This lesson teaches children that God is greater than anything and that He notices people who feel small, weak, or forgotten. It works well for children ages 5 to 11 and takes about 20 to 30 minutes.
Big Idea
God is far bigger than anyone, and He always takes care of people who feel small. We can praise Him all day, everywhere, because He is worthy of it.
Memory Verse
Psalm 113:3
From the rising of the sun to the going down of the same, the LORD’s name is to be praised.
(WEB)
Teach the children to stretch both arms up high as they say the verse, then slowly sweep them down and out to the sides as if they are showing how big the whole world is. Ask them to do it three times together so the motion sticks in their memory.
The Story: Psalm 113 for Kids
Long ago, a songwriter gathered God’s people together and told them to sing. He wanted everyone to praise the LORD, the one true God. He said the praise should last from the morning sun all the way to the evening sun, and even forever.
The songwriter looked up at the sky and remembered how high God is. The heavens are big and wide, but God’s glory is even bigger. No nation on earth is higher than Him. The songwriter asked, “Who is like the LORD our God?” The answer was that no one is like Him.
Then the songwriter thought about how God bends down to look at the people on earth. God sees the poor, the people who have nothing and are sitting in the dust. God reaches down and lifts them up. He takes people from the ash heap, where things are cold and sad, and gives them a place of honor.
One of the things God does is comfort a woman who had no children and felt very sad about it. God gives her a home full of joy and makes her a happy mother. The songwriter wanted everyone to remember that God cares about the people who feel left out.
So the songwriter ends the song the same way it began, with a happy shout: “Praise the LORD!” The people sang together so that everyone would know that God is worthy of praise.
Read It Together
Psalm 113:1-2
1 Praise Yah! Praise, you servants of the LORD, praise the LORD’s name. 2 Blessed be the LORD’s name, from this time forward and forever more.
(WEB)
Point out how the psalm starts with a call to praise. Ask the children who they think should praise God, and notice that the psalm says “you servants of the LORD,” which means every person who belongs to God.
Psalm 113:5-6
5 Who is like the LORD, our God, who has his seat on high, 6 Who stoops down to see in heaven and in the earth?
(WEB)
Show the children how the psalm asks a question about God’s greatness. Explain that God is high above everything, yet He still bends down to look at us and to care for us.
Psalm 113:7-8
7 He raises up the poor out of the dust. Lifts up the needy from the ash heap; 8 that he may set him with princes, even with the princes of his people.
(WEB)
Point to the words about the poor and the needy. Explain that God lifts up people who feel low, and ask the children to think of someone they know who might need a little lifting up this week.
Talk About It
- What is something about God that makes you want to praise Him?
- How do you think God feels when He sees someone who is sad or lonely?
- Why do you think God bends down to look at people instead of staying far away?
- Who is someone in your life who might feel small or forgotten, and how could you help them feel remembered?
- What does it mean that no one is like God?
Activity Ideas
Sky-High Praise Drawing
You will need paper, crayons or markers, and a pencil. Have each child draw a tall mountain or a big sky, then write or draw one thing they love about God in the middle of the picture. Let them color it bright, and display the pictures on the wall so the whole class can see how big God’s praise is.
Lifting Up Relay
You will need a small soft ball or a rolled-up sock and an open space. Have the children stand in a line, and let each child pass the ball down the line while saying “God lifts up the lowly.” When the last child receives it, they hold it high over their head and shout “Praise the LORD!” Then the whole group cheers together.
Take-Home Praise Jar
You will need a jar, paper scraps, and a pen. Ask the children to write one thing they are thankful for about God on a scrap of paper and drop it into the jar. Encourage them to read a few of the notes at dinner with their family each week, reminding everyone that God is worthy of praise from the sunrise to the sunset.
Teacher Notes
For adults, Psalm 113 is a hymn of praise that begins and ends with a call to worship. It celebrates the greatness of the LORD, who rules over all nations yet cares for the poor, the needy, and those who feel overlooked. The closing image of the barren woman becoming a joyful mother reflects God’s power to bring life and hope where there seems to be none.
When teaching children, avoid overstating the story as a promise that every sad situation will end with a happy family or a material reward. Keep the focus on God’s character: He is great, He sees the lowly, and He lifts them up in His own way and timing.
A Prayer to Close
Lord, we praise You because You are greater than the sky and higher than all the nations. Thank You for bending down to see us and for lifting up anyone who feels small or forgotten. Help us remember that You are worthy of our praise every morning and every evening. Amen.
