October 31
Lesson 9
God’s Comforting
Presence
Background Scripture: Psalm 63
Printed Text: Psalm 63
Psalm 63
1 O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is;
2 To see thy power and thy glory, so as I have seen thee in the sanctuary.
3 Because thy lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise thee.
4 Thus, will I bless thee while I live: I will lift up my hands in thy name.
5 My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness, and my mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips:
6 When I remember thee upon my bed and meditate on thee in the night watches.
7 Because thou hast been my help, therefore in the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice.
8 My soul followeth hard after thee: thy right hand upholdeth me.
9 But those that seek my soul, to destroy it, shall go into the lower parts of the earth.
10 They shall fall by the sword: they shall be a portion for foxes.
11 But the king shall rejoice in God; every one that sweareth by him shall glory: but the mouth of them that speak lies shall be stopped.
Key Verse
O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is.—Psalm 63:1
The Inescapable God
Unit 2: God Sustains
Lessons 5–9
Lesson Aims
After participating in this lesson, each student will be able to:
1. Tell how David praised God in the midst of trials.
2. Explain how people experience or sense the presence of God in different settings.
3. Use Psalm 63 to counsel someone who feels trapped in a figurative wilderness.
Lesson Outline
Introduction
A. Sleeping Rough
B. Lesson Background
I. Seeking God’s Comfort (Psalm 63:1–3)
A. Longing and Dryness (v. 1)
B. Eyes and Lips (vv. 2, 3)
II. Resting in God’s Presence (Psalm 63:4–7)
A. Hands and Mouth (vv. 4, 5)
B. Day and Night (vv. 6, 7)
Under His Wings
III. Following God’s Direction (Psalm 63:8–11)
A. Assisted Pursuit (v. 8)
B. Vanquished Pursuers (vv. 9, 10)
C. Necessary Joy (v. 11)
Telling the Truth
Conclusion
A. Not Just on Sunday
B. Prayer
C. Thought to Remember
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HOW TO SAY IT Ammonites Am-un-ites. Bethel Beth-ul. Dagon Day-gon. Engedi En-gee-dye. euphemism you-fuh-mizm. Maon Muh-own. Michal My-kal. Midian Mid-ee-un. Molech Mo-lek. Paran Pair-un. Philistines Fuh-liss-teenz or Fill-us-teenz. Sheol She-ol. Ziph Zif. |
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What Do You Think? What is the best time of the day for you to seek God? Why? Talking Points for Your Discussion ■ Allowing “the urgent” to squeeze out “the important” ■ Frequency of seeking God ■ Amount of time spent seeking God |
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What Do You Think? Have you ever tried fasting for spiritual reasons? If so, how did things turn out? If not, why not? Talking Points for Your Discussion ■ Fasting for right reasons (Acts 13:2, 3; 14:23) ■ Fasting for wrong reasons (Matthew 6:16; Luke 18:11, 12) ■ Different kinds of fasts |
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What Do You Think? Why do many Christians in comfortable settings struggle to find joy in their walk with God? Talking Points for Your Discussion ■ The mind-set of being in need (Philippians 4:10–13; 1 Timothy 5:5) ■ The mind-set of having plenty (Daniel 4:28–37; Luke 12:13–21) ■ Expectations and appreciation |
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What Do You Think? Should we pray or hope for the violent demise of our enemies today? Why, or why not? Talking Points for Your Discussion ■ Luke 6:27; Romans 12:20; 2 Thessalonians 3:15 ■ Honesty in prayer ■ God’s reactions to His enemies |
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What Do You Think? When, if ever, is it our job to expose a liar instead of waiting for the truth to come out on its own? If there is a responsibility to expose a liar, what is the right way to do it? Talking Points for Your Discussion ■ The nature of the lies being told ■ Parenting responsibilities in teaching children ■ The reputation of an innocent person ■ Actions are taken out of a desire for revenge. |
Prayer
Holy God, lover of our souls, we praise You with lips of joy. We want to seek You in the morning, in the evening, and all-day through. Our souls are destitute without Your presence. They are like the parched ground in a desert during a long-term drought. They need and seek the living water that comes from You. May You continue to bless us with Your presence and comfort. In the name of Jesus, we pray. Amen.
Thought to Remember
God is always available.
Nickelson, Ronald L., and Jonathan Underwood, eds. The KJV Standard Lesson Commentary, 2010–2011. Cincinnati, OH: Standard Publishing, 2010. Print.
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