A Long Obedience in the Same Direction by Eugene Peterson
Lesson 2: Repentance
I.
Quick recap of Lesson 1:
• Last week’s lesson on chapter 1 entitled: ‘Discipleship’. This chapter lays the foundation for
the rest of the book.
• Gist: our instant society, an alternative path, the Songs of Ascents are our guidance
II. Introductory question:
• The renowned poet, Emily Dickinson wrote: “Renunciation - the piercing virtue - the letting
go.” What light does Dickinson’s quote shed on our topic of ‘repentance’?
III. Psalm 120:
1 I call on the Lord in my distress, and he answers me.
2 Save me, Lord, from lying lips and from deceitful tongues.
3 What will he do to you, and what more besides, you deceitful tongue?
4 He will punish you with a warrior’s sharp arrows, with burning coals of the broom bush.
5 Woe to me that I dwell in Meshek, that I live among the tents of Kedar!
6 Too long have I lived among those who hate peace.
7 I am for peace; but when I speak, they are for war.
• Psalms as a genre: The Psalms are poetry meant to be sung and thus, are to be read differently
than other books of the Bible such as an epistle or historical account. Hallmarks of poetry
include: images, smilies, metaphors, hyperbole, personification. The literary style of the
Psalms allows for the reader/singer to own how each psalm sheds light on to an aspect of the
world - it shapes our emotions in order that we can ‘lean into’ the world in a godly manner.
• Context: It is an individual lament. It’s intensely personal. It describes the homesickness of
those who have settled among strangers and enemies. It is possible that this psalm originated
during the exile in which God told his dispersed people to seek the welfare of the city (Jer
29:7).
Q1: Why is understanding the genre and context of Psalm 120 significant?
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A. World of lies:
• “[Lies] talk about the world without telling us that God made it. They tell us about our bodies
without telling us that they are temples of the Holy Spirit. They instruct us in love without
telling us about the God who loves us and gave himself for us.”
• “We have been told the lie ever since we can remember: human beings are basically nice and
good. Everyone is born…innocent and self-sufficient. The world is a pleasant, harmless place.
We are born free. If we are in chains now, it is someone’s fault, and we can correct it with just
a little more intelligence or effort or time.”
Q2: Why do you think the lies from the world so persuasive?
Q3: How does this Psalm describe God? How does this make you feel?
Q4: What can we learn from the Psalmist’s response to those that lie and deceive?
• “Such dissatisfaction with the world as it is, is preparation for traveling the way of Christian
discipleship. The dissatisfaction, coupled with a longing for peace and truth, can set us on a
pilgrim path of wholeness with God.”
B. A No that is a Yes
Q5: What comes to mind when you hear the word ‘repentance’?
• “Psalm 120 is the decision to take one way over against the other…The first step toward God
is a step away from the lies of the world. It is a renunciation of the lies we have been told about
ourselves and our neighbors and our universe.”
• Repentance is the ‘no’ we say to the world’s lies and the ‘yes’ we say to God’s truth. It is
deciding that you have been wrong in your supposing that you could manage your own life and
be your own god; it is deciding that you were wrong in thinking that you had, or could get, the
strength, education and training to make it on your own. And it is deciding that God in Jesus
Christ is telling you the truth.
Q6: What is your reaction to the way he describes repentance as a ‘no’ to world’s lies and
a ‘yes’ to God?
Q7: Why is repentance difficult?
Q8: Eugene Peterson uses the word ‘decision’ several times when he’s
characterizing repentance. What do we learn from this?
IV. Conclusion: Summary? Overall take-away?
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