Single lesson
Psalm 103: Bless the LORD, O My Soul
Psalms 103:1–22
Psalm 103 is a praise psalm that starts with one person speaking to his own soul and ends with a call for all God’s works to praise Yahweh. Children can trace the poem’s images, reasons for praise, and widening circle of voices.
Before you teach
This psalm addresses Yahweh in praise by first urging the soul not to forget his benefits. It recalls Yahweh’s forgiveness, healing, justice, mercy and compassion, mentions his known ways to Moses and deeds to Israel, compares human life with grass, and ends with Yahweh’s rule over all and a call for angels, servants and all his works to praise him.
Students will trace Psalm 103 from personal praise to universal praise and identify at least three reasons the psalm gives for blessing Yahweh.
Welcome: Speak to your own soul
5 minExplain that Psalm 103 is a prayer-poem of praise. Read verse 1 together twice. Ask who is speaking. Help children notice that the speaker talks to his own soul and calls all that is within him to praise Yahweh’s holy name. This begins with personal praise before the circle grows wider later in the psalm.
Psalms 103:1
Read and explain: Remember his benefits
7 minRead verses 2 to 5. Make a simple list of the benefits the psalm names: Yahweh forgives sins, heals diseases, redeems life from destruction, crowns with loving kindness and tender mercies, and satisfies desire with good things. Emphasise the command not to forget. The psalm teaches praise by remembering what Yahweh has done.
Psalms 103:2, Psalms 103:3, Psalms 103:4, Psalms 103:5
Discuss: Yahweh’s ways, deeds, mercy and justice
6 minRead verses 6 to 14. Point out that Yahweh acts with righteousness and justice for the oppressed. Verse 7 says he made known his ways to Moses and his deeds to the children of Israel, so this praise remembers God’s known dealings with his people. Also notice that he is merciful and gracious, will not always accuse, and has not dealt with us according to our sins.
Psalms 103:6, Psalms 103:7, Psalms 103:8, Psalms 103:9, Psalms 103:10, Psalms 103:11, Psalms 103:12, Psalms 103:13, Psalms 103:14
Make and respond: Grass and everlasting love
8 minRead verses 15 to 19. Help children compare people’s short life, like grass or a field flower, with Yahweh’s loving kindness from everlasting to everlasting. Include verse 18 carefully: this enduring kindness and righteousness are spoken of with those who keep his covenant and remember to obey his precepts. Then note Yahweh’s throne in the heavens and his rule over all.
Psalms 103:15, Psalms 103:16, Psalms 103:17, Psalms 103:18, Psalms 103:19
Closing: Join the great call to praise
4 minFinish with verses 20 to 22 read responsively. Explain that the angels are described as mighty ones who fulfil Yahweh’s word and obey his voice. His armies and servants do his pleasure. Then all his works in all places of his dominion are called to praise him. The psalm closes where it began: ‘Praise Yahweh, my soul’.
Psalms 103:20, Psalms 103:21, Psalms 103:22, Psalms 103:1
Questions to explore
What does the speaker tell his soul not to forget, and which benefits are named straight after that?
Look at verses 2 to 5 and list the actions Yahweh does for the speaker.
Psalms 103:2, Psalms 103:3, Psalms 103:4, Psalms 103:5
What does the psalm say about human life in verses 15 to 18, and what does it set beside that?
Compare the grass and flower picture with Yahweh’s loving kindness from everlasting to everlasting, and notice the line about keeping his covenant and remembering to obey his precepts.
Psalms 103:15, Psalms 103:16, Psalms 103:17, Psalms 103:18
Who is called to praise Yahweh at the end, and what are they said to do?
Read verses 20 to 22 and notice the angels, armies, servants and all God’s works, along with the phrases about fulfilling his word, obeying his voice and doing his pleasure.
Psalms 103:20, Psalms 103:21, Psalms 103:22
Make, think or respond
Illustrated Psalm 103 Card
What you’ll need
- paper or card
- pencils or crayons
- Bible text
- scissors if making a folding card
Try it together
- Read Psalms 103:15-19 and choose one image from the psalm, such as grass, a flower, the heavens, a crown or a throne.
- Draw that image on a card and write one line from the psalm about Yahweh or a direct praise line such as Psalms 103:1 or Psalms 103:22.
- Inside or on the back, write two or three benefits named in Psalms 103:3-5.
- If there is room, add one ending group from Psalms 103:20-21, such as angels or servants, and explain what they do.
- Invite each child to show the picture and explain how it matches the words of the psalm.
This activity helps children notice the psalm’s own images, reasons for praise and final call for many voices to bless Yahweh.
Adapt for your group
- For younger children, offer two image choices only, such as a flower from Psalms 103:15 or a throne from Psalms 103:19, and let them copy a short phrase like ‘Praise Yahweh’ from Psalms 103:1.
- For older or more confident children, ask them to sort phrases under three headings: what Yahweh does, what Yahweh is like, and who is called to praise him, using verses from across the psalm.
An optional closing prayer
‘Yahweh, help us not to forget your benefits. Thank you for your mercy, compassion and loving kindness. Teach our hearts to praise you and remember your word. Amen.’
Read the Bible passage World English Bible Classic
Psalms 103
1 Praise Yahweh, my soul! All that is within me, praise his holy name!
2 Praise Yahweh, my soul, and don’t forget all his benefits,
3 who forgives all your sins, who heals all your diseases,
4 who redeems your life from destruction, who crowns you with loving kindness and tender mercies,
5 who satisfies your desire with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
6 Yahweh executes righteous acts, and justice for all who are oppressed.
7 He made known his ways to Moses, his deeds to the children of Israel.
8 Yahweh is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abundant in loving kindness.
9 He will not always accuse; neither will he stay angry forever.
10 He has not dealt with us according to our sins, nor repaid us for our iniquities.
11 For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is his loving kindness toward those who fear him.
12 As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.
13 Like a father has compassion on his children, so Yahweh has compassion on those who fear him.
14 For he knows how we are made. He remembers that we are dust.
15 As for man, his days are like grass. As a flower of the field, so he flourishes.
16 For the wind passes over it, and it is gone. Its place remembers it no more.
17 But Yahweh’s loving kindness is from everlasting to everlasting with those who fear him, his righteousness to children’s children,
18 to those who keep his covenant, to those who remember to obey his precepts.
19 Yahweh has established his throne in the heavens. His kingdom rules over all.
20 Praise Yahweh, you angels of his, who are mighty in strength, who fulfill his word, obeying the voice of his word.
21 Praise Yahweh, all you armies of his, you servants of his, who do his pleasure.
22 Praise Yahweh, all you works of his, in all places of his dominion. Praise Yahweh, my soul!
World English Bible Classic. Public domain.