Psalm 12: Man's Proud Words, God's Pure Words
The Words of the Lord
The words of the LORD are pure,
The words of the LORD are sure,
The words of the LORD endure- forever!
LEP
From Psalm 12:6: "The words of the LORD are
pure words: as silver tried in a furnace
of earth seven times."
Say this rhyme, shout "forever!", n' repeat the
verse.
David's Dilemma: David had a dilemma --he was surrounded by those on every side that spoke of him and the righteous in evil and ungodly ways. These men spoke falsehoods and declared that their lips were their own. They said, "Who is Lord over us? Our lips are our own." (Psalm 12:4)
Does this sound like people today? Sadly, yes and yes again. People declare "I'll do it my way!" or "I'll have it my way!" All around you hear them boast: "It's my body! "It's my right." and so on.
Contrast that to people who use God's pure and holy word lovingly and carefully. My dear mother who was always aware someone might be listening would remind us that "The windows are open!" or "The neighbors will hear you!" For she wanted what each of us even in our home or outdoors to show that we were different and did not fight nor use bad language-- that we should be Christ-like.
At the time I lived in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Like many resort towns we had neighbors from Philadelphia that came just for the summer season and whose home literally backed right up to our little bungalow. As soon as they arrived every window in the house was opened and we'd hear all kinds of things being said and shouted very loudly. And we'd comment, "The McCaldos are back!" What language came out of their mouths whenever they were at home or outside. Often though, if we met them, they were quite pleasant. Often too as they talked with my godly parents, they'd use profanity but would quickly say "Pardon my language!" for they knew my parents would never speak like that.
Introduction: The Godly Man Ceaseth-Verse 1: David declares, "Help, LORD: for the godly man ceaseth; for the faithful fail among the children of men." As in David's time, we too often cry out to the Lord, for it seems like the faithful are failing and not standing up all around us.
Conclusion: The Wicked Walk on every Side! Verse 8: "The wicked walk on every side, when the vilest men are exalted." Last evening on the news an unruly crude, lewd, nude mob took over the streets of one of our cities. The channel blocked out the lurid closeups and the screaming vile language. If ever a verse in the supposably outdated KJV Bible described a scene Psalm 12:8 is it. Memorize it! Keep it in mind!
Truly things are upside down when evil doings are touted in public as described above! However, many simple and often sincere believers either ignore such happenings or even refuse to discuss them. Check out Romans 16:18 which specifies that many "...by their words/speeches deceive the hearts of the simple." (innocent or undiscerning)!
Action Rhyme from
Psalm Twelve for
Younger Kids!
David's enemies said:
"We'll do what we please,
We'll say it our way:
With our tongue we'll prevail!
Every day, every day!"
(Cross arms; say proudly!)
David's enemies said:
"We'll do what we please,
We'll say it our way:
Our lips are our own.
Every day, every day!"
(Cross arms; say angrily!)
Then David wrote this:
"God will arise to help
the poor n' and the needy.
For in him they can trust.
Yes indeed, yes indeedy!"
(Pretend to write; say happily!)
LEP
From: Ps.12
Sequence: Always read the Psalm first. Point out parts as shown on Stat Mat. Do click on the photos at the end of lesson to enlarge them. Point out the first, and final verses. Bottle top rings of various colors/sizes can be pried off bottles to make super rings to highlight what you are explaining.
STAT MAT: PSALM 12: Needed: Orange bottle tops, Pic of King David atop gold tops; Vv. 8; Book I; Ps. of David strip; 8 stringed instrument pic on orange top; little Bible; silver star; orange bottle top ring around REF; tissue box background; and Psalm 12:8 verse paper. Talk about the Psalm stats; add others if you like. Especially note that Psalm 12:8 has twelve words in it!
Verse/Vocab Chat Mat: Needed: Mat color: navy/dark color; 14 OJ orange tops; one white bottle top; little Bible; Chat Mat cards; facial tissue box background piece; question mark/dark bottle top; golden large letters e.g. VILE; small enemy OJ top; red ring; and #12; and typed verse 8 words.
Fix/Chat: Quick on "Chat Mat-Golden word VILE." Begin with "Verse 8" on left outer edge, and put Ps.12: 8 in order around edge of mat. Cut apart word strips and lay on in order. Make little enemy with enlarged mouth--see separate mat photo for parts. Explain that all around us enemies or the wicked walk. Because this Ps.12:8 has "12" words see # 12 at its bottom. What does the word "VILE" mean? exalted? Memorize this verse! Remind children "wicked men" are evil! Move red jam jar ring round word you want to feature from the verse and change large golden letters too. What a lot of learning is in this mat alone!
LIE Chat Mat: Needed: blue bottle tops, glitter gold letters, pencil, enemy men, vocabulary words for lies. Small "U Speak Truth!", How the Grinch Stole Christmas! and Liar, Liar Pants on Fire Pics. Check online for videos of the story books.
Assemble blue bottle tops into capital LIE. At bottom feature "vocab words" you wish to discuss. e.g. "True and False" are opposites. Type or print list of "Lie" synonyms and opposites. Lay on bottle tops. Make two enemy men and cut out red mouths so fit onto pencil. To top place U, Books and Story pics.
How the Grinch Stole Christmas! (By Dr. Seuss, Random House, New York, c.1957) Buy online or order from library. Point out that the pages do not have numbers. Discuss cover! Note the explanation mark! Read it aloud and share it with your kids/older listeners. In it the Grinch quickly thought up "a lie" and soon "that old liar" thought up even more things to trick the Who family. Discuss. Talk about who "The Father of Lies" (Satan) is and that he encourages lying. Copy off Grinch page shown for your personal use, color it, and cut the mouth open to insert the words from the book/verses. Share some Bible verses about what God thinks about lying. Ask questions such as "Are "fibs" just tiny lies?" "Are 'white lies' less than regular lies?" Again, what teaching is contained in this short Psalm!
Navy Chat Mat Vocab Mat #2: Use large golden glittered tactile letters to form the oversized word "OPPRESSION" atop the same OJ tops used from Verse/Vocab Mat pictured at end of lesson. What does the word "oppression" mean? Find it in verse five. Whom do enemies bother and have power over? Mention that throughout the Bible this word is used. Are their oppressors today? How do they act?
Silver Chat Mat: Inside a tin foil pan I put silver: glitter, sequins, pipe-cleaners, tissue paper, and so on. Always in these lessons I recycle jar lids and such using them for all kinds of projects. I also used red, and turquoise blue items that go nicely with the silver/gray mat.
Click on the mat enlarge it! Notice at the top the word: Search, Unscramble, Words etc. will be featured as "FINER" or "REFINER" e.g. Use silver stickers--I backed mine with turquoise.
Search Finder Game: Make a list of all the things in your home or just one room that are silver. Let kids look for them and check them off. Also let them add other items they see you missed. Adjust the game so the littlest ones can play too or team up with older child/sibling.
Search For Silver Vocab Words: Search online or in a Bible concordance for words having to do with "silver." See mat with "UNSCRAMBLE" at top. See the word "silver" mixed up at bottom. Give kids a list of silver word refs to pick from if they need help. (Words: silver, metal, pure, furnace, 7 Xs, finer, refine, dross, impure, silversmith, ore, Demetrius, and idols.) Choose any others you wish to highlight. A valuable resource to find KJV Bible scripture words is "Eaton's Bible Dictionary."
Pocket Bible Dictionary: (George W. Knight, 1998, Barbour Publishing) This mini concordance has many of "the silver words" in it. Highlight them with silver highlighter mark or silver punch dot. Words to find are Demetrius, Diana, dross, finer, fining pot, furnace, impure, purify, metal, refiner, silver, silversmith, and smith.
Although this Psalm is short, it's packed with learning for you, as well as others--be they young or old! When you are through you will be amazed at all the silver scriptures and the words associated with them. Here's a little story about a silver mine that my husband and I visited! We were in Innsbruck Austria in Europe. Nearby we toured the Schwaz Silver Mine in Tyrol, Austria. To do this we had a little vehicle that took us deep into the mine. We put on hard hats and covering and off we went into the spooky dark tunnels. Someone took our picture too. What amazing things we saw there! Little did I know at that time one day I'd be making a lesson about the word "silver" in the Scriptures!
The "Finer" Little Bottle Top Man: Use an orange OJ bottle top, a little silver sticker hat, a half of a red reinforcement mouth, n' other sticker letter pieces. Even a sticker "m" turned around make cute a silver beard. Find more about "the finer" by looking up the various Bible verses refs here. Prov. 25:4
The Finer Bible Marker: Use a silver pipe cleaner, some tape, and a "Finder" paper to put together an easy Bible bookmark to enable one to read various silver references. Click on pic to see word strip.
Silver Image Suggestions: View these images here to make your own silver printout for kids to color.
Videos to View: There are several interesting videos about the mining of silver both now, and in the Bible days. Click on the site to see them. Here's two:
"How Gold, Silver, & Copper Are Mined/Mining/Gold Mining For Kids" (Time: 6:22)
"Testing the Bible Method for Purifying Silver": Great video on You Tube!
Silver of the Words of the Lord: An interesting read regarding "silver" can be found at the Biblehub: click on site to see all of its material. https://biblehub.com/topical/ttt/s/silver_of_the_words_of_the_lord.htm.
In the article "Silver of the Words of the Lord" says that scripture draws from the imagery and symbolism where silver often stands for purity, value, and refinement. This metaphor is particularly evident in the context of God's words, which are depicted as pure and flawless like refined silver. After it talks about the refining process as mentioned in Psalm 12:6.
This lesson can be done little by little at your pace--but there's so much you might use it for at least a month. Sometimes I hear Christian talk show hosts say things like this: "Get an easy-to-read version of the Bible, but I would counter the KJV or NKJV will grow your vocabulary by leaps and bounds. When I was teaching, I always threw out big words saying something like this: "....." is a big words even your parents might not know. Then we'd write it. We'd spell it. We'd pronounce it and syllabize it. I'd say go home and quiz your parents/older siblings see if they really can explain this word. Make them proud to know such words.
Besides, most of the materials used are all recyclables-if you don't have piles of bottle tops, rings etc. have a lady's group in your church or area collect them for you over a month's time and be part of your lessons. I often smile when I think of all the creative ways one can save money and yet make amazing Bible materials! And you can use them over and over again!
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