Teaching children, Part 2

Here is another handout that I made for Jesus Club:

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Dear Jesus Clubber,

Last week, Mrs. Krause read Psalm 8 to us. Did you know that the word 'psalm' means 'song'? Psalm 8 is a song that was written by the famous King David of Israel about 3000 years ago! (David is the same man who, when he was just a boy, killed the giant Goliath). In Psalm 8, David praises God for his greatness in creating such a big and amazing universe. Well, scientists have learned a lot about nature and outer space in the 3000 years since King David. And the more that we learn about creation, the more we can appreciate the truth of David's song. For example, scientists have learned that the universe is much bigger than King David could have imagined it; therefore, the Creator must be very great indeed to be greater than the universe!

Psalm 8 also praises and thanks God for giving people (human beings) a very special place in creation. After considering how big and amazing the moon and stars are, King David wonders why God would even bother to pay special attention to people. And yet, loving and blessing people is exactly what God does. God gives you and me special honor in his creation, even though we are just a small part of it. God even chooses to enjoy the praises of the weakest people (babies) more than people who think that they are powerful. This is an example of one important thing that we can learn about God by studying or 'reading' God's book of Creation.

I have written out Psalm 8 on the following page, and I was hoping that some of you would like to memorize it with me over the next several weeks. The bible says that hiding God's Word in our hearts will help us to stay close to God and keep from doing wrong things. Won't it be neat if you are able to sing a 3000 year old song to God whenever you are reminded of the greatness of God's creation and God's special love for people?

To help you better understand the meaning of the psalm, I have rewritten it in simpler words and sentences. As you memorize the verses from the NIV translation, make sure that you understand what they mean by comparing them to the paraphrased version. God wants us to understand his word, not to just say it as if it were a magic spell.

Sincerely,
Dr. Hayworth and the Jesus Club Staff

Psalm 8
(from the NIV translation)
O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!
You have set your glory above the heavens.
From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise
because of your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger.
When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars, which you have set in place,
What is man that you are mindful of him,
the son of man that you care for him?
You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings
and crowned him with glory and honor.
You made him ruler over the works of your hands;
you put everything under his feet:
all flock and herds, and the beasts of the field, the birds of the air,
and the fish of the sea, all the swim the paths of the seas.
O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!
You have set your glory above the heavens.

Psalm 8
(Dr. Hayworth's paraphrase)
O Mighty God, our Master, your name is the most wonderful name in all the earth!
You are more amazing and wonderful than the whole universe.
You have decided that babies and children praise you best
to show those who hate you that they are not so powerful.
When I think about the whole universe that you put together,
and the moon and the stars that you set in place
I wonder why you even bother to think about people at all.
What is so special about humans that you care so much for them?
Yet, you made people to be only a little lower than you and the angels,
and you have given humans such special attention and honor.
You put people in charge of everything you made.
You gave humans control over all things:
all sheep and cattle, the wild animals, the birds of the sky,
the fish of the sea, and everything that lives under water.
O Mighty God, our Master, your name is the most wonderful name in all the earth!
You are more amazing and wonderful than the whole universe.

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Received on Wed, 19 Oct 2005 22:53:45 -0500