Single lesson
Psalm 34: Taste and See That the LORD Is Good
Psalms 34:1–22
Psalm 34 teaches children to notice how a prayer-song moves from praise, to help in trouble, to practical teaching about words, peace and trust in Yahweh.
Before you teach
In this psalm, the speaker says, “I will bless Yahweh at all times”, then invites others to join in praise. He tells how Yahweh answered his cry, calls people to “taste and see” Yahweh’s goodness, teaches the fear of Yahweh, and ends by contrasting the righteous and the wicked.
Students will identify the speaker’s praise, the poem’s images, and two ways Psalm 34 teaches people to respond to Yahweh.
Welcome: Hear the voice of praise
5 minRead verses 1 to 3 aloud twice. Ask children to listen for who is speaking and what he wants others to do. Point out the repeated words about praise, boasting in Yahweh and exalting his name together. This helps children hear that the psalm begins as a shared call to worship.
Psalms 34:1, Psalms 34:2, Psalms 34:3
Read and explain: From fear to refuge
7 minRead verses 4 to 10. Explain that the speaker says Yahweh answered, heard and delivered. Notice the pictures: people who look to Yahweh become radiant, Yahweh’s angel encamps, and people are invited to “taste and see” that Yahweh is good. Explain refuge as a safe place of trust in Yahweh.
Psalms 34:4, Psalms 34:5, Psalms 34:6, Psalms 34:7, Psalms 34:8, Psalms 34:9, Psalms 34:10
Discuss: What the fear of Yahweh looks like
6 minRead verses 11 to 14. Explain that the psalm now sounds like teaching: “Come, you children, listen to me.” The fear of Yahweh is described through actions in the poem: guarding the tongue from evil and lies, turning from evil, doing good, and seeking peace on purpose.
Psalms 34:11, Psalms 34:12, Psalms 34:13, Psalms 34:14
Make and respond: Illustrated prayer card
8 minChildren make a small card with one image and one line from the psalm. Encourage choices such as a mouth for praise, a face looking up, a camp, a tongue speaking truth, or a heart for the broken-hearted. After making, each child explains how the picture matches the words of the psalm.
Psalms 34:1, Psalms 34:5, Psalms 34:7, Psalms 34:13, Psalms 34:18
Closing: Yahweh hears and redeems
4 minRead verses 15 to 22. Summarise the ending: Yahweh sees, hears, is near, delivers and redeems. Also note that the psalm says righteous people still have many afflictions, so this is not a promise of an easy life. Finish by revisiting the main images and one response each child can remember.
Psalms 34:15, Psalms 34:16, Psalms 34:17, Psalms 34:18, Psalms 34:19, Psalms 34:20, Psalms 34:21, Psalms 34:22
Questions to explore
In verses 1 to 3, what does the speaker say he will do, and what does he invite others to do with him?
Look for the action words in the opening lines: bless, praise, boast, magnify and exalt together.
Psalms 34:1, Psalms 34:2, Psalms 34:3
Which images in verses 5 to 8 help you understand Yahweh’s care: looking and being radiant, an angel encamping, or tasting and seeing?
Choose one image and explain what the words in that verse say, before giving your own application.
Psalms 34:5, Psalms 34:7, Psalms 34:8
According to verses 13 and 14, what are two practical ways to live in the fear of Yahweh?
The psalm gives clear actions about speech, turning from evil, doing good, and pursuing peace.
Psalms 34:13, Psalms 34:14
Make, think or respond
Illustrated Psalm 34 Prayer Card
What you’ll need
- paper or card
- pencils or markers
- crayons or coloured pencils
- scissors
Try it together
- Read several short lines from Psalm 34 and let each child choose one verse or phrase to feature on a card.
- Fold or cut the paper into a small card and write the chosen words neatly on one side.
- Draw one picture from the psalm that matches the words, such as a mouth, face, camp, path of peace, or heart.
- Invite each child to show the card and explain how the image expresses praise, need, grief or trust in the psalm.
The card helps children notice that Psalm 34 uses vivid images to express praise, trouble, trust and practical obedience.
Adapt for your group
- For younger children, offer three pre-selected verse choices and invite them to draw one matching image rather than copying a longer line.
- For older or more confident children, ask them to divide the psalm into praise, testimony, teaching and confidence, then choose an image from one part and explain why it fits.
An optional closing prayer
Proposed words: “Yahweh, teach us to praise you, to seek peace, and to take refuge in you when we are afraid or sad. Help our words be truthful and kind. Amen.”
Read the Bible passage World English Bible Classic
Psalms 34
1 I will bless Yahweh at all times. His praise will always be in my mouth.
2 My soul shall boast in Yahweh. The humble shall hear of it and be glad.
3 Oh magnify Yahweh with me. Let’s exalt his name together.
4 I sought Yahweh, and he answered me, and delivered me from all my fears.
5 They looked to him, and were radiant. Their faces shall never be covered with shame.
6 This poor man cried, and Yahweh heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles.
7 Yahweh’s angel encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them.
8 Oh taste and see that Yahweh is good. Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him.
9 Oh fear Yahweh, you his saints, for there is no lack with those who fear him.
10 The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger, but those who seek Yahweh shall not lack any good thing.
11 Come, you children, listen to me. I will teach you the fear of Yahweh.
12 Who is someone who desires life, and loves many days, that he may see good?
13 Keep your tongue from evil, and your lips from speaking lies.
14 Depart from evil, and do good. Seek peace, and pursue it.
15 Yahweh’s eyes are toward the righteous. His ears listen to their cry.
16 Yahweh’s face is against those who do evil, to cut off their memory from the earth.
17 The righteous cry, and Yahweh hears, and delivers them out of all their troubles.
18 Yahweh is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves those who have a crushed spirit.
19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but Yahweh delivers him out of them all.
20 He protects all of his bones. Not one of them is broken.
21 Evil shall kill the wicked. Those who hate the righteous shall be condemned.
22 Yahweh redeems the soul of his servants. None of those who take refuge in him shall be condemned.
World English Bible Classic. Public domain.