Single lesson
Psalm 89: I Will Sing of His Love Forever
Psalms 89:1–52
Psalm 89 begins with singing about Yahweh’s loving kindness and faithfulness, then moves through praise, God’s covenant with David, and a painful complaint. Children can learn how one psalm holds both confident worship and honest questions.
Before you teach
This psalm speaks directly to Yahweh. It starts by declaring his love, faithfulness, power and rule over creation, then recalls his covenant words about David and his offspring. After that, the speaker describes rejection, shame and enemy victory, and asks how long this will last before ending with a blessing to Yahweh.
Students will identify the psalm’s movement from praise to covenant promise to lament, name who is speaking in key parts, and explain one image or phrase from each part using the text.
Welcome: Hear the opening song
4 minTell the children that this is a psalm, a poem prayed or sung to Yahweh. Read verses 1 and 2 aloud twice. Ask them to listen for repeated words. Write ‘loving kindness’ and ‘faithfulness’ where everyone can see them. Then ask, ‘Who says “I will sing” in verse 1, and who is “you” later in the psalm?’ to begin noticing the voices.
Psalms 89:1, Psalms 89:2, Psalms 89:46
Read and explain: Praise God’s greatness
7 minRead verses 5 to 18 in selected chunks. Point out the images: the skies, the sea, the earth, north and south, and God’s strong arm. Explain that these pictures show Yahweh’s greatness and rule. Notice also that righteousness, justice, loving kindness and truth belong with his throne and presence.
Psalms 89:5, Psalms 89:8, Psalms 89:9, Psalms 89:11, Psalms 89:12, Psalms 89:13, Psalms 89:14, Psalms 89:15
Discuss: God’s covenant words about David
7 minRead verses 19 to 37. Explain that this part reports Yahweh’s words. Show where the speech begins and notice repeated promises: God chose David, strengthened him, and said the covenant would stand firm. Also note the warning that sin would be punished, yet God says he will not break his covenant.
Psalms 89:19, Psalms 89:20, Psalms 89:21, Psalms 89:28, Psalms 89:30, Psalms 89:32, Psalms 89:34, Psalms 89:36
Make and respond: Praise, promise, problem card
8 minFold paper into three panels. In panel 1, children draw or write one praise image from the psalm, such as sea, heavens or strong arm. In panel 2, they add one promise word such as covenant or forever. In panel 3, they write one honest question from the ending, such as ‘How long?’
Psalms 89:9, Psalms 89:11, Psalms 89:13, Psalms 89:28, Psalms 89:34, Psalms 89:36, Psalms 89:46, Psalms 89:49
Closing: The lament asks God to remember
4 minRead verses 38 to 52, summarising that the tone changes strongly. The speaker says the anointed one is rejected and mocked, then twice appeals, ‘Remember’. Point children to the requests in verses 49 and 50, and finish by reading verse 52 together. Explain that the psalm ends by blessing Yahweh even after grief, questions and this appeal have been spoken honestly.
Psalms 89:38, Psalms 89:39, Psalms 89:44, Psalms 89:46, Psalms 89:49, Psalms 89:50, Psalms 89:51, Psalms 89:52
Questions to explore
Who is speaking in these different places: ‘I will sing’, the covenant words, and ‘How long, Yahweh?’
Verse 1 shows the psalmist speaking to Yahweh, verses 3 and 19 introduce Yahweh’s own words about David, and verse 46 returns to the psalmist’s cry to Yahweh.
Psalms 89:1, Psalms 89:3, Psalms 89:19, Psalms 89:46
What pictures in the middle of the psalm show Yahweh’s power and rule?
Find creation and strength images such as the sea, earth, north and south, and God’s mighty arm.
Psalms 89:9, Psalms 89:11, Psalms 89:12, Psalms 89:13
How does the mood change after the covenant promises about David?
Compare the firm promises and ‘forever’ language with the later words about rejection, hedges broken down, strongholds brought to ruin, shame, and the question ‘How long?’
Psalms 89:28, Psalms 89:34, Psalms 89:36, Psalms 89:38, Psalms 89:40, Psalms 89:45, Psalms 89:46
Make, think or respond
Three-Panel Psalm Card
What you’ll need
- paper
- pencils or pens
- coloured pencils or crayons
- optional ruler
Try it together
- Fold one sheet of paper into three panels.
- Label the panels ‘Praise’, ‘Promise’ and ‘Problem’.
- In each panel, draw or write one image or line from that part of Psalm 89.
- Share the card with a partner and explain why each part belongs in its panel.
This helps children trace the psalm’s movement from praising Yahweh, to remembering his covenant words, to bringing grief and questions to him.
Adapt for your group
- For younger children, pre-select three short verses for the card: Psalms 89:1, Psalms 89:28 and Psalms 89:46, and let them draw one picture for each.
- For older or more confident readers, ask them to add a fourth note on how verse 52 fits after the lament.
An optional closing prayer
You could pray: ‘Yahweh, thank you for your loving kindness and faithfulness. Help us praise you, remember your words, and speak honestly to you when we are troubled. Amen.’
Read the Bible passage World English Bible Classic
Psalms 89
1 I will sing of the loving kindness of Yahweh forever. With my mouth, I will make known your faithfulness to all generations.
2 I indeed declare, “Love stands firm forever. You established the heavens. Your faithfulness is in them.”
3 “I have made a covenant with my chosen one, I have sworn to David, my servant,
4 ‘I will establish your offspring forever, and build up your throne to all generations.’ ” Selah.
5 The heavens will praise your wonders, Yahweh, your faithfulness also in the assembly of the holy ones.
6 For who in the skies can be compared to Yahweh? Who among the sons of the heavenly beings is like Yahweh,
7 a very awesome God in the council of the holy ones, to be feared above all those who are around him?
8 Yahweh, God of Armies, who is a mighty one, like you? Yah, your faithfulness is around you.
9 You rule the pride of the sea. When its waves rise up, you calm them.
10 You have broken Rahab in pieces, like one of the slain. You have scattered your enemies with your mighty arm.
11 The heavens are yours. The earth also is yours, the world and its fullness. You have founded them.
12 You have created the north and the south. Tabor and Hermon rejoice in your name.
13 You have a mighty arm. Your hand is strong, and your right hand is exalted.
14 Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne. Loving kindness and truth go before your face.
15 Blessed are the people who learn to acclaim you. They walk in the light of your presence, Yahweh.
16 In your name they rejoice all day. In your righteousness, they are exalted.
17 For you are the glory of their strength. In your favor, our horn will be exalted.
18 For our shield belongs to Yahweh, our king to the Holy One of Israel.
19 Then you spoke in vision to your saints, and said, “I have given strength to the warrior. I have exalted a young man from the people.
20 I have found David, my servant. I have anointed him with my holy oil,
21 with whom my hand shall be established. My arm will also strengthen him.
22 No enemy will tax him. No wicked man will oppress him.
23 I will beat down his adversaries before him, and strike those who hate him.
24 But my faithfulness and my loving kindness will be with him. In my name, his horn will be exalted.
25 I will set his hand also on the sea, and his right hand on the rivers.
26 He will call to me, ‘You are my Father, my God, and the rock of my salvation!’
27 I will also appoint him my firstborn, the highest of the kings of the earth.
28 I will keep my loving kindness for him forever more. My covenant will stand firm with him.
29 I will also make his offspring endure forever, and his throne as the days of heaven.
30 If his children forsake my law, and don’t walk in my ordinances;
31 if they break my statutes, and don’t keep my commandments;
32 then I will punish their sin with the rod, and their iniquity with stripes.
33 But I will not completely take my loving kindness from him, nor allow my faithfulness to fail.
34 I will not break my covenant, nor alter what my lips have uttered.
35 Once I have sworn by my holiness, I will not lie to David.
36 His offspring will endure forever, his throne like the sun before me.
37 It will be established forever like the moon, the faithful witness in the sky.” Selah.
38 But you have rejected and spurned. You have been angry with your anointed.
39 You have renounced the covenant of your servant. You have defiled his crown in the dust.
40 You have broken down all his hedges. You have brought his strongholds to ruin.
41 All who pass by the way rob him. He has become a reproach to his neighbors.
42 You have exalted the right hand of his adversaries. You have made all of his enemies rejoice.
43 Yes, you turn back the edge of his sword, and haven’t supported him in battle.
44 You have ended his splendor, and thrown his throne down to the ground.
45 You have shortened the days of his youth. You have covered him with shame. Selah.
46 How long, Yahweh? Will you hide yourself forever? Will your wrath burn like fire?
47 Remember how short my time is, for what vanity you have created all the children of men!
48 What man is he who shall live and not see death, who shall deliver his soul from the power of Sheol? Selah.
49 Lord, where are your former loving kindnesses, which you swore to David in your faithfulness?
50 Remember, Lord, the reproach of your servants, how I bear in my heart the taunts of all the mighty peoples,
51 With which your enemies have mocked, Yahweh, with which they have mocked the footsteps of your anointed one.
52 Blessed be Yahweh forever more. Amen, and Amen.
World English Bible Classic. Public domain.