Bible Study & Questions
This would make a good study to do alone or with a small group.
Read Psalm 27
The Lord shall keep me safe
The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
When evildoers assail me to devour my flesh-- my adversaries and foes-- they shall stumble and fall.
Though an army encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war rise up against me, yet I will be confident.
One thing I asked of the LORD; this I seek: to live in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to inquire in his temple.
For he will hide me in his shelter in the day of trouble; he will conceal me under the cover of his tent; he will set me high on a rock.
Now my head is lifted up above my enemies all around me, and I will offer in his tent sacrifices with shouts of joy; I will sing and make melody to the LORD.
Hear, O LORD, when I cry aloud; be gracious to me and answer me!
"Come," my heart says, "seek his face!" Your face, LORD, do I seek.
Do not hide your face from me. Do not turn your servant away in anger, you who have been my help. Do not cast me off; do not forsake me, O God of my salvation!
If my father and mother forsake me, the LORD will take me up.
Teach me your way, O LORD, and lead me on a level path because of my enemies.
Do not give me up to the will of my adversaries, for false witnesses have risen against me, and they are breathing out violence.
I believe that I shall see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.
Wait for the LORD; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the LORD!
The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
When evildoers assail me to devour my flesh-- my adversaries and foes-- they shall stumble and fall.
Though an army encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war rise up against me, yet I will be confident.
One thing I asked of the LORD; this I seek: to live in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to inquire in his temple.
For he will hide me in his shelter in the day of trouble; he will conceal me under the cover of his tent; he will set me high on a rock.
Now my head is lifted up above my enemies all around me, and I will offer in his tent sacrifices with shouts of joy; I will sing and make melody to the LORD.
Hear, O LORD, when I cry aloud; be gracious to me and answer me!
"Come," my heart says, "seek his face!" Your face, LORD, do I seek.
Do not hide your face from me. Do not turn your servant away in anger, you who have been my help. Do not cast me off; do not forsake me, O God of my salvation!
If my father and mother forsake me, the LORD will take me up.
Teach me your way, O LORD, and lead me on a level path because of my enemies.
Do not give me up to the will of my adversaries, for false witnesses have risen against me, and they are breathing out violence.
I believe that I shall see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.
Wait for the LORD; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the LORD!
Read Luke 13:31-35
A hen gathering her brood
At that very hour some Pharisees came and said to him, "Get away from here, for Herod wants to kill you." He said to them, "Go and tell that fox for me, 'Listen, I am casting out demons and performing cures today and tomorrow, and on the third day I finish my work. Yet today, tomorrow, and the next day I must be on my way, because it is impossible for a prophet to be killed outside of Jerusalem.' Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often have I desired to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing! See, your house is left to you. And I tell you, you will not see me until the time comes when you say, 'Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord.'"
At that very hour some Pharisees came and said to him, "Get away from here, for Herod wants to kill you." He said to them, "Go and tell that fox for me, 'Listen, I am casting out demons and performing cures today and tomorrow, and on the third day I finish my work. Yet today, tomorrow, and the next day I must be on my way, because it is impossible for a prophet to be killed outside of Jerusalem.' Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often have I desired to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing! See, your house is left to you. And I tell you, you will not see me until the time comes when you say, 'Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord.'"
Study Questions
- There seems to be no end to things we should be afraid of in these uncertain times. But Psalm 27, and indeed, all of scripture says, “Do not be afraid” over and over. What are some of the ways Psalm 27 invites us to respond to our fears? [hiding ourselves in God (v.5), worshiping God with full throat (v. 6), seeking God in prayer and petition (v. 8), placing ourselves at God’s disposal (v.11).]
- Psalm 27:10 is one of the most poignant verses in all of scripture: “If my father and mother forsake me, the Lord will take me up.” It’s a verse that cries out, “Can I get a witness?” Do you have a testimony or story of being found and taken up by God when no one else was there for you?
- How does Jesus model a confident trust in God for us in Luke 13:31-35? [ He focuses on the meaningful work he is doing (casting out demons and performing cures), knowing his life is in danger.]
- What do we learn about the life of faith in these verses? [1. It will bring us into conflict with powers in high places. 2. We continue our ministries of healing and comfort in good times and bad. We don’t turn back. 3. We enter places in the world others fear to enter. Can you think of others?]
- Both the psalmist in Psalm 27:10 and Jesus in Luke 13:34 call to mind those who feel utterly alone and undefended. Who in your circle of awareness needs you to spread your wings and gather them in, as Jesus longed to do?
You want to overcome fear? Seek God’s face. Seriously. This isn’t a cliche to make you feel better. It is a program for ridding yourself and the world of fear. Seek God’s face. Set yourself the task of looking for God at work in the world. We claim to believe God is at work among us; we claim to believe God is at work within us. So, look. Look for God’s face in the face of the stranger serving you your lunch, working on your car, asking for a handout. Look for God’s face in the gestures of kindness in this terrible world, in the opportunities to laugh and sing, in the moments of grace with loved ones, in the passion of body and soul. Seek God’s face in the beauty of music, in the wonder of the world around you. You’re on a mission. If you fill up your life with the search for God, you won’t have time to fear.
Prayer
The Lord is my light and my salvation;
whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life;
of whom shall I be afraid?
Wait for the Lord;
be strong, and let your heart take courage;
wait for the Lord!
Amen.
whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life;
of whom shall I be afraid?
Wait for the Lord;
be strong, and let your heart take courage;
wait for the Lord!
Amen.
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1 Comment
I saw a really great commentary on Instagram for the Luke text. Joseph Yoo, an Episcopalian priest, is someone I follow, and I recommend following him for insights on weekly lectionary readings. He notes the metaphors of Herod as a "fox" and Jesus as a "mother hen" -- how different are these ideas of leadership and power? The hen spreads her wings to protect and defend from the fox. It makes me think about how we are called to defend the defenseless against the wily empire that rises among us now.
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