Psalm 22 / Leader Guide week of 10-19-08

Small Group Leaders Guide
October 19, 2008

Series: Honest To God
Message: Dear God, Sometimes I Wonder If You Really Care

Psalm 22

Getting Started:
1. Have you ever questioned God’s love for you?

Going Deeper:
2. Read Psalm 22:1-2. Is it okay for David to be asking these questions of God? Is it a sin to question God in this way? At what point can questioning God cross the line into accusing God?

3. In verses 3-5, what do you think David’s main point is? Contrast these verses with verses 1 and 2.

4. Read verses 6-8. Have you ever had someone throw your faith back in your face this way? How did that make you feel? What was your response?

5. God doesn’t let Christians go through struggles and trials, right? Read verses 9-11. In verses 9 and 10, David talks about being a believer all his life. In the face of what he’s going through, why do you think he mentions that at this time?

• In verse 11, David goes to God for help. I think the fact that he has been a believer all his life is what causes him to know where to go when, “trouble is near and there is no one to help.”

6. Do you think David’s suffering was caused by God because of something David did? Does suffering ever come from the hand of God? What Bible passages teach on this subject?

• Psalm 107:17
• Proverbs 19:3
• Galatians 6:7
• Proverbs 15:10
• Hebrews 12:5-11
• Job 2:7-10
• Isaiah 45:5-7
• Lamentations 3:37-38
• Amos 4:6-13
• John 9:1-3
• Deuteronomy 8:5
• Proverbs 3:11-12

7. If someone told you that they feel like God has abandoned them, what would you say? What Scriptures would you point that person to?

• Others have felt the same way-Psalm 30:7, Psalm 31:22
• God will never abandon you-Deuteronomy 31:6, Psalm 9:10, Psalm 37:25-28, John 14:18
• God loves you more than you can understand-Psalm 103:11,Isaiah 49:15-16, Ephesians 3:16-19
• Believe God because He doesn’t lie-Numbers 23:19, Titus 1:1-2
• Live by faith rather than feelings-2Corinthians 5:7
• Wait patiently-Psalm 37:7-9, Isaiah 40:27-31

8. What advice would you give to someone that was undergoing the discipline of God? What Scriptures would you share with that person?

• Psalm 139:23-24
• Psalm 103:8-14
• Isaiah 53:5
• 2Corinthians 5:21
• Psalm 71:20-21
• Lamentations 3:31-33
• Hosea 6:1-2
• 1Peter 5:10

9. Verse 22 marks a turning point in this psalm. Do you think the purpose of all the suffering in David’s life was meant to produce what happens in verses 22-31?

10. Psalm 22 has a prophetic thrust. It gives us a picture of Christ. In fact John 19:4 speaks of this as a scripture that was fulfilled. How many pictures of Christ can you find in this passage? Can you find the New Testament references to connections you see?

• Hebrews 2:12
• Matthew 27:46
• Matthew 27:43
• Matthew 27:35
• Matthew 27:39

Putting it into practice:
11. If you are feeling abandoned by God, go to Him and tell Him how you really feel. Pray for those in your group who are feeling like God is distant.

Quote Of The Week:
Feelings are the play of emotion over the will, a kind of musical accompaniment to the business of living, and while it is indeed most enjoyable to have the band play as we march…it is by no means indispensable. We can work and walk without music, and if we have true faith, we can walk with God without feeling.
--A.W. Tozer