Teaching Character Using the Psalms
You know historical poetry provides insight into the people and time period when it was written. But did you know that you could teach character using the Psalms?
One of the most valuable ways to use poetry is to teach your kids character. And this is especially true when you teach your kids character using Biblical poetry. Kids don’t always recognize psalms as poetry, partly because it doesn’t rhyme. (Not that all poetry rhymes!) But Biblical poetry, as expressed in the book of Psalm, is Hebrew poetry.
But instead of repeating sounds like some Western poetry, Hebrew poetry has repeating ideas. Teaching character using the psalms gives you a great opportunity to examine attributes of God as well as those character qualities we want to instill in our children.
Teaching character using the psalms
It would be incredibly useful to go through the psalms and examine all the character qualities embedded in them. If you have younger children, you might be interested in viewing the psalms, stories, and videos on Psalms for Kids. (Parents, take a look at it first to make sure it aligns with your families’ beliefs.)
But especially for middle school and high school students, reading through the psalms in your favorite Bible translation is probably best.
As an example, let’s look at Psalm 8.
Teaching character using Psalm 8.
Psalm 8
1 O LORD, our Lord,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!
You have set your glory
above the heavens.
2 From the lips of children and infants
you have ordained praise
because of your enemies,
to silence the foe and the avenger.
3 When I consider your heavens,
the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars,
which you have set in place,
4 what is man that you are mindful of him,
the son of man that you care for him?
5 You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings
and crowned him with glory and honor.
6 You made him ruler over the works of your hands;
you put everything under his feet:
7 all flocks and herds,
and the beasts of the field,
8 the birds of the air,
and the fish of the sea,
all that swim the paths of the seas.
9 O LORD, our Lord,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!
Important Character Concepts and Activities from Psalm 8
When we consider the glory of God and all He created, we should be in awe and amazed just as David was when he wrote this poetry! God’s majesty lies before us in all of creation and He never lets us forget His greatness.
Character Quality: Humility
Humility is having a clear view of who we are in relation to Almighty God. In this Psalm, it’s clear that David is amazed that the Creator of the universe would care so deeply for mankind.
Related activities:
1. Take a nature walk and note every possible thing that could only be created by God. Have your children draw something observed from your walk, and include Psalm 8:9 as copywork under their drawings.
2. Discuss how we should be humbled that a God so awesome not only created us but loves us above all of the rest of His creation.
3. Answer the following questions: What does God say about Himself in Psalm 8? What does He say about “man” (people)? What does He ordain man to do?
Character Quality: Identity in God
“You crowned him (mankind) with glory and honor.” (v. 5)
In a world filled with messages that confuse or diminish a child’s worth, this verse tells us that our identity and value is being made my God, for a purpose.
Related Activities:
- Have your children look for other verses and teaching in the Bible (the Old and New Testaments) that attest to man’s worth before God. (Make sure they include that we were made in the image of God–Gen. 1:27. Also check out Psalm 139:14, Matthew 10:29-31, 1 John 3:16 and others.). Have them make a chart with three columns: the verse number, the verse written out, and their comments about what it means to them.
- Have a child draw a simple self-portrait and write under it: “Crowned with glory and honor” – Psalm 8:5
- Discuss how our worth comes from Whose we are, not what we do.
Character Quality: Awe & Wonder
“When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers…” (v. 3)
“O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!” (vs. 1, 9)
David’s wonder at Creation inspires us to slow down and really see God’s majesty!
Related Activities:
- Lie on a blanket together outside at night and gaze at the stars. Ask: “What do you think David was thinking and feeling when he looked at the stars? ” “What do you think, knowing so much more about what stars actually are, and how massive our galaxy is?
- Ask: What in Creation specifically speaks to you about the majesty of God?
- Write a poem titled, “When I consider Your Heavens…”
Character Quality: Responsibility/Stewardship
“You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings
and crowned him with glory and honor. ” (v. 5)
“You made him ruler over the works of your hands;
you put everything under his feet…” (v. 6)
Related activities:
- Ask your children: What responsibility has God given us? How do you think God expects us to treat His Creation? (You can have your children discuss this or write their thoughts in a paragraph or paper.)
- Have your children or your family take on a mini stewardship project: recycling, planting a flower or vegetable garden, cleaning up a park, or learning about endangered animals.
- Add another element to planting a flower garden by researching what bees need to thrive and including those plantings in your flower/vegetable bed.
Character Quality: Gratitude
Gratitude is being thankful for Who He is and What He’s done.
“What is man that you are mindful of him…? (v. 4)
Related Activities:
- God remembers us. He sees us. Have your children make a list of why they are grateful that God remembers and sees them.
- Make a chart of the many parts of God’s creation from which man benefits. In one column, note the creation, and then in a second column, specifically list benefits. For example:Plants | medicine, herbs, food, art, cleaning the air, Ocean | medicine, food, beauty, and leisure
- Create a “Psalm 8 Gratitude Jar” and add slips of paper with things you see in nature that remind you of God’s care for us.
Expanding your character study using the psalms
- Memorize Psalm 8 together.
- Have your high school student choose another psalm and write “Character Qualities” and “Related Activities” as we have in this post.. Use that to teach a younger sibling.
- Assign your middle school/high school student to find five psalms and list the godly character qualities found in each one.
- Expand this even more by having your high school student write an essay on “Character Lessons in the Psalms.”
Part of bringing your kids’ homeschool education to life is teaching character using Biblical poetry, such as the psalms. You’ll be teaching your kids about God as well as themselves and their place before Him.
Which psalm is your favorite for teaching character? I would love to hear about it in the comments!
