Reading the Psalms Together

Reading the Psalms together is a simple, prayerful way to hear God’s word as a family. The Psalms - as the songs/prayers of the church - lend themselves to group readings more easily than other parts of the Bible. There are a few ways to do this: antiphonally (divide into two groups and alternate between groups reading verse by verse through the Psalm); responsively (one main reader reads a half verse, and the rest of the group responds with the second half of the verse); responsorial (one main reader with the rest of the group responding every few verses with a sentence, perhaps composed by the children - something like “we love you, Lord” or “we worship you, Lord”, or a sung line from a favorite song/hymn) - this last one is a good way to read through a Psalm with non-readers.

Getting ready: on Sundays, the children are in the habit of gathering at a prayer table and lighting a candle together before the reading of Scripture [see “Setting up a Prayer Table” post]. Consider having a regular place where a family Bible is kept and where you can light a candle together before reading.

Response: At the end of the reading, provide space for response - this can be as simple as a time of quiet (to let the words settle in our hearts) or a time to ask a simple reflective question. For example, with younger children a question like “what words did you hear?” or “what words or phrase stick with you?”. It can be a way - without a lot of discussion or interpretation! - for a child to articulate what they hear God speaking to them.

Psalm 23: the children have been learning parts of Psalm 23 on Sundays, so this may be a good place to start. Other core Psalms in the worshiping life of the church are Psalm 5, 50, 51, 53, 54, 69, 70, 83, 84, 133, 134, 140 and 141.