Small Group Questions

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Nest time we will finish looking at Psalm 57 which was written by David in a time of distress. He had been anointed to be the next king, and as a result, he was fleeing from King Saul who was seeking to kill him and hiding in a cave.

Read Job 42:2-3 and Ephesians 1:11

What do these verses tell us about God’s activity in His creation?

What aspects of the following definition of providence stand out to you and why?

“God’s providence is both his eternal, perfect knowledge of all things and his active, ongoing activity in and authority over creation… providence speaks to God’s creation of all things, his salvation of sinners, and his carrying of all things to their intended end.” Matthew Emerson and Brandon Smith 

Read Psalm 57:2-3

After saying that “God fulfills his purpose for me” David goes on to declare several ways in which God does this in the following verse. What ways does God act to do this?

Read Psalm 57:6

What does this verse tells us about David’s expectation that God acts to “overrule (evil) in His providence” and how can we apply this to our lives?

Read Psalm 57:4-6, Matthew 26:37 and Luke 22:39-46

How does Psalm 57:4-6 prophetically point to the cross of Christ?

Read Acts 2:23 and Acts 4:27-28

What do these verses tell us about how God achieved His sovereign plans?

How does the following quote speak to the question above?

“Suffering then is not outside God’s plan but a part of it… Jesus was crucified “according to the definite plan” of God, and yet the hands that put him to death were guilty of injustice and “lawlessness.” In other words, the death of Jesus was destined to happen by God’s will—it was not possible that it would not happen. Yet no one who betrayed and put Jesus to death was forced to do it. They all freely chose what they did and were fully liable and responsible for their decisions.” Timothy Keller

Read Matthew 1:21

What does this tell us about the cross and God’s eternal purposes?

Read 1 Corinthians 2:7-8 and Hebrews 2:14-15

How do these verses show God overruling evil to achieve His sovereign purposes?

What confidence does it bring that God “works all things according to the council of His will?”