Single lesson
Psalm 138: A Thankful Heart
Psalms 138:1–8
Psalm 138 is a thankful prayer that begins with wholehearted praise and ends with trust in God’s ongoing care. In this lesson, children will notice who is speaking, what God is like, and how the prayer moves from thanks to confidence.
Before you teach
This psalm is written as a personal prayer to Yahweh. The speaker gives thanks, remembers being answered, says kings will also thank Yahweh, and then asks for continued care while trusting Yahweh’s lasting loving kindness. The whole poem keeps its attention on Yahweh’s name, words, glory and help.
Students will be able to identify how Psalm 138 moves from personal thanks, to praise of Yahweh’s greatness, to trust and prayer for help.
Welcome: What does a thankful prayer sound like?
5 minAsk children to listen for repeated ideas in a prayer of thanks. Explain that this psalm is spoken to Yahweh with a whole heart, and it includes singing, bowing, remembering an answer to prayer, and asking for help again. Invite them to notice both joy and need as you read.
Psalms 138:1, Psalms 138:2, Psalms 138:3, Psalms 138:8
Read and explain: Wholehearted thanks to Yahweh
7 minRead verses 1 to 3 slowly. Point out that the speaker says, “I will give you thanks with my whole heart” and “I will sing praises to you”. Explain “loving kindness” as God’s faithful kindness and “truth” as what is reliable and true. The speaker thanks Yahweh because he answered when called and gave strength in the soul.
Psalms 138:1, Psalms 138:2, Psalms 138:3
Discuss: From one person’s prayer to all kings
6 minRead verses 4 to 6. Help children see the prayer getting bigger. It starts with one person thanking Yahweh, then speaks of “all the kings of the earth” giving thanks because they have heard Yahweh’s words. Highlight that Yahweh’s glory is great, and though he is high, he looks after the lowly.
Psalms 138:4, Psalms 138:5, Psalms 138:6
Make and respond: Trouble, help and lasting kindness
8 minRead verses 7 and 8. Explain that the speaker is still honest about trouble. Even so, the prayer says Yahweh will revive, stretch out his hand, save, and fulfill what concerns the speaker. Children will then make an illustrated prayer card using words or pictures from the psalm to show thanks, help, and trust.
Psalms 138:7, Psalms 138:8
Closing: Say back the movement of the psalm
4 minReview the poem’s movement together: thanks with a whole heart, memory of answered prayer, a bigger picture of Yahweh’s glory, and trust in trouble. Ask children to retell that movement in their own words. Finish by hearing the last request, “Don’t forsake the works of your own hands.”
Psalms 138:1, Psalms 138:3, Psalms 138:5, Psalms 138:7, Psalms 138:8
Questions to explore
What reasons for thanks does the speaker give in the first part of the psalm?
Look for the words about Yahweh’s loving kindness, truth, answering prayer, and giving strength in the soul.
Psalms 138:2, Psalms 138:3
How does the psalm grow from one person’s prayer into something bigger?
Notice how it begins with “I will give you thanks” and then says “all the kings of the earth will give you thanks”.
Psalms 138:1, Psalms 138:4, Psalms 138:5
What does the speaker trust Yahweh to do while walking in trouble?
Listen for the action words in the last two verses: revive, stretch out your hand, save, and fulfill.
Psalms 138:7, Psalms 138:8
Make, think or respond
Illustrated Prayer Card from Psalm 138
What you’ll need
- paper or card
- pencils or markers
- crayons or coloured pencils
- Bible text written out or read aloud
Try it together
- Fold a piece of paper into three parts or divide one page into three boxes.
- In the first part, write or draw something from verses 1 to 3 about thanks.
- In the second part, write or draw something from verses 4 to 6 about Yahweh’s glory and care for the lowly.
- In the third part, write or draw something from verses 7 to 8 about trouble, help, and trust.
- Invite each child to read one line from their card or explain one picture they chose.
This activity helps children trace the movement of Psalm 138 from praise, to Yahweh’s greatness, to trust and prayer for help.
Adapt for your group
- For younger children, offer three simple picture prompts to draw: a thankful heart, a crown for kings giving thanks, and a helping hand in trouble.
- For older or more confident children, ask them to choose one exact phrase from each part of the psalm and copy it onto their card beside their drawing.
An optional closing prayer
You may pray: “Yahweh, thank you for your loving kindness and truth. Thank you that you answered the speaker and gave strength. Please help us trust you and remember your care when we are in trouble.”
Read the Bible passage World English Bible Classic
Psalms 138
1 I will give you thanks with my whole heart. Before the gods, I will sing praises to you.
2 I will bow down toward your holy temple, and give thanks to your Name for your loving kindness and for your truth; for you have exalted your Name and your Word above all.
3 In the day that I called, you answered me. You encouraged me with strength in my soul.
4 All the kings of the earth will give you thanks, Yahweh, for they have heard the words of your mouth.
5 Yes, they will sing of the ways of Yahweh, for Yahweh’s glory is great!
6 For though Yahweh is high, yet he looks after the lowly; but he knows the proud from afar.
7 Though I walk in the middle of trouble, you will revive me. You will stretch out your hand against the wrath of my enemies. Your right hand will save me.
8 Yahweh will fulfill that which concerns me. Your loving kindness, Yahweh, endures forever. Don’t forsake the works of your own hands.
World English Bible Classic. Public domain.