Community Group Discussion Guide Psalm 36 – June 27, 2021

I. Starter Question:

• Have you been deceived by someone or something in your life?

II. Discussion of Scripture:

This week we’re diving into Psalm 36. It’s a psalm of lament, where David expresses great grief over the troubles that the wicked stir up. There is no active, specific threat, however–David is describing the fact that the wicked cast a looming, scheming presence. David stands that up in contrast to the always-present, steadfast love of the LORD. The LORD protects the righteous from the wicked! Psalm 36 (ESV) – How Precious Is Your Steadfast Love To the choirmaster. Of David, the servant of the LORD. 1 Transgression speaks to the wicked deep in his heart; there is no fear of God before his eyes. 2 For he flatters himself in his own eyes that his iniquity cannot be found out and hated. 3 The words of his mouth are trouble and deceit; he has ceased to act wisely and do good. 4 He plots trouble while on his bed; he sets himself in a way that is not good; he does not reject evil.

5 Your steadfast love, O LORD, extends to the heavens, your faithfulness to the clouds. 6 Your righteousness is like the mountains of God; your judgments are like the great deep; man and beast you save, O LORD.

7 How precious is your steadfast love, O God! The children of mankind take refuge in the shadow of your wings. 8 They feast on the abundance of your house, and you give them drink from the river of your delights. 9 For with you is the fountain of life; in your light do we see light.

10 Oh, continue your steadfast love to those who know you,

and your righteousness to the upright of heart! 11 Let not the foot of arrogance come upon me, nor the hand of the wicked drive me away. 12 There the evildoers lie fallen; they are thrust down, unable to rise. For Discussion:

A. In verse 1, it says that “transgression speaks to the wicked deep in his heart.” How does sin deceive us? Who is the wicked in this passage?

B. Sin flatters us so much that we end up loving sin and not fearing God, rather than hating sin and fearing God (vv. 1-2). Jonathan Edwards describes eight ways that sin flatters us–he calls them “self-flatteries.” After reading this list, how has sin stroked your ego to not hate sin as you should, and to not fear God as you should?

1. Some flatter themselves with a secret hope, that there is no such thing as another world. 2. Some flatter themselves that death is a great way off, and that they shall hereafter have much opportunity to seek salvation. 3. Some flatter themselves that they lead moral and orderly lives, and therefore think that they shall not be damned. 4. Some make the advantages under which they live an occasion of self-flattery. [As in, because I live in America, I go to this church, I grew up in a Christian home, etc., I think am right before God.] 5. Some flatter themselves with their own intentions. [As in, I’ll live in my sin now and reform later.] 6. There are some who flatter themselves, that they do, and have done, a great deal for their salvation. 7. Some hope by their strivings to obtain salvation of themselves. 8. Some sinners flatter themselves, that they are already converted [when they are not].

C. Our words reveal our character (v. 3). How does sin reveal itself in our speech?

D. Sin causes us to drift so far that it becomes blatant and intentional, as we see in verse 4. We no longer hate our sin; we actively plan how to do it. How have you planned sin?

Gear shift: This introspective look into sin and its flatteries is a harsh but necessary place to camp, but soon enough David shifts, in verses 5-9, to a look at the glory of God, His steadfast love and faithfulness toward us, and His blessings for us. God stands in perfect contrast to the wicked. God’s steadfast love (vv. 5, 7, 10) harkens to Exodus 34:6-7, which describes God like this: “The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the

fathers on the children and the children’s children, to the third and the fourth generation.”

E. In verses 5-6, how far does God’s love and His faithfulness, righteousness, and judgment reach? How does this give you hope?

F. When David says that God saves “man and beast” (v. 6), the intent here is to say that if God takes care of the animals, surely he will take care of us. How has God provided for your needs?

G. And, his provision isn’t meager–it’s abundant. David praises God that His people “feast on the abundance of your house” and they “drink from the river of your delights” (v. 8). Have you feasted on God’s abundance, and drunk from the river of His delights? How has God blessed you now, and what blessings are yet to come?

H. What does it mean to be “upright of heart” (v. 10)? How does God protect those who are faithful to him? (vv. 11-12).

III. Responding in Prayer:

1. Praise God for our Lead Ministries Pastor, Scott Douglass, and his family–wife Diana, and kids Ella, Beckett, Iris, Cohen, and Case. Pray for them as they transition life to Edmond and our church!

2. Continue in prayer for the many missions’ efforts this summer. Pray for those preparing and leaving for Nicaragua and North Africa, for fruit in those serving, and those served. Pray that many would take refuge in the shadow of His wings!

3. Pray for our church, as the Lord reveals His will to us as we seek to bring Him glory through disciple-making. Praise God for our faithful body of believers, and pray for protection from the schemes and plans of the devil that would seek to thwart kingdom advancement.