Finding God in Nature: Bible Study Discussion Questions

Proverbs 6:6-11

6 Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise:

7 Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler,

8 Provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest.

9 How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? when wilt thou arise out of thy sleep?

10 Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep:

11 So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth, and thy want as an armed man.

Genesis 15:1-6

1 After these things the word of the LORD came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward.

2 And Abram said, Lord GOD, what wilt thou give me, seeing I go childless, and the steward of my house is this Eliezer of Damascus?

3 And Abram said, Behold, to me thou hast given no seed: and, lo, one born in my house is mine heir.

4 And, behold, the word of the LORD came unto him, saying, This shall not be thine heir; but he that shall come forth out of thine own bowels shall be thine heir.

5 And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be.

6 And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness.

Psalm 147

1 Praise ye the LORD: for it is good to sing praises unto our God; for it is pleasant; and praise is comely.

2 The LORD doth build up Jerusalem: he gathereth together the outcasts of Israel.

3 He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds.

4 He telleth the number of the stars; he calleth them all by their names.

5 Great is our Lord, and of great power: his understanding is infinite.

6 The LORD lifteth up the meek: he casteth the wicked down to the ground.

7 Sing unto the LORD with thanksgiving; sing praise upon the harp unto our God:

8 Who covereth the heaven with clouds, who prepareth rain for the earth, who maketh grass to grow upon the mountains.

9 He giveth to the beast his food, and to the young ravens which cry.

10 He delighteth not in the strength of the horse: he taketh not pleasure in the legs of a man.

11 The LORD taketh pleasure in them that fear him, in those that hope in his mercy.

12 Praise the LORD, O Jerusalem; praise thy God, O Zion.

13 For he hath strengthened the bars of thy gates; he hath blessed thy children within thee.

14 He maketh peace in thy borders, and filleth thee with the finest of the wheat.

15 He sendeth forth his commandment upon earth: his word runneth very swiftly.

16 He giveth snow like wool: he scattereth the hoarfrost like ashes.

17 He casteth forth his ice like morsels: who can stand before his cold?

18 He sendeth out his word, and melteth them: he causeth his wind to blow, and the waters flow.

19 He sheweth his word unto Jacob, his statutes and his judgments unto Israel.

20 He hath not dealt so with any nation: and as for his judgments, they have not known them. Praise ye the LORD.

Psalm 8

1 O LORD our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! who hast set thy glory above the heavens.

2 Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength because of thine enemies, that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger.

3 When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained;

4 What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?

5 For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour.

6 Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet:

7 All sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field;

8 The fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas.

9 O LORD our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth!

Matthew 6:25-34

25 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?

26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?

27 Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?

28 And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:

29 And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.

30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?

31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?

32 ( For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.

33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.

Psalm 19:1-6

1 The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.

2 Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge.

3 There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard.

4 Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun,

5 Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoiceth as a strong man to run a race.

6 His going forth is from the end of the heaven, and his circuit unto the ends of it: and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof.

It is a wonderful privilege to study how God uses the "great library" of His created works to reveal His character and laws to usHLv 41.2+1. By connecting eternal truths with the scenes of nature, the Savior ensured that these lessons would be repeated to our minds every time we look upon the world around usCT 140.1+1.

Here are five discussion questions for each of the passages you requested:

🌌 ** Psalm 19:1-6 – The Silent Language of the Heavens**

• The Heavens as a Witness: The heavens "declare the glory of God" without using audible words. How does the silent, constant testimony of the sun and stars communicate God's power more effectively than a spoken sermon mightPTUK March 3, 1898, page 134.2+1?

• A Universal Message: These verses say their "line is gone out through all the earth." Why do you think God chose nature as a universal "lesson book" that is accessible to everyone, regardless of their education or background21MR 400.5+1?

• The Sun as an Object Lesson: The passage describes the sun’s circuit from one end of heaven to the other. What does the reliability and life-giving warmth of the sun teach us about the constancy of God’s love and oversight2T 579.2+1?

• Removing the Veil: While sin has "marred and defiled" the earth, the glory of God still rests upon the face of natureCOL 18.1+1. How can we "draw aside the veil" of our daily busyness to see the spiritual glory reflected in the skyAH 144.2+1?

• Practical Application: If the heavens are constantly telling of God’s glory, how can we practice "listening" to nature this week to keep our minds focused on "the science of eternity"Ed 82.6+1?

❄️ ** Psalm 147 – The God of Nature and the Soul**

• From Stars to Broken Hearts: This Psalm contrasts God's power in numbering the stars with His tenderness in healing the "broken in heart." How does seeing God’s meticulous care for the vast universe help you trust Him with the intimate details of your own lifeCOL 357.2+1?

• Nature’s Obedience to Law: The text mentions snow, hoarfrost, and wind obeying His word. If inanimate nature is perfectly obedient to God’s natural laws, what does this teach us about the blessings of being obedient to His moral laws13MR 337.1+1?

• The Melting Power of Truth: God "sends out his word, and melts" the ice. How is this a fitting object lesson for how the "sunlight of God's love" can illuminate and soften a "darkened" or cold mindCH 202.1+1?

• The Wisdom of the Creator: The nations are told to see God’s statutes as their "wisdom and understanding" Deu 4:6. Looking at the intricate design in the natural world, how does "nature’s lesson book" reprove our own unbelief or forgetfulness of Him13MR 337.1+1?

• Practical Application: Considering that God "provides for the beast" and the "young ravens," what specific "homely care" or worry can you surrender to Him today, knowing He is your Creator and ProviderAH 144.2+1?

🐜 ** Proverbs 6:6-11 – Lessons from the Humble Ant**

• Industry Without a Taskmaster: The ant provides its meat in the summer without having a "guide, overseer, or ruler." What does this teach us about the "true excellence" found in performing our commonest tasks with faithfulness and self-disciplineEd 114.3+1?

• Preparation for the Future: Nature is a "silent teacher" of industry and economyYI August 16, 1900, par. 2. How does the ant’s seasonal preparation serve as an object lesson for our own need to "seize the present golden moments" in preparing for eternityCS 325.1+1?

• The Sin of Idleness: This passage warns against "slumber" and "folding of the hands." How can working in a garden or field help someone who finds "abstract lessons" or spiritual growth difficultSpTEd 61.1+1?

• God’s Husbandry: We are told we are "God's husbandry"CG 217.1+1. How does the process of tilling and sowing in nature reflect the work of grace God wants to perform in our own charactersAH 144.2+1?

• Practical Application: In what area of your life do you need to move from "sluggish movements" to "punctuality and decision" to better reflect the character of God3T 499.2?

🌠 ** Genesis 15:1-6 – Faith as Vast as the Stars**

• Visualizing the Promise: God brought Abraham "forth abroad" to look at the stars. Why do you think God often uses "objects and scenes" from nature to simplify His teachings and make them "fresh in our memories"2T 579.2+1?

• The Science of Faith: Abraham could not number the stars, yet he believed God. How does the study of "nature’s vast resources" help us grasp "heavenly truth" that seems impossible to our human understandingYI August 16, 1900, par. 2+1?

• Divine Companionship in Nature: In the "facts and experiences of life," God reveals the possibility of "divine companionship"Ed 82.6. How did the natural setting of the night sky help Abraham feel God’s presence more deeply than a formal setting might haveCH 162.3+1?

• The Image of God: Adam originally saw "divine instruction" in every created thingCOL 18.1. How does looking at the stars help restore our "perception of truth" and help us grow back into the "image of His purity"AH 144.2+1?

• Practical Application: When you feel overwhelmed by a "burden of sin" or unrest, how can "contemplating the things of nature" help you throw open the "windows of the soul" to God’s loveCH 202.1+1?

🌊 ** Psalm 8 – The Majesty of God and the Value of Man**

• Dominion as Stewardship: Man was given "dominion" over all sheep, oxen, and the "fish of the sea." How does this stewardship teach us that our talents and positions are "entrusted" to us to be used for God’s gloryCS 22.2+1?

• Perfection in the Little Things: The same hand that "ordained the moon and stars" fashions the "flowers of the field"Ed 114.3. How does the "exquisite beauty" of the small things in nature teach us to pay "conscientious attention to the little things" in our own livesEd 114.3+1?

• A Lesson in Humility: Seeing the vastness of the heavens makes the Psalmist ask, "What is man?" Why is "communion with God in nature" a necessary remedy for "human pride" and "selfish ambition"DA 291.1+2?

• Nature as an Expositor: Nature is described as an "expositor of the word of the living God"6MR 410.4. What "wondrous things" can we learn about God’s "moral law" by watching how the animal kingdom and the stars follow His "natural laws"6MR 410.4+1?

• Practical Application: How can you use "object lessons from nature" this week to "nurture courage" in your children or those you mentor to "resist evil"CG 49.1+1?

🌸 ** Matthew 6:25-34 – The Lilies and the Birds**

• The Simplicity of Truth: Jesus used "plain, simple language" so that children and the common people could understandVSS 40.2+1. Why is a lily a more powerful "illustration of immortal truth" than the "tradition and learned lore" of the scholarsVSS 40.2+1?

• Trust and Faith: The birds "sow not, neither do they reap," yet God feeds them. How does nature "utter her voice" to reprove our "unbelief and forgetfulness" of our dependence on God13MR 337.1+1?

• Natural vs. Artificial: Jesus noted that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like a simple lily. How does spending time in the "natural" help us turn our thoughts away from "the artificial" and "the follies of the world"CH 162.3+1?

• Growth as a Spiritual Manifestation: The growth of a plant is not just an illustration but a "visible manifestation" of God’s kingdomPTUK March 3, 1898, page 134.2. What does the "natural simplicity and loveliness" of a flower teach us about how our own characters should develop13LtMs, Lt 53, 1898, par. 27+1?

• Practical Application: When you feel "impatient and fretful," how can spending time in a garden and "teaching the ministry of the flowers" to your own heart bring you back to "rest"1SAT 327.2+2?