Single lesson
Psalm 97: Let the Earth Rejoice
Psalms 97:1–12
Psalm 97 is a praise poem that announces Yahweh’s rule over the whole earth. Children will listen for the poem’s speaking voice, trace how its ideas move from start to finish, and respond to its images and commands.
Before you teach
In these verses, the poem begins with a public announcement that Yahweh reigns and calls the earth to rejoice. It then describes Yahweh with powerful images, rejects idols, reports Judah’s gladness at his judgments, and ends by addressing people who love Yahweh with commands to hate evil, be glad, and give thanks.
Students will identify how Psalm 97 speaks about Yahweh and directly addresses listeners, and they will trace its movement from worldwide rejoicing to a closing call to hate evil, be glad, and give thanks.
Welcome: Who is speaking, and what is announced?
5 minOpen by reading verse 1 aloud twice. Ask children what the poem announces and who it is about. Explain that the poem does not name a human speaker here, but it clearly speaks about Yahweh and directly tells others how to respond: “Let the earth rejoice” and “Let the multitude of islands be glad.”
Psalms 97:1
Read and explain: The poem’s first movement
8 minRead verses 1 to 6. Show the movement from the opening call to rejoice into strong images of Yahweh’s presence and rule. Children can listen for clouds, darkness, fire, lightning, trembling earth, melting mountains, and the heavens declaring his righteousness. Point out that these pictures stand beside a key statement: righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne.
Psalms 97:1, Psalms 97:2, Psalms 97:3, Psalms 97:4, Psalms 97:5, Psalms 97:6
Discuss: The middle movement about worship
6 minRead verses 7 to 9 and trace the next step in the poem. It turns from creation-wide pictures to a contrast in worship. Those who serve engraved images are put to shame, while Zion and the daughters of Judah are glad because of Yahweh’s judgments. The reason is stated clearly: Yahweh is most high above all the earth.
Psalms 97:7, Psalms 97:8, Psalms 97:9
Make and respond: Verse-linked image card
7 minChildren make a card with one image or phrase from a specific verse in Psalm 97. They might draw lightning and label it with verse 4, or write “Be glad in Yahweh” from verse 12 with bright colours. As they work, ask them to say which verse they chose and where it fits in the poem’s movement: beginning, middle, or ending.
Psalms 97:4, Psalms 97:11, Psalms 97:12
Closing: The poem’s final direct commands
4 minFinish with verses 10 to 12 and make the closing movement explicit. The poem now directly addresses “You who love Yahweh” and tells them to hate evil. It also says Yahweh preserves and delivers his saints, then ends with gladness, light, and a call to give thanks to his holy name.
Psalms 97:10, Psalms 97:11, Psalms 97:12
Questions to explore
How does the poem speak in verse 1: what does it announce about Yahweh, and whom does it tell to rejoice?
Notice that the voice of the poem announces “Yahweh reigns” and then directly addresses the earth and the islands with commands to be glad.
Psalms 97:1
What pictures are used in verses 2 to 6, and what important truth about Yahweh’s throne is given beside those pictures?
List the images you hear, then connect them with the words “righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne.”
Psalms 97:2, Psalms 97:3, Psalms 97:4, Psalms 97:5, Psalms 97:6
How does the end of the poem directly address Yahweh’s people, and what are they told to do?
Look for the commands in the closing verses, including “hate evil”, “Be glad in Yahweh”, and “Give thanks to his holy Name.”
Psalms 97:10, Psalms 97:12
Make, think or respond
Verse-Linked Image Card
What you’ll need
- plain paper or card
- pencils or markers
- crayons or coloured pencils
- scissors
Try it together
- Fold or cut paper to make a small card.
- Choose one specific verse from Psalm 97 and decide whether it belongs to the beginning, middle, or ending of the poem.
- Draw an image from that verse, such as lightning for Psalms 97:4, mountains for Psalms 97:5, or light for Psalms 97:11.
- Write a short phrase from the same verse on the card.
- Share the card and explain which verse you used and how your picture matches its words.
This activity helps children link one image or phrase to a particular verse in the psalm, such as lightning in Psalms 97:4 or gladness in Psalms 97:12, so they can see how the poem speaks and moves.
Adapt for your group
- For younger children, offer three verse choices only, such as Psalms 97:1, Psalms 97:4, and Psalms 97:12, and let them copy one short phrase.
- For older children, ask them to sort the whole psalm into four parts: opening rejoicing, powerful images of Yahweh, rejection of idols and Judah’s gladness, and the closing commands.
An optional closing prayer
You might pray: “Yahweh, thank you that you reign. Help us listen carefully to your word, hate evil, be glad in you, and give thanks to your holy name.”
Read the Bible passage World English Bible Classic
Psalms 97
1 Yahweh reigns! Let the earth rejoice! Let the multitude of islands be glad!
2 Clouds and darkness are around him. Righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne.
3 A fire goes before him, and burns up his adversaries on every side.
4 His lightning lights up the world. The earth sees, and trembles.
5 The mountains melt like wax at the presence of Yahweh, at the presence of the Lord of the whole earth.
6 The heavens declare his righteousness. All the peoples have seen his glory.
7 Let all them be shamed who serve engraved images, who boast in their idols. Worship him, all you gods!
8 Zion heard and was glad. The daughters of Judah rejoiced because of your judgments, Yahweh.
9 For you, Yahweh, are most high above all the earth. You are exalted far above all gods.
10 You who love Yahweh, hate evil! He preserves the souls of his saints. He delivers them out of the hand of the wicked.
11 Light is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart.
12 Be glad in Yahweh, you righteous people! Give thanks to his holy Name.
World English Bible Classic. Public domain.