In this Sunday school lesson, children learn that God helped His people when they were in danger, and that God is still on our side today. This lesson suits children ages 5 to 11 and takes about 20 to 30 minutes to teach.
Big Idea
God is always on our side, and He helps us when we feel scared or in trouble. We can trust Him to rescue us.
Memory Verse
Psalm 124:8
Our help is in the LORD’s name, who made heaven and earth.
(WEB)
Put both hands on your heart, then point up to the sky on the word “heaven.” Sweep your arms wide like you are showing how big the earth is. Do this motion each time you say the verse together, and children will remember it quickly.
The Story: Psalm 124 for Kids
A long time ago, the people of Israel were in a dangerous place. Enemies came after them, and they felt like they might be swallowed up. The people were very worried, and they knew they could not save themselves.
The people remembered something important. They remembered that the LORD was on their side. One of the songwriters said, “If it had not been the LORD who was on our side, we would have been lost.” Those words helped the people feel brave again.
The people looked at the big, rushing waters and the sharp, dangerous traps that could have caught them. But they did not get stuck there. God kept them safe, and they got free from the trap like a little bird that flies away from a hunter’s net.
So the people praised God. They said, “Blessed be the LORD, who did not let us be torn apart by our enemies.” They knew their help came from God, the One who made the heavens and the earth.
Read It Together
Psalm 124:1-2
1 If it had not been the LORD who was on our side, let Israel now say, 2 if it had not been the LORD who was on our side, when men rose up against us…
(WEB)
Point out that the people started by remembering what God had done for them. Ask the children to notice how the psalm begins with the word “if,” which shows that the people knew how much they needed God’s help.
Psalm 124:6-7
6 Blessed be the LORD, who has not given us as a prey to their teeth. 7 Our soul has escaped like a bird out of the fowler’s snare. The snare is broken, and we have escaped.
(WEB)
Show the children how the people praised God for setting them free. Point out the picture of the bird escaping from the snare, and explain that God can rescue us the same way.
Talk About It
- What is something that makes you feel scared, and how can you remember that God is with you?
- Why do you think the people in the psalm said that God was on their side?
- How did the people feel after God rescued them, and how do you think they showed it?
- What does it mean that our help comes from the LORD who made heaven and earth?
- When is a time you could tell God thank you for keeping you safe?
Activity Ideas
Bird Escape Craft
You will need paper, crayons, scissors, and glue. Have each child draw a small bird on paper, then cut it out. Help them glue the bird onto a larger paper with a few lines drawn like a net or trap. While they work, talk about how God helps us get free from the things that hold us back.
Team Sheep Run Game
You will need a open space and a few soft items, like pillows, to mark a boundary. Pick one child to be the enemy, and the rest are the people of God. When the enemy says “go,” the others run to a safe spot. Afterward, talk about how God protects us the same way when we feel scared.
Family Thank You Jar
You will need an empty jar, paper slips, and a pen. Ask each family member to write one thing they are thankful God did for them and place it in the jar. At dinner or bedtime, read the notes together and thank God for His help. This gives children a regular way to remember God’s faithfulness at home.
Teacher Notes
For adults, Psalm 124 is a song of thanksgiving that recalls God’s rescue of His people from dangerous enemies. It teaches that our security does not rest on our own strength but on the LORD who made heaven and earth. The psalm invites us to look back on God’s past faithfulness as a reason to trust Him today.
Be careful not to suggest that God will always rescue us from every danger in the way children might imagine. Explain that God is faithful and near, while also being honest that believers still face hard things. Focus on God’s character rather than promising specific outcomes.
A Prayer to Close
Dear Lord, thank You for being on our side. When we feel scared, help us remember that You are with us. Thank You for helping us and for keeping us safe. We trust You, because You made the heavens and the earth. Amen.
