A Song to the God Who Knows (Psalm 139) by Dave Dawson

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Here are the sermon questions for small group discussion:

1. This is the last week of the Songs of Hope sermon series. How has God used these Psalms in your life? we have studied Psalms 8, 34, 57, and 73 so far in addition to Ps 139
2. Read Psalm 139 and discuss the following:
   1. What specific things does the Lord know about us (v. 1-6)? when we sit or rise; our thoughts; going out or laying down; familiar with ALL our ways; knows ours words before we speak them
   2. What is David telling us about God in verses 7-12? Why is it important? God is Omni-present, everywhere all the time, and we are never without Him, we cannot hide from Him; this is a foundational truth about God’s uniqueness, what makes Him God. It has all kinds of important applications such as we are never alone, He sees everything, etc.
   3. What do verses 11-12 say about God’s ability to handle the most hopeless situation? There is no amount of darkness or evil that God hinders Him. In fact, He redeems these dark times.
   4. What words are used to describe how God made us (v. 13-18)? created our inmost being; knit us together; we are fearfully and wonderfully made; we are not hidden from Him; He was there when we were conceived; He knew us before we were conceived, before we were formed.
   5. What can we learn from David’s outburst in verses 19-22? Does it shock you that he would talk to God this way? Since God already knows our thoughts and heart, we might as well express them to God so He can help us. God wants our honesty and for us to express our needs to Him. It may shock some people yet some might already talk with God this way.
   6. Why do you think David changes his tone in verses 23-24? As he is telling God his angry outburst, he realizes he might be sinning and asks God to show Him. David shows his trust, humility, and sincere desire to live for God in these verses.
3. How do we reconcile Psalm 139:21-22 with Matthew 5:44? Ps 139:21-22 expresses David’s anger toward God’s enemies. Matthew 5:44 is Jesus telling us to love our enemies, even when persecuted so we can assume even those that hate God. The men on our question writing team thought it was “hate the sin but love the sinner”. The women on the team thought that David was expressing his sinful, angry feelings about God’s enemies and then corrected himself in verses 23-24. Ps 139:21-22 are not telling us its okay to hate them, it is just David expressing his honest yet sinful feelings to God.
4. How can a person develop a sense of God’s unshakeable presence? Why would they want to? Answers will vary but one thought is to talk with Him throughout the day - ask Him questions, thank Him, praise Him, look for His blessings. We want to have a relationship with God and He wants to have a relationship with us!
5. How can Psalm 139 help you to: answers will vary

1. Worship Him? praise Him for his uniqueness in being omnipresent
2. Pray to Him? go to Him for advice since He alone knows everything about me
3. Trust in Him? believe that He is with me and will never leave me

Break into gender groups to discuss the following:

1. What are the benefits of being known by God? Is being COMPLETELY known by God scary for you? Why? answers will vary but some of the benefits are we can pray to God and never be misunderstood, His gifts are personal, etc. Some people may be scared about God knowing them because of sin in their life, or just plain not feeling worthy. This is a chance to remind ourselves of the gospel - He loves us and sent Jesus to pay for our sin so we can have relationship with the living God!
2. Psalm 139:23-24 shows David’s humility, trust, and dependence on God. What anxious thoughts, struggles, or offenses are you dealing with? How could praying these verses to God help you? answers will vary but we are trying to help you help your members to lean into God and submit to Him sincerely

Homework: Read Philippians this next week in preparation for the next sermon series. It’s only 4 chapters! the next 5 weeks will be on the book of Philippians.

How to Find Hope in a Scary Situation (Psalm 57) by Dave Bechtel

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1. Review the background of this Psalm by answering the following:
a. Who wrote this Psalm? David
b. What was the situation? (1 Sam 22:1) He is hiding from Saul in a cave.
c. What had happened previously? (1 Sam 18:10-11, 19:10)David’s specific hiding situation involved the powerful ruler of the nation of Israel, king Saul. This guy was not merely looking through a window but was actually trying to kill David. In fact, Saul had tried to murder David before on a couple of occasions, throwing a spear at him when David was playing the harp for Saul. In both of those situations the Scriptures tell us that Saul was attempting to “pin David to the wall” (I Sam. 18:10-11; 19:10). After the second such event David fled from his home and, employing a sequence of lies and deceit, found himself trying to hide out in Gath, the Philistine hometown of the giant he had killed, named Goliath. As we know or might imagine, that didn’t work out. David escaped that danger with more deceitful behavior (I Sam. 21:12-15). Finally, David got back into communion with the Lord. We read his confession and cry for help in Psalm 56. Our psalm, Psalm 57, was written immediately after those events, when David had returned to the land of Israel and was now hiding “under the covers” in a cave.

2. Read Psalm 57 and answer the following:
a. What refuge physically is he seeking? David is hiding to avoid being killed by King Saul
b. What spiritual refuge is he seeking? Once David took the step of repentance he then sought God’s protection and comfort
c. What in this passage shows he can depend on God? His sovereignty and purpose (vs 2) God’s steadfast love (vs. 3 & 10)
d. Look at verse 5 and 11. Why are they a repeat of each other? David is reminding himself of who God is and the power he has; When we face difficulty we too need to review who God is. Also it is a song - and this is the chorus, giving it greater importance.

3. When is it appropriate to hide? When is it not? (Acts 9:22-25, Heb 11:23, Matt 4:5-7)

He has promised to protect us from danger, but at the same time He has delegated to us some responsibility in those situations too. He expects us to employ the other resources He has given us as well as depending on His care. Therefore, on many occasions, like when Saul is chasing us, when the tornado is coming our way, when the Spirit and the wisdom of God’s Word instruct us accordingly, we take refuge. The predisposition we have to protect ourselves in the material world is a God-given instinct. When a wife’s physical well-being is in danger from a dangerous husband, when a child’s life is threatened, when the weather forecasters predict dangerous storms, seeking refuge away from the danger, “in a cave” we could say, is the action of the wise. God’s Spirit and the wisdom He grants can help guide us to physical safety. But that’s not the only or even the main thing that our hearts need when we’re in a scary situation. As we’ll see, nothing will change in David’s outward circumstances, but his heart will find hope because he takes refuge in something more than an earthly cave. He takes refuge in God.

(The promises the Lord has made to us to deliver us from danger don’t include throwing ourselves off cliffs and “trusting” that He will save us. And we don’t pray with an attitude like “bring the dangers on, I can handle them”. We pray, “Lord, deliver us from testing!” (Matt. 6:13))

Sometimes we don’t hide. Jesus didn’t hide from the cross. Paul didn’t hide from a multitude of beatings and other tough situations. Sometimes the Spirit and God’s Word will tell us not to hide from a coming danger but to stand up against it. If God has called us to stand up in a given situation, any potential danger will not deter us.

4. Is there any way in which this Psalm gives you hope? answers will vary
Break into gender groups and discuss the following.
5. Are you in a scary or difficult situation now? How could you take refuge? What do you need to review? What could you rejoice about? (Hint: see sermon outline.)

Look back over the “R” progression. Our Lord, through these words from David, answers the question we all ask when the dark shadow of danger looms in our window. “What should we do?” Here’s what we should do: take refuge, review the situation and apply God’s truth to it, rejoice in the Lord. The hope is that group members won’t spend most of their time reviewing their troubles, but will focus on God’s truth and how to apply it to their situation.

6. In the sermon Pastor Dave talked about lions and gave us 3 applications. Can you recall the application for a “lion,” “man,” and “disciple?” Which apply to you? How?

1/ lions (you know who you are). Use your God-given strength as God intended it to be employed, to bless and protect and lead, not to bite and consume.

(A lion is a picture of leadership, strength, aggressiveness, power, and boldness. Those God-given assets can be used for the good of others or for their harm. In the Scripture there are two meta-lions, one who uses his strength and aggressiveness for good and one for evil. Some people have lion-like personalities (emotional and social characteristics). Some people have lion-like physical attributes. Those gifts, like all gifts, are meant to be used to serve others. In the case of lions, God desires such people to use those assets to protect, defend, and lead others, especially those who are weaker.)

2/ Men: not all of us are lions by personality, but all of us who are married are called to lead our families. In the power of the Spirit sometimes you’ll be called on to put on the lion suit.

3/ Disciples. Regardless of our personalities, in the power of the Holy Spirit we will be bold.
7. What’s your Bible reading plan? What have you recently read that you need to apply? How can the group help? answers will vary

Beyond a 20/20 Vision (Psalm 73) by Jason Greene

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1. Share a time when you made a wrong observation that lead to a wrong conclusion. This is intended to be a mixer question for your group if needed. This ties into Jason’s point that Asaph made a wrong observation that led to a wrong conclusion about the wicked.
2. Last week you were challenged to start and end your day with praise. How did it go? Learn anything? This is a follow up question to last week’s sermon on Psalm 8.
3. Read Ps 73 and discuss the following:
   • Who is Asaph? He is the chief worship leader in the temple, and therefore he is in constant contact with the people going in and out of the temple (always observing people)
   • Why do you think he almost slipped? He envied the prosperity and health of the wicked and concluded that their sin went unpunished.
   • Who are the wicked? The wicked are NOT pure in heart; they live for today as if there is no God; and they practice evil.
   • What does Asaph observe about the wicked? He observes the wicked prosper in money and health and that their sin goes unpunished.
4. Asaph’s big questions is: “Why do the wicked prosper?” (v 3) How would you answer that question? Hint: How does Asaph’s going into the sanctuary impact his thinking? When we view worldly prosperity - it often seems that it is the wicked that are prospering. Discuss worldly prosperity during this question - and that we often see the wicked prospering the most. This can seem frustrating until we have a better grasp of true prosperity - see question 5. Going into the sanctuary changed Asaph’s perspective from one of a worldly perspective to a Godly perspective.
5. Read v 25-26. These verses show the change in Asaph’s understanding. What’s that change in perspective and how does this help us as believers? We want to really reflect on these verses to grasp what a Godly perspective truly looks like. As believers, it changes how we pray, our decision making, our perspective, parenting, etc. And it gives us laser vision on the things that matter to God.
6. How would you answer someone who asks, “How can God be good if the wicked prosper?” (Job 40:7-8, Ps 103:13-18, Matt 5:43-45) Can you think of other verses that help answer this question? Some scripture references include Revelation21:4, Psalm 7:11, 2 Chronicles 19:7, Romans 14:10. Good to have the group struggle through this process: even though it feels like evil is thriving - God still draws near to us each day; good to reflect on the gospel and the hope it truly brings; encourage people to tie their thoughts to scripture
7. People tend to think “Good = Prosperity and Evil = Adversity.” From this passage Jason says “Good = Nearness to God (v28).” Discuss. Is Nearness to God your ultimate goal? What in your life would support that claim? How can the group help you? answers will vary
8. What makes Ps 73 a “song of hope?” answers will vary; We can view the world from an eternal perspective - knowing that God is good and He is in control. When we have this perspective, we realize that true success stems from drawing near to God - and therefore as believers we can all have hope.