Seeing God in Your Circumstances
David, Part 7
Anthony Fusco
Part of Small Groups—Questions
April 6, 2025

HIGHLIGHTS AND INSIGHTS FROM THE MESSAGE

  1. Psalm 23 reveals David’s perspective at the end of his life, showing how God guards, guides, and gives abundantly to His people even in difficult circumstances.
  2. The pronouns in Psalm 23 shift from “He” to “You” when discussing difficult times, suggesting our relationship with God becomes more personal during hardship.
  3. God’s goodness isn’t the absence of difficulty but His presence and blessing within our challenges.

CONVERSATION STARTER

What image or phrase from Psalm 23 has been most meaningful to you throughout your life, and why?

EXPLORING THE SCRIPTURE

Main Scripture: Psalm 23

The Lord is my shepherd; I have what I need. He lets me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside quiet waters. He renews my life; he leads me along the right paths for his name’s sake. Even when I go through the darkest valley, I fear no danger, 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. Only goodness and faithful love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord as long as I live.

Brief summary of Book of Psalms

Throughout this series, we’ve witnessed David as a shepherd boy, a giant slayer, a mighty warrior, a legendary king, as well as a flawed and broken man. The Psalm from this week showcases his talent as a gifted poet. Through inspiration of the Holy Spirit, he masterfully paints us a beautiful picture of both his personal life and our own relationship with the Lord.

VERSE 1…

In Psalm 23, David speaks of God’s goodness, provision, peace, and protection over his life. How does the illustration of a shepherd with sheep relate to disciples of Christ and our relationship with the Lord?

As you consider your current state, can you say that God is truly your shepherd? Ask yourself the following:

  • Do I really belong to Him and do I recognize His right to me?
  • Am I utterly content in His care?
  • Do I sense a purpose and peace because I am under His sovereign direction?

VERSES 2-3…
Sheep are unable to lie down unless they are free from four things: fear, friction with other sheep, pests, and hunger. Only the shepherd can facilitate the proper circumstances to allow the sheep the freedom to lie down. Likewise, a shepherd alone is responsible to lead his sheep to good pastures and clean water or they will drink and eat whatever they can find, regardless if it is polluted or not.

  • Do you see any similarities between us and sheep in this description? If so, what? Reference Isaiah 53:6.
  • We too must place our full trust and reliance in our Shepherd. Review the steps that were discussed this week from Proverbs 3:5-6 that are necessary to take to allow God to guide us. Are you following each one of these steps in your life?

God alone knows and can guide us to what is best for us.

  • Do you ever find yourself inadvertently putting constraints on God because of your limited foresight? Reference Isaiah 42:16, Ephesians 3:20, and 2 Corinthians 9:8.
  • Has there been a time in your life where God has led you somewhere or done something incredible that you could have never foreseen yourself?
  • What does David mean in verse 3 when he states, “He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake,” specifically focusing on the latter half of the verse? Cross reference with Psalms 106:8, Romans 1:5, 1 John 2:12, and Isaiah 48:11. What can we learn about God through these verses?

VERSE 4…
As we’ve witnessed throughout studying the life of David in this series, there is no need to fear the valleys in our lives when we belong to the Lord.

  • This is not the first time David echos this truth in his writings (see Psalm 118:6, Psalm 138:7, and Psalm 27:1-4). How did David’s valleys actually benefit him overall by the end of his life? How have yours?

A shepherd’s rod and staff are two separate and distinct tools, the former used mainly to lead, discipline, examine, and protect, and the latter used to comfort, guide, and gently correct.

  • What tools do we presently have the privilege of possessing that David didn’t have full access to? Reference 2 Timothy 3:16-17, Romans 15:4, John 14:26, and John 16:13-15.
  • How has God (as your shepherd) used these tools to lead, discipline, examine, protect, comfort, guide, and correct you?

VERSE 5…
God doesn’t always remove our enemies, but He “prepares a table before us” to nourish, strengthen, and equip us for what lies ahead.

  • What does this actually mean and how do we access this “table” so that we are prepared for the attacks of the enemy?
  • Keeping consistent with the metaphor of sheep, when an enemy is present, it is the wandering sheep who are most susceptible to attacks. What can we take away from this? Reference James 4:8 and Isaiah 55:6-7.

David was anointed with oil as a symbolic promise of the special plan that God had for him.

  • Do you truly believe that God loves you specifically with an everlasting love and has a unique plan for your life? How does your answer to this question affect the way in which you will go forward?

Do you see God as the ultimate and only source of good, recognizing that every good thing in your life is from Him and Him alone (James 1:17)?

  • What should this knowledge invoke within us? Do we adequately and consistently show our appreciation for ALL the abundance God has poured out over us?

VERSE 6…
God’s goodness and mercy are passed freely to us as His followers, and we should be so content to “dwell in His house” that we have no desire to ever go elsewhere.

  • As recipients of God’s unfathomable goodness, how much more should we pass these things along to others? Reference 1 John 4:19 and John 13:34-35.
  • Do you exude the benefits of being under Christ’s control so thoroughly that others who witness your life also long to dwell in the house of the Lord? If not, what needs to change?

GROUP DISCUSSION

The manner in which God guards those who belong to Him is proactive, not reactive. He prepares believers for the future He has for us, and our circumstances and enemies can’t stop the progression of His good and faithful plans.

  • What is the significance in God’s protection against our enemies being proactive as opposed to being reactive?
  • Do you ever feel the compulsion to just give up or give in when the enemies that surround you seem too great to overcome? What do you need to remind yourself of in these instances? Reference Isaiah 43:1-2, Psalm 145:14, and Romans 8:31.
  • In which areas of your life have you experienced God’s proactive guarding? In what ways has your life changed because of this?

This week Pastor Anthony quoted Oswald Chambers saying, “Have we been slandering God by daring to worry?”

  • Is worry a consistent problem for you? Do you worry about what is happening now, what is to come, or perhaps things that have already happened that you wish you could change?
  • Have you ever considered the fact that our worry is ultimately a lack of trust in the Lord? What does the Bible tell us about this? Reference Isaiah 26:3 and Psalm 55:22.
  • It’s easy to use the phrase, “don’t worry,” but how do we actually cease from worrying when we just can’t seem to stop?

Re-read Romans 8:31-37 as referenced in the sermon.

  • How does Paul’s confidence in God’s love complement David’s trust in God’s shepherding? What similarities do you see between these two passages?

“The goodness of God is not the absence of difficulty but the blessing of God in the difficulty.”

  • How has God been good to you?
  • Why is it important to constantly remember, acknowledge, and show our immense gratitude for the way God has poured out His love and blessings on us?

Reflect on the various snapshots of David’s life that we have covered throughout this series.

  • How is Psalm 23 a culmination of the life lessons that David had learned by his old age?
  • What do you think is the symbolic significance in David utilizing analogies from his more peaceful, simple days as a shepherd boy?
  • Which part of Psalm 23 resonates most deeply with you personally?

LIVING IT OUT

David acknowledged God as his shepherd who leads, restores, and prepares. Currently, in what specific area of your life do you need to surrender control and acknowledge God’s leadership?

The phrase “my cup overflows” speaks to God’s abundant provision. How might focusing on God’s generosity rather than your perceived lack change your perspective this week?

Review the lessons below that we have learned from David’s life and reflect on your own. As sheep of the Good Shepherd, we must:

  • Look to the Lord and trust in Him completely (Psalm 25:1-2).
  • Place our hope in the Lord so that we can see clearly, act confidently, and walk humbly.
  • Look to God as our refuge when we are angry, isolated, and afraid.
  • Submit ourselves to God’s will, God’s way, God’s timing.
  • Maintain full confidence in the Lord even when our world is falling apart.
  • Allow our brokenness to lead us to become desperate for God.

Which of these lessons can you prioritize strengthening this week? What are some practical steps you can take to build these truths into your life and who can come alongside you to pray for you in this?

What is the biggest take home you have learned through studying the life of David?

PRAYER

The LORD is my shepherd; I have what I need. —Psalm 23:1

This psalm gives complete assurance that, wherever you are in life, and whatever the challenges you face, our all-sufficient God will meet your needs. Read this psalm and pray each verse, making it your own. Below is a good starting point.

  • Prayer: Lord, I’m in Your care as a sheep is in the care of a good shepherd. Help me to trust You and follow You wherever You lead me, and whatever challenges I face.
  • Remember to pray for others, too.

Interested in praying with and for others. Learn more by reaching out to us through prayer@nwbible.org.