Psalms Week 2

Ask Questions reflecting on the daily study.

Ask if people got the chance to watch the video.

Psalm 23 ESV

A Psalm of David. The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

Three Insights from Psalm 23.

1. Psalm 23 is personal.

There is no we, or plural pronouns in this passage. This is a direct approach to God.

We can and should view and go to God in this way.

The three metaphors in this Psalm

God is: Shepherd, Host, God

We are: Sheep, Guest, Ourselves

2. The trajectory of Psalm 23 tells us where the Lord is taking us.

Psalm 23 was written from a place of difficulty, but it leads us toward a place of victory and salvation.

David went through many difficult times, but he knew that God was always leading him toward the good.

The trajectory of your life, in Christ, is always better and never worse.

3. Psalm 23 is soaked in a spirit of rest.

No economy of scarcity.

Our cup overflows.

We have the full confidence of what is to come in Christ.

God wants you to have this confidence about your relationship with Him.

Expectancy

God is the factor that is far beyond ourselves that ensures our lives will turn out in a fantastic way.

Go through group questions.

Romans 8:28–29 CSB

We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, who are called according to his purpose. For those he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, so that he would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.

Philippians 2:13 CSB

For it is God who is working in you both to will and to work according to his good purpose.

Hebrews 12:7–11 CSB

Endure suffering as discipline: God is dealing with you as sons. For what son is there that a father does not discipline? But if you are without discipline—which all receive—then you are illegitimate children and not sons. Furthermore, we had human fathers discipline us, and we respected them. Shouldn’t we submit even more to the Father of spirits and live? For they disciplined us for a short time based on what seemed good to them, but he does it for our benefit, so that we can share his holiness. No discipline seems enjoyable at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.