Family Worship #4
Family Worship Guide
Sunday, April 5, 2020
SING
READ
Psalm 46:1-11 (ESV)
1 God is our refuge and strength,
a very present help in trouble.
2 Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way,
though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,
3 though its waters roar and foam,
though the mountains tremble at its swelling. Selah
4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
the holy habitation of the Most High.
5 God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved;
God will help her when morning dawns.
6 The nations rage, the kingdoms totter;
he utters his voice, the earth melts.
7 The Lord of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah
8 Come, behold the works of the Lord,
how he has brought desolations on the earth.
9 He makes wars cease to the end of the earth;
he breaks the bow and shatters the spear;
he burns the chariots with fire.
10 “Be still, and know that I am God.
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth!”
11 The Lord of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah
LISTEN
WATCH
ASK
Parents, ask your children where they feel the safest. Explain to them that our greatest refuge is God. His shelter is unshakable, impenetrable, and immovable.
The Psalmist in Psalm 46 tells us that God protects His people from the chaos of nature–which is explained in verses 1-3, and God protects His people from the threats of nations–which is seen in verses 4-11.
I believe that no other passage in the Bible explains where we can find true safety than Psalm 46. Psalm 46 was written during a tragic event in the life of the Israelites–a time when they were treated badly by other nations.
Q: How many times is the word "God" mentioned in Psalm 46?
A: 7 times.
Q: How many times is the word "earth" mentioned in Psalm 46?
A: 5 times.
The reason the Psalmist mentioned the word “God” and “earth” that many times was to emphasize the central idea of the Psalm, which is God’s protection of His people on His Earth.
I. Overcoming Fear in Your Life
The Psalmist focused on the characteristics of God in order to overcome his fear.
Q: What are the three characteristics of God mentioned by the Psalmist in verses 1-2?
A:
- God is his refuge (meaning He protects us and He is our shelter.)
- God is his strength (meaning He keeps us strong, confident, and unafraid.)
- God is his help (meaning He is accessible, close, and near.)
–Pastor Kevin
Parents, remind your children that in verse 5 the Psalmist tells us that it is God’s presence and power that brings security. His presence causes us to not move when everything else in this world is moving.
II. Believing in the Sovereign Rule of God
The Psalmist invites us to see the works of God.
Q: Can you list the works of the Lord mentioned in verses 8-9?
A:
- He brought desolation on the earth (v8).
(Desolation means devastation. God brings such desolation upon the enemies of His people as a way to protect His people. Examples are the ten plagues mentioned in Exodus chapters 7-12 and also God’s protecting His people from the Syrians mentioned in 1 Kings 18-19.) - He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth (v9).
Q: After the Psalmist calls his audience to come and see the works of God, what does the Psalmist challenge us to do in verse 10?
A: “Be still and know that I am God.”
Q: What did Pastor Kevin say the phrase "be still" means in the original language?
A: “Be still” in Hebrew means “to lay down your arms” and “to let go.” The idea is to stop having control of your life and let the sovereign God rule your life.
Q: Why did Pastor Kevin mention that the Psalmist said the God of Jacob?
A: Jacob was the third of the first three patriarchs and the least outstanding of the three. He was a schemer who constantly cried to his mother. It took him a lifetime to learn to trust God, yet God was His God no less than Abraham and Isaac.
–Alexander Maclaren
PRAY
–Pray for God to continue to work in the lives of your children so that they can be saved. If they are already saved, pray that they will continue to find their identity in Christ.
–Pray that people will find refuge in God.
–Pray that people will find strength in God during this time.
–Pray that people will call to God for help during this time.
–Pray for other families, particularly those families of your children’s friends. As much as we miss the gathering together each week, they also miss their friends.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
Again, we’d like to direct your attention to our resources page for more info on family devotions.
Here are some coloring sheets, a word search puzzle, and a handwriting sheet that you can print out for your child. These are all meant to be aids to help you with your child(ren). Feel free to print some of these or all of these, whatever will work best for your specific child and his or her age.
