Single lesson
Psalm 62: Waiting on God
Psalms 62:1–12
Psalm 62 teaches children to notice how a prayer can move from danger and pressure to quiet trust in God. This lesson helps them hear the repeated words, strong images and final message of the psalm.
Before you teach
In Psalm 62, the speaker says his soul rests in God alone and calls God his rock, salvation and fortress. He also speaks about attackers, lies, trust, riches, power and loving kindness. The psalm moves from personal prayer to a call for all people to trust God.
Students will identify the speaker’s repeated images for God and explain that Psalm 62 calls people to wait quietly for God and trust him rather than people, power or riches.
Welcome: Listen for repeated words
4 minTell the group they are hearing a psalm, which is a poem or prayer. Ask them to listen for words that repeat, especially what the speaker calls God. Read aloud the opening two verses slowly, then say that repeated words often show the main idea in a poem.
Psalms 62:1, Psalms 62:2
Read and explain: Rock, fortress and silence
8 minRead aloud from Psalms 62:1, Psalms 62:2, Psalms 62:5, Psalms 62:6, Psalms 62:7 and Psalms 62:8. Explain that the speaker says his soul rests in God alone and later tells his own soul to wait in silence for God. Notice the pictures for God: rock, salvation, fortress and refuge. These words show safety and steadiness when life feels unsteady.
Psalms 62:1, Psalms 62:2, Psalms 62:5, Psalms 62:6, Psalms 62:7, Psalms 62:8
Discuss: Trouble outside, trust inside
6 minLook at the change in the middle of the psalm. The speaker talks about people who assault, lie and curse inwardly. He compares a person under attack to a leaning wall or tottering fence. Then he returns to trusting God. Help children see that the poem names trouble honestly and still points back to God.
Psalms 62:3, Psalms 62:4, Psalms 62:5, Psalms 62:6
Make and respond: Image prayer card
8 minChildren make a small card with one image from the psalm, such as rock, fortress or refuge. On the back, they write their own short response sentence beginning with 'God, you are...' or 'I will trust you...'. Remind them that the psalm says to pour out your heart before God.
Psalms 62:7, Psalms 62:8
Closing: What not to trust
4 minFinish by reading aloud Psalms 62:9, Psalms 62:10, Psalms 62:11 and Psalms 62:12. Point out that the psalm warns against trusting status, oppression, robbery or riches. It ends by saying power belongs to God and loving kindness belongs to the Lord. Ask children to say one thing this psalm teaches about where trust should go.
Psalms 62:9, Psalms 62:10, Psalms 62:11, Psalms 62:12
Questions to explore
What words or pictures does the speaker use more than once for God, and what do those pictures tell us?
Look at the repeated words 'rock', 'salvation', 'fortress' and 'refuge' to describe God as strong and safe.
Psalms 62:2, Psalms 62:6, Psalms 62:7, Psalms 62:8
What problem does the speaker describe before he speaks again about waiting for God?
Notice the attack, lies and hidden cursing, and the picture of a leaning wall or tottering fence.
Psalms 62:3, Psalms 62:4
According to the end of the psalm, what should people not set their hearts on, and what belongs to God?
The psalm warns against trusting riches and says that power belongs to God and loving kindness belongs to the Lord.
Psalms 62:10, Psalms 62:11, Psalms 62:12
Make, think or respond
Psalm 62 Image Prayer Card
What you’ll need
- Plain paper or card
- Pencils or textas
- Scissors
- Bible or printed verses
Try it together
- Choose one image from Psalm 62, such as rock, fortress or refuge.
- Draw that image on the front of a folded card.
- Inside, copy one short phrase from the psalm or write your own simple response words, such as 'I will trust you' or 'You are my refuge'.
- Share the card with a partner and explain why that image fits the psalm.
This activity connects with the earlier lesson sections about God as refuge and about pouring out the heart before him, helping children remember the psalm’s images and make a simple personal response.
Adapt for your group
- For younger children, offer two image choices only, such as rock or fortress, and let them dictate their response sentence for an adult to write.
- For older children, ask them to add a second panel showing one false place of trust from the psalm, such as riches or status, and contrast it with trusting God.
An optional closing prayer
Suggested words: 'God, you are our rock and refuge. Please help us wait quietly for you and trust you instead of trusting things that do not last. Amen.'
Read the Bible passage World English Bible Classic
Psalms 62
1 My soul rests in God alone. My salvation is from him.
2 He alone is my rock, my salvation, and my fortress. I will never be greatly shaken.
3 How long will you assault a man? Would all of you throw him down, like a leaning wall, like a tottering fence?
4 They fully intend to throw him down from his lofty place. They delight in lies. They bless with their mouth, but they curse inwardly. Selah.
5 My soul, wait in silence for God alone, for my expectation is from him.
6 He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress. I will not be shaken.
7 My salvation and my honor is with God. The rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God.
8 Trust in him at all times, you people. Pour out your heart before him. God is a refuge for us. Selah.
9 Surely men of low degree are just a breath, and men of high degree are a lie. In the balances they will go up. They are together lighter than a breath.
10 Don’t trust in oppression. Don’t become vain in robbery. If riches increase, don’t set your heart on them.
11 God has spoken once; twice I have heard this, that power belongs to God.
12 Also to you, Lord, belongs loving kindness, for you reward every man according to his work.
World English Bible Classic. Public domain.