Single lesson
Psalm 57: In You My Soul Takes Refuge
Psalms 57:1–11
Psalm 57 is a prayer-poem that begins with danger and need, then rises into trust and praise. In this lesson, children will notice the speaker’s pictures, repeated words and the movement from crying out to singing.
Before you teach
In Psalm 57, the speaker asks God for mercy and refuge, describes enemies with strong word pictures, and repeats a prayer that God would be exalted above the heavens. The psalm moves from trouble and bowed-down sorrow to a steadfast heart, singing and thanks among the nations.
Students will identify the speaker’s main images in Psalm 57 and explain how the psalm moves from refuge and distress to praise and God’s exaltation.
Welcome: What does refuge mean?
5 minAsk children what a refuge is: a safe place to go when there is trouble. Then introduce the psalm’s opening words. Read verse 1 aloud twice and listen for repeated words. Explain that the speaker is talking to God directly and says his soul takes refuge in God, like shelter under wings until disaster passes.
Psalms 57:1
Read and explain: Trouble, prayer and pictures
8 minRead verses 1 to 6. Help children hear the psalm’s strong images: shadow of wings, heaven, lions, teeth like spears and arrows, a sharp sword, a net and a pit. Explain that these are poetic pictures in the prayer. The speaker cries to God Most High, asks for mercy, and says God will send loving kindness and truth.
Psalms 57:1, Psalms 57:2, Psalms 57:3, Psalms 57:4, Psalms 57:6
Discuss: What changes in the middle?
6 minRead verses 5 to 11 and ask children to notice the turning point. The repeated line about God being exalted appears in verses 5 and 11. Between those lines, the speaker says, ‘My heart is steadfast’ and chooses to sing praises, give thanks and praise God among the peoples and nations.
Psalms 57:5, Psalms 57:7, Psalms 57:8, Psalms 57:9, Psalms 57:10, Psalms 57:11
Make and respond: Illustrated prayer card
7 minChildren make a simple card with two halves. On one side, they draw one image from the psalm such as wings, a net, a pit, dawn, or harp. On the other, they copy a short line from the psalm and tell whether it shows need, trust, grief or praise. Share the choices briefly.
Psalms 57:1, Psalms 57:6, Psalms 57:7, Psalms 57:8, Psalms 57:9
Closing: Say the message together
4 minFinish by reading verses 7 to 11 aloud together. Summarise the movement of the psalm: the speaker begins by asking for mercy and refuge, describes danger, and ends with a steadfast heart, singing and a prayer that God’s glory would be over all the earth.
Psalms 57:1, Psalms 57:4, Psalms 57:7, Psalms 57:9, Psalms 57:11
Questions to explore
In verse 1, what picture does the speaker use to describe safety with God?
Look for the words about refuge and the ‘shadow of your wings’, which show shelter in the psalm’s opening prayer.
Psalms 57:1
Which word pictures in verses 4 and 6 show that the speaker is in danger?
Listen for the images of lions, teeth like spears and arrows, a sharp sword, a net and a pit.
Psalms 57:4, Psalms 57:6
What changes after the speaker says, ‘My heart is steadfast’?
Notice the actions that follow: singing praises, waking the dawn, giving thanks, and praising God among the peoples.
Psalms 57:7, Psalms 57:8, Psalms 57:9
Make, think or respond
Illustrated Prayer or Image Card
What you’ll need
- paper or card
- pencils or textas
- crayons or coloured pencils
- Bible text of Psalm 57:1–11
Try it together
- Fold a sheet of paper in half to make a simple card.
- Choose one image from the psalm, such as wings, lions, a net, a pit, dawn, a lute or a harp, and draw it on the front.
- Inside the card, copy one short line from the psalm that matches the image.
- Write one word beside the line: need, trust, grief or praise.
- Share with a partner how your picture and line belong together in the psalm.
This activity helps children notice that Psalm 57 uses pictures and repeated lines to express both trouble and praise.
Adapt for your group
- For younger children, offer four picture choices on the board and let them copy only two or three key words from a verse.
- For older or stronger readers, ask them to find the repeated line in verses 5 and 11 and explain how it frames the whole psalm.
An optional closing prayer
Suggested prayer: ‘God, when we are troubled, help us come to you for refuge. Teach us to trust you and praise you with steadfast hearts. Amen.’
Read the Bible passage World English Bible Classic
Psalms 57
1 Be merciful to me, God, be merciful to me, for my soul takes refuge in you. Yes, in the shadow of your wings, I will take refuge, until disaster has passed.
2 I cry out to God Most High, to God who accomplishes my requests for me.
3 He will send from heaven, and save me, he rebukes the one who is pursuing me. Selah. God will send out his loving kindness and his truth.
4 My soul is among lions. I lie among those who are set on fire, even the sons of men, whose teeth are spears and arrows, and their tongue a sharp sword.
5 Be exalted, God, above the heavens! Let your glory be above all the earth!
6 They have prepared a net for my steps. My soul is bowed down. They dig a pit before me. They fall into the middle of it themselves. Selah.
7 My heart is steadfast, God. My heart is steadfast. I will sing, yes, I will sing praises.
8 Wake up, my glory! Wake up, lute and harp! I will wake up the dawn.
9 I will give thanks to you, Lord, among the peoples. I will sing praises to you among the nations.
10 For your great loving kindness reaches to the heavens, and your truth to the skies.
11 Be exalted, God, above the heavens. Let your glory be over all the earth.
World English Bible Classic. Public domain.