Single lesson
Psalm 75: God’s Righteous Judgment
Psalms 75:1–10
This lesson helps children notice how Psalm 75 moves from thanks, to God’s own words about judging, to a promise to keep praising him. Students will identify who is speaking, the pictures in the psalm, and what those pictures teach.
Before you teach
Psalm 75 begins with people thanking God because his name is near and his wondrous works are told. In the middle, the speaker changes as God says he will judge blamelessly. The psalm then warns the arrogant and wicked, says God decides who is lifted up or put down, and ends with praise and justice.
Students will be able to name the speakers, explain at least two images in Psalm 75, and tell how the psalm teaches that God judges rightly.
Welcome: Hear the thankfulness at the start
5 minInvite the children to listen for the first feeling in the psalm. Read verse 1 aloud twice. Ask them to raise a hand when they hear repeated words. Point out that “We give thanks” is said two times, and that God’s “Name is near” connects thanks with who God is and what people tell about his wondrous works.
Psalms 75:1
Read and explain: Notice the speaker changes
7 minRead the whole psalm slowly. Then go back and mark where the voice changes. In verses 2 to 5, God speaks in the first person: “I will judge blamelessly” and “I said”. Explain that the psalm includes God’s words, warnings to the arrogant and wicked, and images such as the earth’s pillars and the horn.
Psalms 75:2, Psalms 75:3, Psalms 75:4, Psalms 75:5
Discuss: What do the images show?
6 minTalk through three strong pictures. First, God firmly holds the earth’s pillars when its inhabitants quake, showing stability under his rule. Second, lifting up a horn pictures proud self-exalting talk. Third, the cup in Yahweh’s hand pictures judgement for the wicked. Keep the focus on what each image says inside the psalm.
Psalms 75:3, Psalms 75:4, Psalms 75:5, Psalms 75:8
Make and respond: Illustrated image card
8 minChildren choose one image or line from the psalm to draw on a folded card: thankful voices, the earth’s pillars, a horn, or the cup. Inside, they write one short response such as “Thank you, God” or “You are the judge”. Remind them that verse 7 says honour does not come from directions on earth, but from God the judge.
Psalms 75:6, Psalms 75:7, Psalms 75:9, Psalms 75:10
Closing: End with praise and the main message
4 minRead verses 9 and 10 together. Summarise the movement of the psalm: thanks, God’s just judgement, warning against pride, and praise. Ask each child to say one thing they learned about God from the psalm. Finish by repeating that God puts down one and lifts up another, and the singer answers with praise.
Psalms 75:7, Psalms 75:9, Psalms 75:10
Questions to explore
Which verse shows the people thanking God, and what reason do they give?
Look for the repeated words in Psalms 75:1 and the reason that follows: God’s name is near and people tell about his wondrous works.
Psalms 75:1
Where does the psalm say exaltation does not come from, and who actually decides who is lifted up?
Use Psalms 75:6 and Psalms 75:7 to compare the directions named with the statement that God is the judge.
Psalms 75:6, Psalms 75:7
What happens to the horns of the wicked and the righteous at the end of the psalm?
Read Psalms 75:10 carefully and connect it with the earlier warning not to lift up the horn in pride.
Psalms 75:4, Psalms 75:10
Make, think or respond
Psalm 75 Image Card
What you’ll need
- paper or card
- pencils or crayons
- markers
- Bible
Try it together
- Fold a sheet of paper in half to make a card.
- Choose one image or line from Psalm 75 and draw it on the front.
- Inside the card, write one sentence from the psalm or one short response of praise based on the psalm.
- Share the card with the group and explain which verse inspired it.
The card helps children focus on the psalm’s own wording and images, especially its movement from thanks to God’s righteous judgement and praise.
Adapt for your group
- For younger children, offer two image choices only, such as thankful voices from Psalms 75:1 or the horns in Psalms 75:10, and let them dictate their response sentence.
- For older or confident readers, ask them to label speaker changes across the psalm and explain how Psalms 75:2-5 differs from Psalms 75:9-10.
An optional closing prayer
Suggested prayer: “God, we give thanks to you. Help us remember that you judge rightly, that pride is not safe, and that you are worthy of praise. Amen.”
Read the Bible passage World English Bible Classic
Psalms 75
1 We give thanks to you, God. We give thanks, for your Name is near. Men tell about your wondrous works.
2 When I choose the appointed time, I will judge blamelessly.
3 The earth and all its inhabitants quake. I firmly hold its pillars. Selah.
4 I said to the arrogant, “Don’t boast!” I said to the wicked, “Don’t lift up the horn.
5 Don’t lift up your horn on high. Don’t speak with a stiff neck.”
6 For neither from the east, nor from the west, nor yet from the south, comes exaltation.
7 But God is the judge. He puts down one, and lifts up another.
8 For in Yahweh’s hand there is a cup, full of foaming wine mixed with spices. He pours it out. Indeed the wicked of the earth drink and drink it to its very dregs.
9 But I will declare this forever: I will sing praises to the God of Jacob.
10 I will cut off all the horns of the wicked, but the horns of the righteous shall be lifted up.
World English Bible Classic. Public domain.