Trusting God in Troubled Times

June 1, 2003 - King David faced many perilous times, including personal attacks, enemy invasions, national war and family betrayal. He understood the feeling of fear, yet responded with confidence. Psalm 27 is a prayer that reveals his attitude in the face of war. There are many different types of wars: wars between nations, wars within the heart, wars within the home, wars on our streets and wars in our culture. Life is not easy. Often, we cannot choose our circumstances, but we can choose how we respond to them.

by Anne Graham Lotz

READ PSALM 27
Confident in God's Person
Psalm 27:1-3

• List the four situations that could have caused David great fear, and apply each one of them to a contemporary situation or an experience in your own life.


• How did David describe God? Why do you think that these particular characteristics were an antidote to his fears?


• What two deliberate choices did David make? How could he make these choices? On what was his confidence based?


• When Joshua faced war, how did God challenge him to make similar choices in Joshua 1:9? What about Jehoshaphat in 2 Chronicles 20:15, 17? The children of Israel in Deuteronomy 20:1, 3-4?


• How did Habakkuk make a similar choice in Habakkuk 3:16-19?


• What is hindering you from making the same kinds of choices?

Confident in God's Protection
Psalm 27:4

• What was the priority of David's life?


• What do you think "the house of the Lord" represents? See Psalm 91:1-2.


• Describe the Lord's "beauty" from the following verses: Psalm 34:8, Nahum 1:7, Ephesians 2:7, Deuteronomy 3:24, Isaiah 6:3, Ephesians 2:4-5, 1 John 4:16, Job 37:22, 1 Chronicles 29:12, 2 Chronicles 25:8, Psalm 62:11-12, Psalm 119:137, Daniel 2:20, John 1:18, Hebrews 1:1-3, and Colossians 1:15-20.


• When you reflect on God's beauty or character as you face conflict, what comfort do you receive from Isaiah 43:1-2, Psalm 91:1-16 and Psalm 46:1-11?

Confident in God's Pity
Psalm 27:5-12

• Name at least five of David's requests as he poured out his heart to God in prayer. Give a practical application for each request.


• What are you asking God to do for you? When do you pray? Are you praying more this week than you did last week? Write out your own requests of God.


• In Psalm 27:9, what name does David give to God? How does this name encourage your confidence?


• Read the following verses, and list phrases that encourage you: Psalm 72:13, Isaiah 63:9, Romans 8:31-39, Titus 3:4-5.


• In spite of the turmoil around him, on what did David focus in Psalm 27:11?


• Where is your focus in troubled times? When do you read your Bible? Are you reading it more this week than you did last week?

Confident in God's Purpose
Psalm 27:13-14

• What phrase in Psalm 27:13-14 indicates that God did not deliver David immediately? How does this passage compare to Psalm 23, Isaiah 40:27-31 and Lamentations 3:19-26?


• What enabled David to overcome his fears in the end? How do you and I overcome our fears? See Hebrews 11:32-34 and 1 John 5:4.


• How was David's faith strengthened by his experiences? See 1 Samuel 17:34-37 and 1 Samuel 17:45-50.


• Do you think your confidence in God is strengthened more in times of comfort or in times of crisis? Could this be one of God's purposes in allowing us to face war and conflict?

As you face wars within and without, what deliberate choices will you make as a result this Bible study?

 

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