VERSES: Psalm 23:1-6 MEMORY VERSE: Psalm 1:1 "The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want." BOOK TO REMEMBER: Review the first six books of the New Testament. Make sure students know these six books before going on to the next book. PRAYER: Thank God for the comfort He gives through His Word. SPECIAL SONG: Read, Read Every Day (see February - Songs We Sing In Bible Class #1 on this blog. Click on orange circle to hear tune.) VISUAL AID: Make a large Activity (see below) LESSON POINTS: Special Note: Depending on time available and desires of the Bible teacher, it is nice to divide this Psalm into six lessons, taking one verse at a time. This is a great way to memorize the entire chapter, a little at a time. We all remember David. What do we remember about David? We know that he was the youngest son of Jesse, a shepherd, he could play the harp very well, he killed Goliath, he trusted in God, he was King Saul's son's best friend, he became King over all twelve tribes of Israel, he was a man of war, he loved God, and he was a man after God's own heart. Today, we are going to learn one more thing about David. He was a writer! He wrote 73 psalms, which made up almost half of the book of Psalms. Whenever David was sad, or afraid, or happy, he wrote a psalm. The most famous of all of these psalms is Psalm 23. Many people who have never been to church or read the Bible know this Psalm! Let's turn our Bibles to Psalm 23 and read what David wrote. (Read chapter slowly.) Verse 1 -"The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want." David said that the LORD was his shepherd. Just like David watched over his sheep, feeding them and protecting them, he said God was like that to him. God was his shepherd. The shepherd took care of sheep and loved them and God took care of David. The shepherd gave the sheep everything they needed just like God gave David everything he needed. The sheep did not need or want anything because the shepherd gave them everything they needed. God gives us everything we need, doesn't he? He gives us food, water, air, clothes, a place to sleep, everything! Verse 2 - "He maketh me to lie down in green pastures; he leadeth me beside the still waters." Just as a shepherd would lead his sheep where he wanted them to go, God leads us. How do we know where God wanted us to go? The Bible tells us! God leads us through the verses in the Bible and all we need to do is read them. Sheep do not know where they need to go to find food. How do they know where to go? The shepherd leads them. That is just like God. He leads us in the right places. He would never lead us away from goodness and away from Him. He leads us where we need to go. Verse 3 - "He restoreth my soul; he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake." When we are tired and weary, God gives us what we need to 'fix' ourselves. We can open up the Bible and read what we need to do make friends with God again. He leads us in all the right places, and never the wrong places. Verse 4 - "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me." When we are afraid and feel all alone and maybe feel that no one loves us--which they do, but sometimes we feel like they don't--we can feel better, knowing that God is always with us and always loves us and will never leave us. We can be comforted through God's Word. As long as we are trying to do what is right, God will be with us. Verse 5 - "Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou annointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over." God provides us with everything we need. He blesses us with so much that we have much more than we need. He takes care of us when our enemies are around us. When we are tempted, He makes a way for us to escape. He even provides a way out! We just need to look for it! Verse 6 - "Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever." If we follow God all the time, goodness and mercy will follow us, or will always be close by us. Not for just a little while, God will make sure that goodness and mercy will be with all of our lives. In the end, we can know that we will live with God in heaven forever, if we follow His commands and obey Him. He is our shepherd and guide. He knows the way and we should always follow Him. "Older Student" Tips: The book of Psalms is broken up into 150 psalms and were written by many people, but David wrote more than anyone. Not only David did write most of the psalms, but also the sons of Korah, Asaph, Heman, Ethan, Solomon, Moses, Haggai, Zechariah, Hezekiah, and Ezra wrote at least one psalm. The Psalms covers many subjects, most about the coming Messiah. Other subjects include trusting the LORD, prayer, home, the Word of God, praising God, and sin. Psalms is the book that is in the middle of the Bible. The longest chapter in the whole Bible is Psalm 119 with 150 verses. ACTIVITY: Book Materials needed: two pieces of 9" x 12" any color of construction paper, six white pieces of bond paper, crayons. Hand out both pieces of construction paper. These are the back and front covers of the book. On one piece of paper, write the title, "Psalm 23" in the middle of the paper. Hand out one piece of white paper. Write a "1" in the lower right hand corner of the paper. At the top of the paper, write "The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want." Draw picture on the bottom portion of the paper about verse 1. Hand out another piece of white paper. Write a "2" in the lower right hand corner of the paper. At the top of the paper, write "He maketh me to lie down in green pastures; he leadeth me beside the still waters." Draw picture on the bottom portion of the paper about verse 2. Hand out another piece of white paper. Write a "3" in the lower right hand corner of the paper. At the top of the paper, write "He restoreth my soul; he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake." Draw picture on the bottom portion of the paper about verse 3. Hand out another piece of white paper. Write a "4" in the lower right hand corner of the paper. At the top of the paper, write "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me." Draw picture on the bottom portion of the paper about verse 4. Hand out another piece of white paper. Write a "5" in the lower right hand corner of the paper. At the top of the paper, write "Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou annointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over." Draw picture on the bottom portion of the paper about verse 5. Hand out the last piece of white paper. Write a "6" in the lower right hand corner of the paper. At the top of the paper, write "Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever." Draw picture on the bottom portion of the paper about verse 6.