns against two distortions of Christian work: the workaholic who believes it all depends on their effort, and the quietist who waits for God to do it all without human participation. How do you hold together human effort and divine action in your own understanding of work and service?