I am reading another book by Eugene Peterson, Leap Over a Wall, and he uses the stories of David’s life, his victories and failures, his strengths and his flaws to teach us. Although the Bible is full of prayers, sermons, genealogies, letters, poetry etc., Peterson said our scriptures are primarily written in the form of story. Jesus was full of stories and so was Moses and others and they help reveal to us who God is. The Bible is not just a book of spiritual principles or moral guidelines but reveals God to us in ways our hearts can take in. Peterson writes, “Story is the gospel way. Story isn’t imposed on our lives; it invites us into its life.” Stories tell us how primarily how to relate to God, and I never realized it before but “the David story is the most extensive narrated single story in this large story. We know more about David than any other person in Holy scripture.” David takes up a lot of space in the Bible and shows us much of dealing with God.
When we read stories of David, we see his humanness and have to admit he was not the best father or faithful husband, but we also see how he relates to God. I often find myself praying the prayers he prayed and memorizing many of them, like Psalm 5:1-2 when I have need of forgiveness. “Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin!”
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