Single lesson
Psalm 120: In My Distress I Cried to the LORD
Psalms 120:1–7
Psalm 120 is a short prayer from someone under pressure. In this lesson, children will hear the speaker cry to Yahweh, ask for help against lies, and contrast a desire for peace with people who want war.
Before you teach
This psalm begins with distress and answered prayer, then asks Yahweh for deliverance from lying lips and a deceitful tongue. It uses sharp, vivid images when addressing the deceitful tongue, speaks of grief about living among hostile people, and ends with a contrast between peace and war.
Students will identify the speaker’s distress, the psalm’s vivid images, and the movement from crying out to Yahweh to naming the conflict between peace and war.
Welcome: Hear the cry for help
5 minAsk the children to listen for who is speaking, what trouble appears, and who is addressed. Read the whole psalm aloud slowly. Point out that the speaker says, “I cried to Yahweh” and also says, “He answered me”. The trouble includes lying, deceit, and living too long with people who hate peace and are for war.
Psalms 120:1, Psalms 120:2, Psalms 120:6, Psalms 120:7
Read and explain: Distress, lies and deceit
7 minRead verses 1 to 2 again. Explain that “distress” means deep trouble or pressure. The speaker asks Yahweh to “deliver my soul” from “lying lips” and a “deceitful tongue”. Help children notice that the problem here is false and harmful speech, named clearly in the prayer.
Psalms 120:1, Psalms 120:2
Discuss: Vivid images in the warning
6 minRead verses 3 to 4. Ask what words are spoken to the deceitful tongue. Verse 3 asks what will be given or done to it, and verse 4 answers with a picture: “sharp arrows of the mighty” and “coals of juniper”. Explain that these are strong, serious images, even if every detail is not explained for us.
Psalms 120:3, Psalms 120:4
Make and respond: Peace and trouble card
8 minChildren make a folded image card. On one side they draw or write the trouble in the psalm: lying lips, deceitful tongue, or hate for peace. On the other side they draw or write the speaker’s response: crying to Yahweh and choosing peace. Invite them to include a short prayer in their own words.
Psalms 120:1, Psalms 120:2, Psalms 120:6, Psalms 120:7
Closing: The speaker stands for peace
4 minRead verses 5 to 7. Explain that the speaker feels sorrow about living among people linked with conflict and says this has gone on too long. Finish by noticing the final contrast: “I am for peace” while others are “for war”. Review the movement of the psalm from distress to a clear stand for peace.
Psalms 120:5, Psalms 120:6, Psalms 120:7
Questions to explore
What two things does the speaker say happened in verse 1?
Look for the action of the speaker and the response of Yahweh: the speaker cried out, and Yahweh answered.
Psalms 120:1
What kind of danger does the speaker ask to be rescued from?
The request is about harmful words, described as “lying lips” and “a deceitful tongue”.
Psalms 120:2
How does the end of the psalm show a difference between the speaker and other people?
The speaker says, “I am for peace”, but says others are “for war”.
Psalms 120:7
Make, think or respond
Illustrated Prayer and Peace Card
What you’ll need
- paper or card
- pencils or textas
- crayons or coloured pencils
- Bible
Try it together
- Fold a sheet of paper in half.
- On the front, draw or write one trouble named in the psalm, such as lying lips or people who hate peace.
- Inside, write the words “I cried to Yahweh” and add a short prayer asking for help.
- On the back, draw a symbol of peace and write “I am for peace”.
- Invite children to share one part of their card with the group.
The card helps children trace the psalm’s movement from distress and deceit to prayer and a stand for peace.
Adapt for your group
- For younger children, give simple choices to circle or draw: cry, lies, peace, war.
- For older or stronger readers, ask them to explain how the images in verses 3 to 4 make the warning sound serious.
An optional closing prayer
Suggested prayer: “Yahweh, thank you that we can cry to you in distress. Help us speak truth, turn from deceit, and choose peace. Amen.”
Read the Bible passage World English Bible Classic
Psalms 120
1 In my distress, I cried to Yahweh. He answered me.
2 Deliver my soul, Yahweh, from lying lips, from a deceitful tongue.
3 What will be given to you, and what will be done more to you, you deceitful tongue?
4 Sharp arrows of the mighty, with coals of juniper.
5 Woe is me, that I live in Meshech, that I dwell among the tents of Kedar!
6 My soul has had her dwelling too long with him who hates peace.
7 I am for peace, but when I speak, they are for war.
World English Bible Classic. Public domain.