God's Abundant Grace: Atonement and Provision in Christ

Summary

Psalm 65 draws us into a vision of God’s character and His ongoing work in the world. The psalm begins with a call to give God the praise that is rightfully His, not as empty words, but as a response to His faithfulness and majesty. God is not distant or indifferent; He hears our prayers and answers them, not just for a select few, but for all humanity. Yet, there is a tension: while all people must come to God for what they need, our sin creates a chasm that we cannot bridge on our own. Sin is not a hypothetical problem, but a present reality that separates us from the source of life and blessing.

But God, in His mercy, does what we cannot. He atones for our transgressions, making us whole and restoring what was broken. This atonement is not something we can achieve by our own efforts; it is God’s initiative, His desire to draw us near and satisfy us with the goodness of His presence. The psalm then moves to celebrate God’s rule over creation. He is not a local deity, but the sovereign Lord whose power established the mountains and stills the chaos of the seas. All of creation, from the rising sun to the harvest fields, testifies to His authority and care.

God’s provision is lavish and generous. The imagery of overflowing wagon tracks and rejoicing meadows reminds us that God’s care is not stingy or reluctant, but abundant. Even in a land prone to drought, God waters the earth and brings forth life. This provision is not just physical, but points to a deeper spiritual reality: God alone can satisfy the deepest needs of our hearts.

Yet, we often hesitate to turn to God—sometimes doubting His power, sometimes His care, and sometimes feeling too unworthy because of our sin. But the psalm places the problem and the solution side by side: our iniquities prevail, but God atones. This is fulfilled in Jesus, who reveals God’s power, provision, and atonement. Jesus is the one who stills the storm, feeds the hungry, and reconciles us to God through His death and resurrection. The call is to keep looking to Jesus, to build habits of remembrance and trust, so that in every circumstance—especially in crisis—we turn to Him as our source of life, hope, and healing. Communion is given as a tangible reminder of this reality, uniting us with Christ and with one another as we wait for the day when all things are made new.

Key Takeaways

- God’s praise is not optional or perfunctory; it is His due. To withhold praise is to rob God of what is rightfully His. True worship flows from recognizing His faithfulness and responding with our whole lives, not just our words. This challenges us to examine whether our hearts are truly oriented toward giving God what He deserves. [21:20]

- The reality of sin is not just that it makes us feel guilty, but that it creates a real separation from God. We cannot bridge this gap by our own efforts, no matter how hard we try or how much we regret our failures. The miracle of grace is that God Himself takes the initiative to atone for our transgressions, making us whole and drawing us near. [25:18]

- God’s rule is not abstract or distant; it is seen in the tangible realities of creation. The same God who established the mountains and stills the seas is the one who answers prayer and brings order out of chaos. This means that no situation—however wild or untamable—lies outside His authority or care. [30:39]

- God’s provision is both physical and spiritual, and it is always abundant. The overflowing harvest is a picture of how God meets our needs beyond what we can imagine, even when circumstances seem dire. Trusting in His provision means learning to see His hand in both the ordinary and the miraculous, and to rejoice in His generosity. [35:32]

- The habits and disciplines of faith—prayer, Scripture, worship, and community—are not ways to earn God’s favor, but practices that train our hearts to remember who He is and what He has done. In times of crisis, we will turn to what we have practiced. Building a life of remembrance prepares us to trust God when everything else is shaken. [46:46]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[19:22] - Reading Psalm 65
[20:16] - God’s Ongoing Work: Three Themes
[21:20] - The Praise God Deserves
[22:53] - The Problem of Sin and Separation
[25:18] - God’s Atonement: Bridging the Gap
[26:01] - The Meaning of Atonement
[28:47] - God Draws Us Near
[30:39] - God’s Rule Over Creation
[31:41] - Creation Declares God’s Glory
[33:00] - God’s Provision in a Dry Land
[34:14] - The Overflowing Harvest
[35:32] - Rejoicing in God’s Provision
[37:35] - Why We Hesitate to Turn to God
[39:58] - Jesus: The Fulfillment of God’s Power, Provision, and Atonement
[45:04] - The Practice of Remembrance
[50:54] - Communion: Remembering Together
[53:38] - Closing Prayer

Study Guide

Small Group Bible Study Guide: Psalm 65 – God’s Power, Provision, and Atonement

---

### Bible Reading

Psalm 65 (ESV)

> Praise is due to you, O God, in Zion,
> and to you shall vows be performed.
> O you who hear prayer,
> to you shall all flesh come.
> When iniquities prevail against me,
> you atone for our transgressions.
> Blessed is the one you choose and bring near,
> to dwell in your courts!
> We shall be satisfied with the goodness of your house,
> the holiness of your temple!
> By awesome deeds you answer us with righteousness,
> O God of our salvation,
> the hope of all the ends of the earth
> and of the farthest seas;
> the one who by his strength established the mountains,
> being girded with might;
> who stills the roaring of the seas,
> the roaring of their waves,
> the tumult of the peoples,
> so that those who dwell at the ends of the earth are in awe at your signs.
> You make the going out of the morning and the evening to shout for joy.
> You visit the earth and water it;
> you greatly enrich it;
> the river of God is full of water;
> you provide their grain,
> for so you have prepared it.
> You water its furrows abundantly,
> settling its ridges,
> softening it with showers,
> and blessing its growth.
> You crown the year with your bounty;
> your wagon tracks overflow with abundance.
> The pastures of the wilderness overflow,
> the hills gird themselves with joy,
> the meadows clothe themselves with flocks,
> the valleys deck themselves with grain,
> they shout and sing together for joy.

---

### Observation Questions

1. According to Psalm 65, what are some specific ways God shows His power and care over creation? ([30:39])
2. What does the psalmist say about God’s response to prayer, and who is invited to come to Him? ([22:53])
3. How does the psalm describe the problem of sin and the solution God provides? ([25:18])
4. What images does the psalm use to describe God’s provision for the earth and His people? ([34:14])

---

### Interpretation Questions

1. The psalmist says, “When iniquities prevail against me, you atone for our transgressions.” What does this reveal about our ability to fix the problem of sin on our own? ([25:18])
2. The sermon mentioned that God’s praise is “His due.” Why is it important to see worship as something God deserves, not just something we do when we feel like it? ([21:20])
3. The psalm describes God’s provision as overflowing, even in a land prone to drought. What does this teach about God’s character and how He meets our needs? ([35:32])
4. The sermon pointed out that God’s rule is seen in the tangible realities of creation. How does this affect the way we view God’s involvement in our everyday lives? ([30:39])

---

### Application Questions

1. The sermon challenged us to examine whether our hearts are truly oriented toward giving God what He deserves. Are there areas in your life where you tend to withhold praise or gratitude from God? What would it look like to change that this week? ([21:20])
2. The reality of sin is that it creates a real separation from God. Is there a specific sin or area of struggle that makes you feel distant from God right now? What would it look like to bring that honestly to Him, trusting in His atonement? ([25:18])
3. The psalmist describes God’s provision as abundant, even overflowing. Can you think of a recent time when God provided for you in a way you didn’t expect? How did you respond? ([35:32])
4. The sermon talked about how we often hesitate to turn to God—sometimes doubting His power, sometimes His care, or feeling unworthy. Which of these reasons do you most relate to, and how might God be inviting you to trust Him more deeply? ([39:23])
5. The habits and disciplines of faith—prayer, Scripture, worship, and community—are described as ways to train our hearts to remember who God is. Which of these practices do you find most challenging, and what is one step you could take this week to build a habit of remembrance? ([46:46])
6. Communion is given as a tangible reminder of Jesus’ atonement and our unity with Him and each other. How does participating in communion shape your understanding of what Jesus has done for you? ([50:54])
7. The sermon said, “In times of crisis, we will turn to what we have practiced.” When you face a crisis, what do you usually turn to first? How can you begin to practice turning to God as your source of life, hope, and healing? ([48:03])

---

Closing Prayer Suggestion:
Invite the group to thank God for His power, provision, and atonement, and to ask for help in building habits of remembrance and trust in Him.

Devotional

Day 1: God Hears and Answers Prayer

God is not distant or inattentive; He hears the prayers of all people and responds with compassion and power. Unlike human relationships where we may feel ignored or misunderstood, God listens intently to every cry, every need, and every longing of the heart. There is no other god to whom all flesh can come, and yet, despite our unworthiness, He invites us to draw near. Even when our sin creates a barrier, God’s willingness to hear and answer remains steadfast, offering hope to all who seek Him. [22:53]

Psalm 65:2
"O you who hear prayer, to you shall all flesh come."

Reflection: When was the last time you truly believed God was listening to your prayers? What is one specific need or longing you can bring honestly before Him today, trusting that He hears you?


Day 2: God Alone Atones for Our Sin

Our sin creates a deep separation between us and God, a gulf we cannot bridge on our own. The natural consequence of sin is death, and no amount of effort or regret can fully heal the scars we cause. Yet, God Himself steps in to atone for our transgressions, making us whole and drawing us near to His presence. He does not leave us in our brokenness but chooses to satisfy us with the goodness of His house, restoring what we could never restore ourselves. [27:28]

Psalm 65:3-4
"When iniquities prevail against me, you atone for our transgressions. Blessed is the one you choose and bring near, to dwell in your courts! We shall be satisfied with the goodness of your house, the holiness of your temple!"

Reflection: Is there a scar from your past—physical, emotional, or spiritual—that you have tried to heal on your own? How might you invite God to bring His atonement and restoration to that place today?


Day 3: God’s Power and Rule Over All Creation

God’s strength is unmatched; He established the mountains and stills the roaring seas, demonstrating His authority over the most powerful and untamable forces in creation. All of creation—from the rising sun to the shifting seasons—declares His glory and power. There is no limit to His rule, and nothing is beyond His control. When we are tempted to doubt His power, we are called to look to Jesus, who calmed the storm and revealed God’s authority in human history. [31:41]

Psalm 65:5-8
"By awesome deeds you answer us with righteousness, O God of our salvation, the hope of all the ends of the earth and of the farthest seas; the one who by his strength established the mountains, being girded with might; who stills the roaring of the seas, the roaring of their waves, the tumult of the peoples, so that those who dwell at the ends of the earth are in awe at your signs. You make the going out of the morning and the evening to shout for joy."

Reflection: What is one area of your life that feels out of control or overwhelming? How can you practice surrendering that situation to God’s sovereign power today?


Day 4: God Provides Abundantly for His People

God is not only the Creator but also the Sustainer, providing abundantly for the needs of His people and all creation. He waters the earth, enriches it, and brings forth a harvest so bountiful that even the overflow overflows. In times of drought or scarcity, He remains the source of every good thing, inviting us to trust Him for our daily provision. All who depend on Him find reason to rejoice, for His generosity knows no bounds. [35:32]

Psalm 65:9-13
"You visit the earth and water it; you greatly enrich it; the river of God is full of water; you provide their grain, for so you have prepared it. You water its furrows abundantly, settling its ridges, softening it with showers, and blessing its growth. You crown the year with your bounty; your wagon tracks overflow with abundance. The pastures of the wilderness overflow, the hills gird themselves with joy, the meadows clothe themselves with flocks, the valleys deck themselves with grain, they shout and sing together for joy."

Reflection: In what practical way can you express gratitude for God’s provision today—perhaps by sharing with someone in need or pausing to thank Him for a specific blessing?


Day 5: Remembering Jesus: The Source of Our Hope and Unity

Jesus is the fulfillment of God’s atonement, power, and provision—He is the bread of life, the one who reconciles us to God and to one another. As we remember Him, especially through communion, we proclaim His death and resurrection as our only hope. This act of remembrance is not just a ritual but a call to examine our hearts, repent of sin, and reaffirm our unity with all believers. Until the day He returns to make all things new, we are invited to keep looking to Jesus, practicing daily trust in His sufficiency and grace. [50:54]

1 Corinthians 11:23-26
"For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, 'This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.' In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, 'This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.' For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes."

Reflection: As you prepare to remember Jesus today, is there any unconfessed sin or broken relationship you need to address before God? How can you intentionally practice unity and hope in Christ with others this week?

Quotes

So this is the picture that David is painting here, right? You have the God of all creation, to whom all mankind must come, but to whom nobody can come because of their sin, because of their iniquity, because of their deliberate, intentional rejection of him. They cannot go to him to get everything that they need. So you can see the tragedy that is being lined up here. We must come to him. We must come to him. We need him. And simultaneously, our sin has created this vast gulf between him and us. [00:24:42] (47 seconds)  #SinCreatesSeparation Edit Clip

Now, this idea of atonement is a payment that brings things 100 % square. It is completely and fully healed. It is whole again. It's actually, we get that word in English from a sort of a contraction, right? At -one -ment. It is the idea of taking something that was broken apart and it is now whole again. It's at peace. It's no longer fractured. Now, can we ever heal or restore something that we break in our sin to 100 % healed, 100 % whole? Anybody carry a physical scar from some way that they have fallen short? I have a scar on my thumb. It tells me when it's going to rain. And I was being proud and hasty. I was working faster than I should have been and jammed a utility knife into it. I carry that scar. It's never going to be 100%. [00:26:31] (74 seconds)  #HumanScarsRemain Edit Clip

But I think that the third reason that we might not turn to the Lord is a little weightier. And I think that one of the reasons that we do not turn to the Lord is because we believe that he won't help us. Because we don't deserve it. Because we're too far gone. Because we're too broken. And that's the problem that he points out. Now, my iniquities have prevailed against me. My sin won. How can I go before the Lord when my sin has conquered me? But the problem is right there next to the solution. He has atoned for our transgressions. He atones. He makes right. He pays for our sin. [00:39:10] (57 seconds)  #SpiritualDisciplineIsReminder Edit Clip

His power and His provision are sufficient not just to provide for our physical needs, but to draw us close and to do everything that is required to heal that relationship. We need to be close to Him, and He has provided us everything that we need. He reconciles us to Himself, and He calls us to repent, to leave behind our sin. Because that's not what we need. We think it is. That's why we do it. We think that that's going to provide for our needs, but it won't. It can't. And so we can't hold on to that sin and Him. We can't trust Him and something else. And if we will depend on Him, if we will come to Him like that, then He will atone. He will make things right. [00:40:07] (55 seconds)  #PracticeTrustInGod Edit Clip

And all three of these things that God does, His rule over the world, His provision for the world, His atonement for all of mankind, are fulfilled and revealed and accomplished in Jesus. Because it says here that it's God who stills the roaring of the waves and the roaring of the seas. Do you know the one person in all of human history who has spoken to a roaring sea and the sea has listened? Is Jesus? And so if God speaks with authority over the roaring sea, and Jesus speaks with authority over the roaring sea, Jesus is nothing less than God Himself. [00:41:03] (58 seconds)  #GodProvidesInCrisis Edit Clip

``Jesus is the power of God revealed. He is the provision of God revealed, and he is also the atonement of God revealed. He is that healing of that separation that comes from our sin, and he has accomplished this healing through his life, his death, his resurrection, and one day soon, his return. [00:42:40] (22 seconds)  #DailyPrayerRemindsUs Edit Clip

And so when we are tempted to doubt his power, what we must do is we must look to Jesus. When we doubt his provision, we must look to the bread of life. And when we wonder whether God would ever listen to us because of our sin, we must look to Jesus and to that atonement, to the reconciliation, to the healing, the forgiveness, the cleansing that took place on the cross. [00:43:57] (46 seconds) Edit Clip

When we do that, what we're doing is we're reminding ourselves that none of the rest of that stuff provides for us. None of the rest of that stuff ultimately has power, but it's God and God alone who has power, who provides for me, who has atoned for me. [00:45:32] (23 seconds) Edit Clip

Because day by day, if we are responding to the small crises of our lives, that God is in control. God rules over this. God provides through this. If we're doing that through all of the crises of our lives, what are we going to do on that day when the bottom just completely drops out? we're going to do what we've been practicing and if we've been practicing day after day after day reminding ourselves that God provides that God is in control then in that ultimate crisis we're going to remind ourselves that God provides that God is in control because that's what we've practiced doing. [00:47:38] (48 seconds) Edit Clip

We do over and over again we gather over and over again we pray when we get out of bed we pray when we lay down not because that earns us points with God but because we need to remember day in and day out that he is the source of all provision he is the source of all power and that he is the atonement that we desperately need and so we will continue to need to remember until the day comes that we dwell in the house of the Lord forever and we are satisfied forever at the richness of his table and that day is coming friends that day is coming the day that Jesus returns to make all things new to make all of creation truly and forever at one with itself forever and ever that is the day that we are waiting for that is our hope as believers that the scars and the pain that we have inflicted upon this world and that this world have inflicted upon us will one day be completely and wholly and totally healed because the blood of Jesus Christ has washed us clean. [00:49:07] (81 seconds) Edit Clip