“August 22–28. Psalms 102–103; 110; 116–119; 127–128; 135–139; 146–150: ‘Let Every Thing That Hath Breath Praise the Lord,’” Come, Follow Me—For Sunday School: Old Testament 2022 (2021)
“August 22–28. Psalms 102–103; 110; 116–119; 127–128; 135–139; 146–150,” Come, Follow Me—For Sunday School: 2022
Every Knee Shall Bow, by J. Kirk Richards
August 22–28
Psalms 102–103; 110; 116–119; 127–128; 135–139; 146–150
“Let Every Thing That Hath Breath Praise the Lord”
Which of the teachings in the Psalms do you feel will be most helpful to members of your class? As you study this week, ponder how you can help class members find meaning in the words of these psalms.
Record Your Impressions
Invite Sharing
Give class members a few minutes to review the psalms they read this week, and invite a few to share a favorite passage. Encourage them to share what the Spirit taught them. How have the Psalms enhanced our personal worship of the Lord?
Teach the Doctrine
The Lord can comfort us in our suffering.
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Have members of your class felt the way the writer of Psalm 102 felt? How can we turn to the Lord when we feel discouraged or distressed? As they studied Psalms 102, 103, and 116 at home this week, class members may have found phrases that inspire them to turn to the Lord in their trials. Encourage them to share what they found, or look for some inspiring phrases together as a class. Class members could also talk about how the Lord has supported them in times of adversity.
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Members of your class may enjoy writing their own psalm about how the Lord has helped them during times of trial. These need not be long or complex psalms—just simple expressions of faith, gratitude, and praise. Class members could work alone or in pairs, and they could review Psalms 102, 103, and 116 for ideas. Invite a few people to share their psalms, if they are willing. You could also sing hymns together about how the Lord comforts us, such as “Where Can I Turn for Peace?” (Hymns, no. 129).
Healing, by J. Kirk Richards
God’s word will keep us on His path.
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To begin a discussion about Psalm 119, you might invite class members to talk about a time when they followed a path to reach a destination (it may help to contact someone in advance and ask him or her to be prepared to talk about this). What experiences made it difficult to stay on the path? What helped them stay on it? You might then draw a path on the board and invite class members to write phrases from Psalm 119 that tell what the Lord has done to help us stay on His covenant path. Consider sharing the quotation by President Russell M. Nelson in “Additional Resources” as part of your discussion.
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Members of your class may benefit from comparing what Psalm 119 teaches about staying on the Lord’s path with other scriptures that teach similar truths. Consider dividing the class into groups and asking each group to review scripture passages like these: Psalm 119:33–40, 105; Proverbs 4:11–19; 1 Nephi 8:20–28; 11:25; 2 Nephi 31:17–21; Alma 7:9, 19–20. Invite each group to share what they learned. Give class members time to ponder what they are inspired to do based on what they learned.
The Lord knows our hearts.
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Understanding that the Lord is aware of us—our thoughts and actions, strengths and weaknesses—and that He loves us can have a powerful influence on the choices we make. You could invite the class to look for phrases in Psalm 139 that teach this important truth. How are our lives affected by knowing this truth? Class members could also discuss ways we can invite the Lord to “search me, O God, and know my heart” (verse 23).
Additional Resources
The strait and narrow path.
President Russell M. Nelson said:
“If our journey through life is to be successful, we need to follow divine direction. The Lord said, ‘Look unto me in every thought; doubt not, fear not’ [Doctrine and Covenants 6:36]. And the Psalmist wrote, ‘Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path’ [Psalm 119:105]. …
“In your journey through life, you meet many obstacles and make some mistakes. Scriptural guidance helps you to recognize error and make the necessary correction. You stop going in the wrong direction. You carefully study the scriptural road map. Then you proceed with repentance and restitution required to get on the ‘strait and narrow path which leads to eternal life’ [2 Nephi 31:18]” (“Living by Scriptural Guidance,” Ensign, Nov. 2000, 17).
Improving Our Teaching
Include those who are struggling. Sometimes struggling class members just need to be included in order to feel loved. Consider asking them to play a role in an upcoming lesson, inviting them to class, or making sure they have a ride to church. Don’t give up if they don’t respond to your efforts at first. (See Teaching in the Savior’s Way, 8–9.)