Then Sings My Soul - The Psalms
A few months ago, I heard someone say that they really don't like the psalms. I was shocked! I love going to the psalms to reflect on God's glory and goodness. I derive such comfort from the psalms. But, they are not narratives. They are poetry. In reality, they are songs for which we have no music. We can't sing them. So the next best thing we can do is read them aloud.
We can also make them come alive for our children through activities and crafts. The following suggestions should help you dig into the psalms and can also be used as springboards into any number of additional activities.
When my children and I worked our way through the psalms the first time, we made drawings of shields on one page of a notebook and then kept a running list of every time the word "shield" was mentioned in the entire book. We did the same for cup, light, refuge, lion, hand, wings and shepherd. We also had a separate page where we kept a list of God's attributes, adding attributes and references as we came across them as we read. So I'll make those notations in the activities below. Use them as you wish.
Note: Psalms 1 - 14 activites and crafts will be on this page.
Psalms 15 - 28 will be on the subsequent tab page.
Psalms 29 - 41 will be on the third tab page - finishing the first book in Psalms.
Psalms 42 - 57 will be on the fourth tab page.
Psalms 58 - 72 will be on the fifth tab page - finishing the second book in Psalms.
Psalms 73 - 89 will be on the sixth tab page - the third book in Psalms.
Psalms 90 - 106 will be on the seventh tab page - the fourth book in Psalms.
Psalms 107 - 119 will be on the eighth tab page.
Psalms 120 - 134 will be on the ninth tab page - the psalms of ascent.
Psalms 135 - 150 will be on the tenth tab page - finishing the fifth book in Psalms.
Have fun.
Psalm One
1. Make a diorama to depict a tree planted by the riverside. Use drywall mud - plaster of paris - to form your diorama in a box lined with a plastic bag. Make trees from twigs and paper or twigs and paper towels painted green. Find pebbles to line your creek. When the plaster is dry, paint the grass and the creek.
2. Read Revelation 22. Ask the children to find similarities and differences.
3. Sing Ken Medema's "The Tree Song."
4. Fill in a Venn Diagram comparing righteous and wicked.
5. Role play verses 1 and 2.
6. Eat a piece of your favorite fruit.
7. Begin a list of description of the wicked. You'll add on as your read through the psalms.
8. Show children what chaff is.
9. Begin a list of God's attributes: i.e., 1:6 The Lord knows the way of the righteous.
10. Read the devotional in the NIrV (New International Reader's Version.)
Psalm Two
1. Listen to this part in Handel's Messiah.
2. Add to the description of the wicked - vs. 2-3: they set themselves against God.
3. Add to the list of God's attributes: God laughs at those who fight against Him; wrath, fury, break them in pieces 2:4, 5, 9.
Psalm Three
1. Sing "A Shield About Me."
2. Read verse 7. What is the natural outcome of breaking someone's teeth? They cannot eat. They starve to death.
3. Who was the enemy which inspired David to write this psalm? His son Absalom!
4. Make a shield out of poster board. Decorate it.
Psalm Four
1. Add to God's attributes: 4:3 - sets apart godly for himself
hears when I call.
2. Selah means "think about it." Read Psalm 4 with the pause and then without the pause at "selah." Discuss the difference.
3. Read the NIrV devotional.
4. Writing prompt: What brings joy to your life? David says it's not material possessions (4:7), but it is God who brings joy.
Psalm Five
1. Add to God's attributes: 5:4 - does not delight in wickedness
5:6 - destroys those who speak lies
abhors blood thirsty and deceitful man
2. Draw a picture, using your favorite art supplies of 5:8 - a straight path.
3. Read Proverbs 3:6 and Isaiah 35:8-10
4. Psalm 5:12 talks about a shield. What other psalm talks about a shield? (3:3)
Psalm Six
1. Discussion idea or writing prompt: Why would someone pray a prayer like this?
Psalm Seven
1. When you read verse 2, what do you think of? Read 1 Peter 5:8.
2. Verse 3: what words show that this is slander?
3. Add to your list of God's attributes: 7:11 - righteous judge, feels indignation.
shield - 7:10
4. Where else have we seen shield? (3:3 and 5:12) Add these verses to the shield you made.
5. Writing prompt: What happens to the wicked? 7:14-16
6. Praise fireworks: Draw fireworks exploding. Write a reason to praise God on each explosion.
Psalm Eight
1. Memorize 8:2
2. Add "heaven" and "stars" to diorama (See Psalm 1)
3. Fro what shall we praise God?
4. What songs come to mind when you read Psalm 8:9?
5. Read NIrV devotional.
6. Read Luke 19:40. Discuss connection.
Psalm Nine
1. Why do we thank God? (vs. 3-6)
2. How do we thank God?
3. Add to God's attribute list: vs. 7,8,12
4. Build a wall of blocks (vs 9) The Lord is a stronghold.
5. Draw a picture of a block wall.
6. Where else have we seen the wicked in a pit? 9:15 - 7:15
7. Role play vs. 15: catch your foot in your own net.
Psalm Ten
1. Where have we seen the wicked compared to a lion? 10:9, 7:2; 1 Peter 5:8
2. Read 10:2-11. Does it ever seem that the wicked are succeeding and there will be nothing we can do to stop it? (Psalm 73, Jeremiah 12) David reminds us that God is on the throne. (vs. 12).
Psalm Eleven
1. Why eyelids? 11:4
2. Again, what is the theme of this psalm?
3. Give each child a cup. Ask them what they want in it. Verse 6 says God will give the wicked fire, sulfur, and a scorching wind.
4. Draw a cup in your notebook. Title the page. What do you want in your cup? Distinguish between the wicked and the righteous (11:6).
5. Draw a throne in your notebook. Keep track of references to God on his throne. (2:4; 9:4; 9:7; 9:11; 11:4)
Psalm Twelve
1. In 12:8 David rephrases Genesis 8:21. Read both passages; compare and contrast.
2. God's words are pure (12:6). What does that mean? Give each child a dime. Can we trust money? No. Turn it over. In God we trust.
3. Make a heart in your notebook. Write goodness/flattery on one side; evilness/goodness on the other.
Psalm Thirteen
1. What should your response be when all hope seems to be gone? Trust in God. vs 5-6
2. Take children into a dark room. Hopelessness and trouble are like darkness. It's scary. It's hard to work in. It's hard to fight against. But God can provide the light. Light a candle or turn on a flashlight (vs. 3).
Psalm Fourteen
1. Where have we seen this before: The fool says in his heart there is no god. (14:1 - 10:4)
2. Give a piece of bread to each child. As they eat it, read 14:4. David is amazed that the wicked have no knowledge, that God will repay them for their evil deeds.
A few months ago, I heard someone say that they really don't like the psalms. I was shocked! I love going to the psalms to reflect on God's glory and goodness. I derive such comfort from the psalms. But, they are not narratives. They are poetry. In reality, they are songs for which we have no music. We can't sing them. So the next best thing we can do is read them aloud.
We can also make them come alive for our children through activities and crafts. The following suggestions should help you dig into the psalms and can also be used as springboards into any number of additional activities.
When my children and I worked our way through the psalms the first time, we made drawings of shields on one page of a notebook and then kept a running list of every time the word "shield" was mentioned in the entire book. We did the same for cup, light, refuge, lion, hand, wings and shepherd. We also had a separate page where we kept a list of God's attributes, adding attributes and references as we came across them as we read. So I'll make those notations in the activities below. Use them as you wish.
Note: Psalms 1 - 14 activites and crafts will be on this page.
Psalms 15 - 28 will be on the subsequent tab page.
Psalms 29 - 41 will be on the third tab page - finishing the first book in Psalms.
Psalms 42 - 57 will be on the fourth tab page.
Psalms 58 - 72 will be on the fifth tab page - finishing the second book in Psalms.
Psalms 73 - 89 will be on the sixth tab page - the third book in Psalms.
Psalms 90 - 106 will be on the seventh tab page - the fourth book in Psalms.
Psalms 107 - 119 will be on the eighth tab page.
Psalms 120 - 134 will be on the ninth tab page - the psalms of ascent.
Psalms 135 - 150 will be on the tenth tab page - finishing the fifth book in Psalms.
Have fun.
Psalm One
1. Make a diorama to depict a tree planted by the riverside. Use drywall mud - plaster of paris - to form your diorama in a box lined with a plastic bag. Make trees from twigs and paper or twigs and paper towels painted green. Find pebbles to line your creek. When the plaster is dry, paint the grass and the creek.
2. Read Revelation 22. Ask the children to find similarities and differences.
3. Sing Ken Medema's "The Tree Song."
4. Fill in a Venn Diagram comparing righteous and wicked.
5. Role play verses 1 and 2.
6. Eat a piece of your favorite fruit.
7. Begin a list of description of the wicked. You'll add on as your read through the psalms.
8. Show children what chaff is.
9. Begin a list of God's attributes: i.e., 1:6 The Lord knows the way of the righteous.
10. Read the devotional in the NIrV (New International Reader's Version.)
Psalm Two
1. Listen to this part in Handel's Messiah.
2. Add to the description of the wicked - vs. 2-3: they set themselves against God.
3. Add to the list of God's attributes: God laughs at those who fight against Him; wrath, fury, break them in pieces 2:4, 5, 9.
Psalm Three
1. Sing "A Shield About Me."
2. Read verse 7. What is the natural outcome of breaking someone's teeth? They cannot eat. They starve to death.
3. Who was the enemy which inspired David to write this psalm? His son Absalom!
4. Make a shield out of poster board. Decorate it.
Psalm Four
1. Add to God's attributes: 4:3 - sets apart godly for himself
hears when I call.
2. Selah means "think about it." Read Psalm 4 with the pause and then without the pause at "selah." Discuss the difference.
3. Read the NIrV devotional.
4. Writing prompt: What brings joy to your life? David says it's not material possessions (4:7), but it is God who brings joy.
Psalm Five
1. Add to God's attributes: 5:4 - does not delight in wickedness
5:6 - destroys those who speak lies
abhors blood thirsty and deceitful man
2. Draw a picture, using your favorite art supplies of 5:8 - a straight path.
3. Read Proverbs 3:6 and Isaiah 35:8-10
4. Psalm 5:12 talks about a shield. What other psalm talks about a shield? (3:3)
Psalm Six
1. Discussion idea or writing prompt: Why would someone pray a prayer like this?
Psalm Seven
1. When you read verse 2, what do you think of? Read 1 Peter 5:8.
2. Verse 3: what words show that this is slander?
3. Add to your list of God's attributes: 7:11 - righteous judge, feels indignation.
shield - 7:10
4. Where else have we seen shield? (3:3 and 5:12) Add these verses to the shield you made.
5. Writing prompt: What happens to the wicked? 7:14-16
6. Praise fireworks: Draw fireworks exploding. Write a reason to praise God on each explosion.
Psalm Eight
1. Memorize 8:2
2. Add "heaven" and "stars" to diorama (See Psalm 1)
3. Fro what shall we praise God?
4. What songs come to mind when you read Psalm 8:9?
5. Read NIrV devotional.
6. Read Luke 19:40. Discuss connection.
Psalm Nine
1. Why do we thank God? (vs. 3-6)
2. How do we thank God?
3. Add to God's attribute list: vs. 7,8,12
4. Build a wall of blocks (vs 9) The Lord is a stronghold.
5. Draw a picture of a block wall.
6. Where else have we seen the wicked in a pit? 9:15 - 7:15
7. Role play vs. 15: catch your foot in your own net.
Psalm Ten
1. Where have we seen the wicked compared to a lion? 10:9, 7:2; 1 Peter 5:8
2. Read 10:2-11. Does it ever seem that the wicked are succeeding and there will be nothing we can do to stop it? (Psalm 73, Jeremiah 12) David reminds us that God is on the throne. (vs. 12).
Psalm Eleven
1. Why eyelids? 11:4
2. Again, what is the theme of this psalm?
3. Give each child a cup. Ask them what they want in it. Verse 6 says God will give the wicked fire, sulfur, and a scorching wind.
4. Draw a cup in your notebook. Title the page. What do you want in your cup? Distinguish between the wicked and the righteous (11:6).
5. Draw a throne in your notebook. Keep track of references to God on his throne. (2:4; 9:4; 9:7; 9:11; 11:4)
Psalm Twelve
1. In 12:8 David rephrases Genesis 8:21. Read both passages; compare and contrast.
2. God's words are pure (12:6). What does that mean? Give each child a dime. Can we trust money? No. Turn it over. In God we trust.
3. Make a heart in your notebook. Write goodness/flattery on one side; evilness/goodness on the other.
Psalm Thirteen
1. What should your response be when all hope seems to be gone? Trust in God. vs 5-6
2. Take children into a dark room. Hopelessness and trouble are like darkness. It's scary. It's hard to work in. It's hard to fight against. But God can provide the light. Light a candle or turn on a flashlight (vs. 3).
Psalm Fourteen
1. Where have we seen this before: The fool says in his heart there is no god. (14:1 - 10:4)
2. Give a piece of bread to each child. As they eat it, read 14:4. David is amazed that the wicked have no knowledge, that God will repay them for their evil deeds.