The Message (Eugene Peterson)

Just picked up a copy of The Message from Genesis to Revelation. I started on my walk through this amazing look at scripture a few years ago, when I bought a copy of the New Testament. Later I picked up the first five books of the Bible in Message format. Even Leviticus became a devotional read through Eugene Peterson's poetic eyes.

Being a poet myself... this time I dived into the Psalms. Reading them aloud with a new slant to the poetry of David's work was a soul lifter. I have quite a few versions of scripture in my library, because I'm always looking for a different flavour for the manna that God has given me to live by.

I call it Manna, because that is all the Israelites had to eat in the desert.. (the odd quail flew in to quench their griping hearts). Maybe I'm not the only one who has this problem, but I need a change in my diet every once in a while. The manna must sustain me on a daily basis and I don't ever want it to get old and tasteless.

The Message is like adding cinnamon and raisens to oatmeal porridge...

The healthy, life sustaining nutrients are in the porridge, not so much in the flavour... The flavour makes it sweeter to taste and fresh. The seasoning must never take away from the life giving value of the porridge (manna)... but after the thirtieth some year of eating oatmeal porridge, it's nice to have a change in the seasoning.

Gone are the days that King James and the NIV are the only way to injest the Word of God. The Message is easy to read and understand. It's vibrant and dramatic. It will bring common passages to life in a way you've never experienced before.

Here's an example. (Psalm 1)

"How well God must like you --
you don't hang out at Sin Saloon
you don't slink along Dead-End Road,
you don't go to Smart-Mouth College.

Instead you thrill to God's Word
you chew on Scripture day and night
You're a tree replanted in Eden,
bearing fresh fruit every month,
Never dropping a leaf,
always in blossom.

You're not at all like the wicked,
who are mere windblown dust --
Without defence in court,
unfit for company for innocent people.

God charts the road you take.
The road they take is Skid Row."