This lesson teaches children that God knows every star by name and cares for every person who needs healing, comfort, or food. It suits children ages 5 to 11 and takes about 20 to 30 minutes to teach.
Big Idea
God is big and powerful, and he also cares tenderly for each person, including the ones who feel sad or broken.
Memory Verse
Psalm 147:3
He heals the broken in heart, and binds up their wounds.
(WEB)
Place one hand over your heart as you say the verse slowly. Then open both hands wide, like a gift being given, on the words that describe God binding up wounds.
The Story: Psalm 147 for Kids
A songwriter wanted everyone to sing happy songs to God. He said singing to God is good and right, because God is good. The people of Jerusalem had been far from home, and some had been left out and lonely. The songwriter reminded them that God was the one who gathered them back together and built their city up again.
Next, the songwriter looked up at the sky at night. He said God knows how many stars there are, and he calls each one by its name. Think of that! If God can name every star, he knows your name too. The songwriter wanted children and grown-ups alike to remember how great and wise God is.
The songwriter also said that God lifts up people who are humble and meek. He is not impressed by how strong a horse is or how fast a runner can go. God takes pleasure in people who love him and trust his kindness. One line of the song says, “Praise the Lord, Jerusalem!” so the whole city was invited to join in the singing.
The song then talks about the weather God makes. He sends clouds, rain, and grass on the hills. He feeds the animals and even the young ravens when they cry out for food. The songwriter said that God does all of this because he cares for everything he has made.
The songwriter ends by saying God has not shown his word and his rules to just any nation. He has shared them with his own people, Israel. Because of this, the songwriter calls everyone to praise God once more.
Read It Together
Psalm 147:4-5
4 He counts the number of the stars. He calls them all by their names. 5 Great is our Lord, and mighty in power. His understanding is infinite.
(WEB)
Point out that God counts every star and calls each one by name, and that his understanding has no limit. Ask children what it means to know something that big and still care about small things like them.
Psalm 147:11
The LORD takes pleasure in those who fear him, in those who hope in his loving kindness.
(WEB)
Show children that God takes pleasure in people who fear him and hope in his loving kindness. Explain that loving kindness means God keeps being good and faithful to us every single day.
Psalm 147:8-9
8 Who covers the sky with clouds, who prepares rain for the earth, who makes grass grow on the mountains. 9 He provides food for the livestock, and for the young ravens when they call.
(WEB)
Point to the list of things God gives: rain, grass, food for animals, and food for young birds. Ask children to name one good thing God gives them each day.
Talk About It
- What is one thing God made that you think is amazing, and why do you like it?
- Why do you think God knows the name of every star?
- When have you felt sad or hurt, and how can you remember that God cares about you then?
- What are some ways we can sing or praise God in our everyday lives?
- Who is someone we know who might need God’s comfort this week?
Activity Ideas
Star Name Craft
You will need dark blue paper, white crayons or chalk, and star stickers if you have them. Have each child draw a star on the paper and write their own name in the middle, or on a small sticky note placed on the star. Talk about how God knows each child’s name just as he knows the name of every star.
Ravens and Rain Movement Game
Ask children to stand up and pretend to be different things God takes care of. Have them flap their arms like ravens, wiggle their fingers like falling rain, and sway like grass on a hill. Call out a new creature or weather type every few seconds, and let the children move with joy as they show God’s care for all of creation.
Take-Home Caring Jar
You will need an empty jar, paper, and a pencil. Ask your child to write or draw one way God cared for them this week, then fold the paper and place it in the jar. Each week, add a new note, and read a few together at dinner or before bed as a family reminder that God keeps caring for us.
Teacher Notes
For adults, Psalm 147 celebrates God as both the mighty Creator of the universe and the tender Healer who gathers the lonely and binds up the broken. The psalm invites worship as a natural response to who God is, not as a way of earning his favor. It also reminds the community that God’s care reaches beyond one group, from the stars in the sky to the young birds calling for food.
When teaching children, avoid overstating how God answers every prayer in the way we might expect. The psalm speaks of God’s care and faithfulness, and it is best to say that God is always caring for us, even when we cannot see how, rather than promising specific outcomes.
A Prayer to Close
Lord, we thank you that you know every star by name and that you also know each of us. Thank you for rain, for food, and for the way you care for every living thing. Help us sing your praises and trust your loving kindness every day. Amen.
