God is My Refuge and My Fortress” Safe Beneath His Wings! (Psalm 91:1-16) Sunday School Lesson for Kids
The Psalms are full of comforting reminders of God’s presence and protection in our lives. Psalm 91 is a beautiful example of these. The Psalm contains images of how God covers us, hides us, and guards us from harm and evil. This lesson describes some of those, explaining how the Lord is always with us. There are scary things in our lives. Satan tries to harm us. But we serve a God who is greater than all of those threats. We know that we can run to Him and find shelter in His strength and love.
Psalm 91 is a powerful reminder of how God protects and preserves us. He won’t let Satan near us because we are His. The coming of Jesus is the fulfillment of all of God’s promises. The Resurrection of Christ is the defeat of the Devil and death. We can take heart in knowing that He has overcome evil. He allows us to dwell in the shadow of the Almighty. Our hope and help are found in God’s power, and we are shielded and covered by His faithfulness.
Sunday School Lesson on Psalm 91 for Children: My God, in whom I trust
Passage: Psalm 91:1-16
Target Audience: Kindergarten-6th grade (variable for activity emphasis)
Materials Needed: Construction paper, scissors, decorations, glue, tape, paper plates, aluminum foil, markers or crayons, paper bags, feathers, balls, protection items, Bibles.
Lesson Opening: This lesson focuses on the comforting message of Psalm 91, which uses powerful images to remind us that the Lord will defend and protect us , keeping us safe and rescuing us from all harm and evil. Here are some activities to get kids thinking. Choose one of the following or come up with ideas of your own.
- Play a simple game like “keep-away” or “monkey in the middle” to illustrate the concept of guarding and protecting something.
- For a more complex version of the guarding principle, play “Protect the President” (other titles could be used for the game): Have two students stand in the center of a group, and other kids circle around. One of the two in the center should be the “President” and the other a “security guard.” Students in the circle try to hit the President with a beanbag or very soft ball (one or two can be in play at a time), and the guard’s job is to keep the President from being hit. The guard can block or catch the ball, but the President cannot touch it. If the President is hit, whoever hits them becomes the next guard and the guard becomes the President.
- Take refuge in hiding! Play hide and seek to remember how we “hide” in God. Play a traditional round of hide and seek, or incorporate tag and have a base of “refuge” for students to run to.
- Safe under the wings: look at pictures or videos of various birds, and review how they protect their eggs or babies by covering them with their wings. For a similar concept, look at pictures of castles or fortresses and how they protect those inside.
- Protection relay: Set out several items at one end of the room, and have some (but not all) be items that could protect someone, such as a helmet, umbrella, band-aid, or oven mitt. Have students line up in teams and take turns running to the other side of the room to pick up and put on one of the protective elements. The next student to run should put on the element and then pick up another one for the following participant to put on, until all team members have a chance to run.
Bible Lesson (Psalm 91:1-2) God’s Love and Protection
Explain to students that the lesson is a reminder of how God loves, protects, and provides for us. He keeps us safe from anything that might threaten us, and we can hide in Him and rely on Him.
Bible Lesson: This passage from the Psalms contains wonderful imagery to remind us of God’s faithfulness and protection. The Psalms are full of comforting messages like those in this chapter, and are great to share with students, though they aren’t always easy to act out. Read the verses, or have older students take turns reading them out loud. As you go, discuss the meaning and importance of them.
He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.
2 I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust.” -Psalm 91:1-2
These opening verses reflect on God as a fortress. Explain for children the importance of a fortress as a place of refuge and protection. If an enemy was trying to attack, a fortress would keep people safe and secure. God does that for us. We can hide in Him when we pray and remain close to the Lord, and when we read His Word and promises.
Ask: What are some things that scare you? How does God protect you from them?
For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler
and from the deadly pestilence.
4 He will cover you with his pinions,
and under his wings you will find refuge;
his faithfulness is a shield and buckler.
5 You will not fear the terror of the night,
nor the arrow that flies by day,
6 nor the pestilence that stalks in darkness,
nor the destruction that wastes at noonday. -Psalm 91:3-6
A “fowler,” in this translation, is a hunter, and hunters set traps and snares for animals to wander into. These verses promise that God will save us from the hunter’s traps and from disease and threats. We find refuge under His wings, just like a baby bird would be protected by the wings of its mother. There is nothing that we need to be afraid of, because we know God is with us and that He is mighty to save and protect. His faithfulness is our shield. Just as a shield guards a soldier from the sword or arrows of others, God guards our hearts from evil and keeps us in His care at all times of day or night.
Ask: What are some things that protect you?
A thousand may fall at your side,
ten thousand at your right hand,
but it will not come near you.
8 You will only look with your eyes
and see the recompense of the wicked.
9 Because you have made the Lord your dwelling place—
the Most High, who is my refuge[—
10 no evil shall be allowed to befall you,
no plague come near your tent. -Psalm 91:7-10
This passage echoes and reiterates what was stated before. God will not let evil come to us. There are, unfortunately, frightening things that we encounter in life. We face pain and evil, but we know that in the end God will win the victory, as He already has. We can make Him our “dwelling place” and fortress by thinking of His presence always, and praying at all times.
For he will command his angels concerning you
to guard you in all your ways.
12 On their hands they will bear you up,
lest you strike your foot against a stone.
13 You will tread on the lion and the adder;
the young lion and the serpent you will trample underfoot. -Psalm 91:11-13
Ask: Have you ever been hiking and encountered places that were difficult to walk?
This passage is especially comforting, as it reminds us that God enables us to do things that seem scary or impossible. He sends mighty angels to protect and bear us. Of course, we might not see these visibly, but God promises to guard us in remarkable ways as we go through life. Even dangerous beasts will be defeated by Him.
“Because he holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him;
I will protect him, because he knows my name.
15 When he calls to me, I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble;
I will rescue him and honor him.
16 With long life I will satisfy him
and show him my salvation.” -Psalm 91:14-16
God will deliver us, recue and honor us, and protect us in all things. Note how we receive this protection. We don’t need to do anything special and wonderful. We just need to know God and call upon Him. He will satisfy and save us when this happens, and He already has provided salvation through His son, Jesus! We know we can rely on Him for all things.
Ask: When and how can we call upon the Lord in times of trouble?
Close with a prayer thanking God for His love and protection, and asking for strength and presence always.