Sunday, April 5: Discussion Questions for Psalm 131 – "Be Still My Soul"

FOR PRESCHOOL AND YOUNG ELEMENTARY CHILDREN:

Begin by reading Psalm 131. As you read, have your child(ren) listen for the words “calmed and quieted” (v. 2, ESV), and tell them to raise both hands when they hear them. Psalm 131 was written by King David, and in it, he talks about what he would do when he felt nervous or afraid.

Show me an example of what you look like when you feel calm. The opposite of calm is anxious or nervous. Show me an example of what you look like when you feel nervous.

Here’s a definition of anxiety for kids: “Anxiety means feeling worried, nervous, or afraid.”

Can you think of any Bible stories where the people in the story probably felt afraid?

A few examples include: Joseph and his brothers, the Israelites wandering in the wilderness, Daniel in the lion’s den, David with Goliath (David is the writer of Psalm 131!), Jonah and the big fish, and Queen Esther talking to the king.
One story we read in the New Testament is about a time when Jesus’ disciples were anxious or afraid. Read the story of Jesus calming the storm in Mark 4:35-41. (This story is one of the lessons in our Older Toddler Sunday School curriculum, so it should be familiar to your kids.)

Why were the disciples afraid in this story? Do you think you would have felt afraid too? What did the disciples do when they felt afraid?

Of course the disciples were afraid! They were caught in a huge storm in the middle of the sea, and they were on a little fishing boat. Fear was the right response; they knew they were in danger.
Instead of jumping out of the boat, closing their eyes, and pretending the storm wasn’t happening, or trying to fix the problem themselves, the disciples looked to Jesus for help.
In Sunday School, we learn that “Jesus is the Boss!” Jesus heard His disciples, He saw the storm, and He spoke: “Peace! Be still!” That is all it took for the storm to stop. Even the winds and the waves know that Jesus is in charge.
When we feel anxious or afraid, no matter why, we can remember that Jesus is the boss, Jesus loves us, and Jesus promises us that everything will be OK. He wants us to have faith (believe) that He is in control.

Review these songs we sing in Sunday School and Catechism worship:

Is there more than one true God? No, there is only one true God.
Who made you? God!
Why did God make you and all things? For His own glory!

Jesus is the Boss (to the tune of “The Farmer in the Dell”)

Yes, Jesus is the Boss

The wind obeys, the waves obey

Yes, Jesus is the Boss

NOTE FOR PARENTS: If you would like resource recommendations to help you talk to your kids about their anxieties related to COVID-19 and all the changes we are experiencing, email laura.magness@trinitynashville.org.

FOR OLDER ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOL CHILDREN:

If your child used the listening guide to follow along with the sermon, take a few minutes to talk through his or her notes.

Ask your child to describe a time when he or she had the opposite of a “calm and quieted soul,” a time when something made him/her feel nervous. Consider sharing your own example with your child(ren).

Read Psalm 131 together. What is David’s main point in Psalm 131?

David’s main point, which shows up in verse 3, is that “hope in the Lord” is the appropriate response to anxiety and fear. For David, the hope He had in God and His steadfast love (Psalm 130:7) helped him feel at peace, instead of anxious, in whatever situation he faced.

In the sermon, Matt used the illustration of Christmas commercials to describe how people look for peace and confidence in many different things. If you have felt anxious lately, what are some things you have looked to for peace or comfort? What is wrong with looking to those things? Why is it better to look to Jesus?

We can look to all kinds of things to help us deal with anxieties and fears—books, video games, or movies that help us escape; the wisdom of our parents/friends/teachers; avoidance of the situations that made us anxious.
Those may help for a little while (or maybe not at all), but the time will come when we feel anxious again. That’s why it’s so important for us to know the only good and lasting place for us to find peace and comfort is in the hope of Jesus (Psalm 131:3). Only in Jesus can we find the promise of a future where anxiety and fear will be no more, and we will be at peace with God forever.

If you have time, discuss the following. The Bible tells David’s story in 1 & 2 Samuel. Think about the stories of David’s life found in these two chapters. What are some examples of times when David probably felt anxious?

A few examples might include when he:
- Was anointed as king instead of his older and stronger brothers.
- Fought the Philistine giant Goliath (1 Samuel 17).
- Fled from King Saul, who tried to kill him (1 Samuel 19, 24).
- Fought in many battles as the leader of Israel’s army.

Read 1 Samuel 17:37: And David said, “The Lord who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.”
Even when he was young, David understood that God is in charge of and protects the lives of His children. When we put our hope and trust in Him, we can let go of our fears. This does not mean we will never feel anxious, but when we do, we will know where we can turn and trust in that.

NOTE FOR PARENTS: If you would like additional resources to help you talk to your kids about their anxieties related to COVID-19 and all the changes we are experiencing, email laura.magness@trinitynashville.org.