Psalm 4 - God thoughtsMartyn Payne |
||
On your marks:The Psalms are an amazing collection of poems, prayers
and songs of praise and have been the staple diet of worship both for Jews as
well as Christians for centuries. They give us words for all sorts of occasions
and moods as we work out our faith in God in the rough and tumble of everyday
life. Many children will never have come across this book and may be surprised
to discover that, for example, as well as expressing thanks and delight in God,
it is also OK to argue with God, express despair and depression, shout angrily
about things that are wrong and even have doubts about God's love. All this is
in the Psalms and a lot more. It is an important resource to help our children
grow into a mature faith. Get set:
Read through the psalm first before you work with your
group. Look at different translations. The verses quoted in the outline below
are from the CEV (Contemporary English Version). Any specific materials needed
to step into this particular psalm are included in the instructions below. The
outline includes: a key verse; a brief introduction; an idea for acting out the
psalm; prompts to talk about the psalm; a craft idea; some new ways to retell
the psalm; a suggestion for reflection on the psalm; and finally a focus for
praying for others with this psalm. Go!
Key verse: Let your
kindness, Lord, shine brightly on us (v. 6). Prayer is entering into a
conversation with God. When we eavesdrop on David praying in this psalm, we
also hear him talking to himself, as he questions his own feelings, reminds
himself of what he already knows about God and wonders what is happening to him
now. This is one of the ways that God uses our praying. As we make space to
pause and think on God, God prompts our thoughts and moves us into new places
of understanding, helping us to talk with ourselves about the things that
matter. Rather than a voice 'out of the blue' answering our prayers, God speaks
as a voice from within, opening up new possibilities. Psalm 4 is a good example
of this, as David restates truths about God (vv. 1, 3, 8), asks questions (vv.
2, 6), gives advice (vv. 4, 5); and all this is alongside words of thanksgiving
(vv. 1, 7) and trust (vv. 1, 6). Act out the Psalm Use the technique of 'sculpturing
a Bible passage' to act out this Psalm. You will need at least one person for
each verse. The idea is to turn the words of the psalm into a living sculpture
in which each person decides on a mime and a final position that best
illustrates the words in each verse. The eight or more individuals then take
their positions in a line, left to right, to build up a living sculpture, verse
by verse, each one ending in a final freeze frame for his or her verse, so that
together they will express the whole psalm. Part of the fun and the learning in
doing this is deciding on what mime and final position best suits each set of
words and so it is good to talk about it together. Here are some suggestions
for mimes for each verse: Verse 1: point to the sky
and then wrap arms around yourself; cover your head in your hands and shake
your head and then release the hands wide in a gesture of freedom; kneel and
reach out both hands in prayer (this being the final position). Verse 2: shake your fist at 'people' around
you; look down at something in your open hands with disgust and then point away
towards something with disbelief (this last being the final position). Verse 3: extend both hands
towards the sky and then draw them in slowly and put come across your chest in
a sign of love; bring hands together in a prayer position still close to your
body (this being the final position). Verse 4: point to people
with urgency; then bring one hand up to your chin as if thinking (this being
the final position). Verse 5: bow your head low
to the floor and then lift up your hands in worship (this being the final
position). Verse 6: drop your shoulders
low and your head, shaking it with disbelief; suddenly straighten up and lift
your head up to the sky beaming (this being the final position). Verse 7: let your whole body
'smile' and move joyfully; mime eating grapes and drinking (this being the
final position). Verse 8: yawn delicately and
then lie down and arrange yourself in a comfortable sleeping position
peacefully (this being the final position). Run the whole sequence
through in order, with each actor then freezing on his or her final position
until the whole psalm has been visualised in this way. The psalm ought to be
accompanied by stringed instruments, so why not put on some peaceful guitar
music to go alongside your drama? Talk about the Psalm David has been in a bad
place (v. 1) but God has answered his prayers. However, this does not mean
there is not more to pray about. David still feels 'got that' by others and he
is angry about the fact that many still worship idols (v. 2). Once again here is a pattern
for honesty in our praying. By bringing out into the open what is on our
hearts, God is not offended. On the contrary, it is God's way of helping us. Do we really say how we feel when we pray? Or do we just use fine
religious words? David is confident of God's
love for him and it makes him feel pity for those who do not know God. He longs
that they too will discover God for themselves (vv. 3-5). Is this sort of evangelistic zeal part of our praying for others? David knows that answered
prayer does not mean everything will then be rosy. He knows that there are
people who will ask where the blessings are that we claim God gives. But rather
than give up, he prays even more earnestly and remembers then how God has been
good to him, bringing him harvest-like joy and a good night's rest. Maybe
thinking honestly about what some have said has helped him to count his
blessings and remember how God has answered him in the past. Are we afraid to face uncomfortable questions about God in prayer?
Unless we do face these questions, maybe will never find our way towards
answers. Craft the Psalm I wonder what this psalm
would look like if it were to be converted into colours. Here's another way of
working with psalms. The moods within the psalm - doubts, questions and moments
of elation - all lend themselves to being expressed by different colours within
the one psalm. Try to capture this in a picture that you make of Psalm 4. You will first need to
decide on a shape for the psalm, within which you can put your colours. Maybe
the shape of a candle, a perfume bottle, a rainbow, a praying hand or
particular geometric shape? Next decide where in the
shape you will start turning the psalm's words into colour and where you'll end
up. Finally decide on what
colours you will use; for example, what best expresses the strong confidence
and gratitude of verse1? What colours match the disappointment and anger of
verse 2? What colours go with the confidence in verse 3? What should express
the urgent evangelism and zeal of verses 4 and 5? Verse 6 is a question and
then an answer, so how can that be caught in colour? Verse 7 is full of joyous
celebration, while verse 8 brings the psalm to rest and quietness. Release your artistic side
to show your feelings about this psalm. Retell the Psalm 1. Here is a version for
younger children to work with: After each line below there
is a chorus for everyone to say together, namely: Here I am, I'm praying, Lord; hear my prayer. (N.B. Begin with this line
also.)
2. And here is a version to
use with older or mixed age groups: Strong, strong, strong -You're
my God Safe, safe, safe - you're my
God Good, good, good - God is
good Reflect on the Psalm On a base cloth in the
standard outline for each of the psalms (the shape of an instrument such as a
harp) place the following 3-D objects or pictures prayerfully and slowly, as
each verse of the psalm is read. Verse1: put down a chain
which is joined by a padlock; pause and then undo the padlock with a key and
release the chain. Verse 2: put down a loyalty
card and then cut it in two, moving it with disdain slightly to one side. Verse 3: put down a ring
symbolising commitment and loyalty from God to us. Verses 4 and 5: put down a
heart shape. Verse 6: put down a
tea-light and light it Verse 7: put down some
grapes and bread. Verse 8: put down a small
piece of cloth and a tiny pillow (for example, from a doll's house) to
represent a bed and sleep. Pray for others with this Psalm Pray for all those who find
it hard to make time to pray; whose lives are so busy that they become stressed
and anxious. |
 |
For more information about any of the titles above, please click on the cover images
|
