Amen! - Prayers of the Scriptures

Psalm 39

Joel Miles

July 14, 2024

With a friend, your family or in your small group, discuss the following questions:

1. Categorizing the Prayer
2. Read the entirety of Psalm 39. How would you categorize this type of prayer?
3. What elements of the prayer stand out to you?
4. Is this a kind of prayer that you are familiar with using in your own prayer life?
5. David's Silence
6. Read Psalm 39:1-3. Why has David decided to be quiet? What is his reasoning?
7. David's Suffering
8. Read Psalm 39:9-13. Who does David blame for his current sufferings?
9. Have you ever been this frustrated with God?
10. Have you ever prayed like this to God amidst your sufferings and frustrations?
11. Language for Suffering
12. How does Psalm 39 provide language for addressing our sufferings and God's sovereignty?
13. How does this Psalm teach us to be honest with God in our prayers?
14. Why do you think it is important for us to be able to be honest with God?
15. David's Perspective
16. Read Psalm 39:4-6. Why do you think David begins with a prayer for perspective on the brevity of life and the goods of life before expressing his frustration in verses 9-13?
17. Why do you think we need to pray for this kind of perspective amidst our pain and sufferings?
18. Prayer for Perspective
19. How does David's prayer for perspective enable him to pray what he does in Psalm 39:7-8?
20. What is David praying for in Psalm 39:7-8?
21. Promises of God
22. In the midst of our pain and frustrations with God, this prayer teaches us to be both honest with God, but also to plead with God for His forgiveness and grace—to seek the gift of His presence.
23. What are some promises of God we need to remember when we go through difficulty, so that we can lament to God but with our hope set on Jesus?
24. Encouraging Honesty and Perspective
25. How can you encourage one another to be more honest in your prayers?
26. How can you maintain a more eternal perspective rooted in Jesus?