“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 Individuals and Families: Old Testament 2022 (2021)
“August 22–28. Psalms 102–103; 110; 116–119; 127–128; 135–139; 146–150,” Come, Follow Me—For Individuals and Families: 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”
Psalm 119:105 teaches that the word of God is “a light unto [your] path.” As you read Psalms, record phrases and ideas that inspire you and help illuminate your path back to Heavenly Father.
Record Your Impressions
The traditional Jewish name for the book of Psalms is a Hebrew word that means “praises.” That word, Tehillim, is also related to the exclamation “hallelujah” (meaning “praise Jehovah” or “praise the Lord”). If you had to choose one word to sum up the main message of the Psalms, “praise” would be a good choice. Some of the Psalms contain the direct invitation to “praise ye the Lord” (see especially Psalms 146–50), and all of them can inspire a feeling of worship and praise. The Psalms invite us to reflect on the Lord’s power, on His mercy, and on the great things He has done. We can never repay Him for any of this, but we can praise Him for it. That praise may take different forms for different people—it may involve singing, praying, or bearing testimony. It often leads to a deeper commitment to the Lord and to following His teachings. Whatever “praise ye the Lord” means in your life, you can find more inspiration to do it as you read and ponder the Psalms.
Ideas for Personal Scripture Study
The Lord can comfort me in my suffering.
Note how Psalm 102:1–11 describes feelings of anxiety and isolation that often come during afflictions. Maybe you’ve experienced such feelings, and these descriptions help you understand your experiences better. Or these verses might help you understand the feelings of others who are suffering.
As you read Psalms 102:12–28; 103; 116, look for phrases that give you confidence that you can “call upon the name of the Lord” in your trials (Psalm 116:13). You may want to mark, memorize, or share with others the phrases that give you hope in Him.
See also Isaiah 25:8; 2 Corinthians 1:3–7; Hebrews 2:17–18; Alma 7:11–13; Evan A. Schmutz, “God Shall Wipe Away All Tears,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2016, 116–18.
Healing, by J. Kirk Richards
The Psalms can point me to the Savior.
The Psalms contain passages that point toward the life and ministry of Jesus Christ. Here are a few examples:
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Psalm 118:25–26 (see Matthew 21:9)
What truths do these verses teach you about Jesus Christ? How does knowing these truths bless you?
As you read the Psalms this week, continue to make note of other passages that teach you about the Savior. You might also read or listen to some of your favorite hymns that help you think about Him.
God’s word will keep me on His path.
This psalm contains many phrases that compare our lives to a journey back to Heavenly Father. As you read, look for words like walk, path, way, feet, and wander. Ponder your own life’s journey—where you’ve been, where you are now, and what direction you are headed. What do you learn from this psalm about your journey back home? According to this psalm, what has God provided to help you stay on the right path?
You might be interested to know that in the original Hebrew, the first eight verses in Psalm 119 begin with the first letter in the Hebrew alphabet. The next eight verses begin with the next letter, and so on through the end of the alphabet.
See also Isaiah 42:16; 2 Nephi 31:17–21; Alma 7:19–20.
The Lord is more powerful than any idol.
Notice the reasons given in Psalm 135:15–18 about why it is foolish to trust in false gods. What might you be tempted to trust in that is similar to the idols described in these verses?
You might make a list of the powerful things the Lord can do, as described in Psalms 134–36. What powerful things has He done for you?
“Praise ye the Lord.”
As you read these final psalms of praise, think about reasons you have to praise the Lord. Why is it important to praise Him? What are ways you can praise Him?
Ideas for Family Scripture Study and Home Evening
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Psalm 119:105.Perhaps your family could create a path and walk along it in the dark, using a light to illuminate the way ahead. As you walk, you could ask questions like “What in our lives is like this darkness?” or “How is the word of God like a light?” Singing a song about God’s light, such as “Teach Me to Walk in the Light” (Children’s Songbook, 177), can help you reinforce the principle taught in Psalm 119:105.
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Psalms 127–28.What does it mean for the Lord to help us “build [our] house”? (Psalm 127:1). How can we better involve Him in our efforts to create a righteous home? To help your family answer this question, you might draw a house on a piece of paper and cut it into puzzle pieces. On the back of each piece, family members could write or draw ways to make the Lord part of your home. Then you could put the puzzle together. What else do we find in these psalms that inspires us to walk in the Lord’s ways?
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Psalm 139.After reading verses 1–4, family members could talk about how they have come to know that God knows them personally (see also verses 14–15, 23–24).
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Psalms 146–50.You might invite your family to read a few verses of Psalms 146–50 out loud, trying to convey the feelings of the writer. How can we express our praise to the Lord? Family members might enjoy writing their own psalms of praise and sharing them with each other.
For more ideas for teaching children, see this week’s outline in Come, Follow Me—For Primary.
Suggested song: “Teach Me to Walk in the Light,” Children’s Songbook, 177.
Improving Our Teaching
Use audio recordings. As you teach your family, consider listening to the audio version of the scriptures, found on ChurchofJesusChrist.org or in the Gospel Library app. Listening to psalms can be particularly powerful because they were meant to be recited aloud.
“Make me to go in the path of thy commandments; for therein do I delight” (Psalm 119:35).