Faith Community Bible Church

HFG Questions - Week of November 30

11/30/08 - 12/6/08 David in the Pressure Cooker
1 Samuel 21-23
Jason Wolin

We would all be greatly advantaged to read chapters 21-31 and then read the corresponding Psalms that go along with these sections (Ps. 18; 34; 52; 54; 56; 57; 63; 142). This would be a great study to prepare you for Sunday Morning and HFG. If you have time you will enjoy the reading.

The superscript of Psalm 57 says, "A MIKTAM OF DAVID, WHEN HE FLED FROM SAUL, IN THE CAVE." This is a remarkable prayer of David especially considering the circumstances. Spurgeon said "Had David prayed as much in his palace as he did in his cave, he might never have fallen into the act which brought such misery upon his latter days." Why is it that comfort and prayerlessness go together?
o Comfort is not a bad thing in and of itself. How do you know when comfort is becoming a bad thing?
o What are some indicators that comfort is starting to effect your soul negatively?
o One of the best indicators that comfort has affected your heart negatively is complaining. How are complaining and a sinful pursuit of comfort connected?

David is trusting in God to deliver him from his enemies and yet he is exercising all kinds of strategizing, planning, etc. Explain the mental perspective we need to have to trust God in the midst of trail while still being responsible. If you are without a job, how do you trust God in your heart that he will provide and at the same time put forth diligent effort to pursue opportunities?
o How are these two elements of trust not a contradiction?
o What is the fundamental error in someone who sits on the couch and hides behind the excuse, "God will provide me a job in his time."
o What is the fundamental error in someone who absorbs all responsibility for finding a job expending maximum fleshly effort and then gives a token acknowledgment that "God will provide me a job in his time."
o Which way do you tend to error? How do you guard against it?

David was hiding in the cave and yet he knew that God had anointed him to be king. I'm sure from David's perspective, cave dwelling didn't look like he was heading in the right direction. We have a similar promise from God. We are promised to be exalted with Christ in heaven. We are promised that eternal happiness awaits us. And yet can we trust that the current path we are on which is so dark, so dreary, so full of dangers is the shortest path to heaven?
o What are some of the lessons you can learn from David to help you in your time of trial? Why do you think David experienced trial? Do those lessons apply to you?
o How does David sing this in a cave?
Psalm 57:7-11 7 My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast! I will sing and make melody! 8 Awake, my glory! Awake, O harp and lyre! I will awake the dawn! 9 I will give thanks to you, O Lord, among the peoples; I will sing praises to you among the nations. 10 For your steadfast love is great to the heavens, your faithfulness to the clouds. 11 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens! Let your glory be over all the earth!

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