Rooting Path · Old Testament Survey · Lesson 5: Poetry and Wisdom: Fearing God in Daily Life
This lesson in one sentence: Fearing God means treating God as God in everyday life; the Psalms teach us to tell God the truth.
Timing (about 60 minutes)
- Opening5 min
- Read Together10 min
- Practice Together15 min
- Discussion20 min
- This Week5 min
- Pray for One Another5 min
Opening
What is your favorite psalm, or proverb? It’s fine if you don’t have one.
Read Together
7The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but the foolish despise wisdom and instruction.
Prov 1:7 · WEB
1Blessed is the man who doesn’t walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand on the path of sinners, nor sit in the seat of scoffers; 2but his delight is in the LORD’s law. On his law he meditates day and night. 3He will be like a tree planted by the streams of water, that produces its fruit in its season, whose leaf also does not wither. Whatever he does shall prosper.
Ps 1:1–3 · WEB
13This is the end of the matter. All has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments; for this is the whole duty of man.
Eccl 12:13 · WEB
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge.
Prov 1:7 · WEB
Practice Together
Ask five members each to read a passage: Job 1:20–22, Psalm 23, Proverbs 3:5–6, Ecclesiastes 1:1–3, Song of Songs 1:1–4. After each, the group says one sentence together: what are the people in this book asking, or saying to God?
Discussion
- “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge” (Prov 1:7)—what does ‘fear’ look like in your ordinary days?
- Job’s friends got it wrong. When someone is suffering, which ‘friends’ words’ are we most likely to say?
- “He will be like a tree planted by the streams of water” (Ps 1:3)—what are your ‘streams’? Lately, have you moved further from them, or closer?
This Week
This week read one psalm a day, starting from Psalm 1. After each, write one word: is this psalm rejoicing, weeping, confessing, giving thanks or praising? If you want to read more, read Job 1–2 and 38–42.
Each person names when they will read a psalm each day this week; next time, everyone brings one word: rejoicing, weeping, confessing, thanking or praising.
Closing
Read Ps 1:1–3 together, then pray in silence.
Tips for the leader
- Someone in the group may be suffering right now. When talking about Job, don’t give easy answers; Job did not get an explanation—he got God himself. Being with someone matters more than explaining.
- Proverbs speak of how things generally go; they are not guarantees. If someone uses a proverb to blame themselves or others, gently point this out.
- For the Song of Songs, use the lesson’s shared wording: churches understand it differently; ask your own church, and don’t open it up in the group.
General principles for leaders
- The leader is not a teacher but someone who walks alongside everyone.
- Give everyone a chance to speak; with someone who talks a lot, you can gently say, ‘Let’s also hear from friends who haven’t spoken yet.’
- Don’t rush to give answers. If someone is silent, wait a few more seconds.
- For a question you can’t answer, you can say, ‘I don’t know either; let’s look it up together,’ and note it down for next time.
- What is said in the group stays in the group.
- At the opening, the leader can give their own answer first, showing that it can be simple and honest.