Like Mount Zion — TDW Kids

The Mountains Around Jerusalem

☐

Paul wrote, “Stand therefore” (Ephesians 6:14). Long before, a psalm writer showed what it looks like for God’s people to stand firm.

Like a mountain. “Those who trust in the Lord Are like Mount Zion, Which cannot be moved, but abides forever” (Psalm 125:1).

Mount Zion. Mount Zion is the hill of Jerusalem, the city where God’s temple stood.

Cannot be moved. Wind, rain and storms cannot push a mountain over. It stays where it is.

Like Mount Zion. People who trust the Lord are like that mountain. Hard days come, but God keeps them standing.

Trust makes the difference. It is “those who trust in the Lord” who are like Mount Zion, not the strongest or the smartest.

Hard days still come. Standing firm does not mean nothing hard ever happens. It means God holds you through it.

Abides forever. To abide is to stay. The people who trust the Lord stay standing because God holds them.

Mountains all around. “As the mountains surround Jerusalem, So the Lord surrounds His people From this time forth and forever” (125:2).

Hills around the city. Jerusalem sits among hills, with higher hills around it on every side.

God all around. The Lord surrounds His people the way those hills surround the city. He is near them on every side.

Wherever you are. At home, at school or far away, the Lord is around you.

A picture to remember. Each time God’s people saw the hills around Jerusalem, they could remember that God was around them too.

From now on. “From this time forth and forever” means starting now and never ending.

A song for travelers. God’s people most likely sang this psalm as they walked up to Jerusalem for the feasts.

Standing in God’s armor. Paul said to put on God’s armor so that you can stand. Those who trust the Lord stand firm, like Mount Zion.

When you feel shaky. If you feel worried or afraid, tell God. Tell a parent or a grown-up you trust too.

Sin, the cross and new life. Our sin could never let us stand before God. Jesus died on the cross for our sins and rose again. Everyone who trusts Him is forgiven and held by God.

What this means for you. When something worries you this week, picture the mountains around Jerusalem. Thank God that He surrounds you.

Paul calls believers to stand: “having done all, to stand” (Ephesians 6:13). Psalm 125 gives a picture of people who stand firm because they trust the Lord.

Like Mount Zion (125:1). “Those who trust in the Lord Are like Mount Zion, Which cannot be moved, but abides forever.”

Cannot be moved. Moved is mot (say: MOHT), to slip, totter or shake. A mountain does not totter. Neither do those whose trust is in the Lord, because He holds them.

Zion. Zion was the hill of Jerusalem where the temple stood, the place God chose to dwell among His people.

Abides (125:1). To abide is to remain. Those who trust the Lord remain standing, because He holds them.

Trust, not strength. The firmness belongs to “those who trust in the Lord,” not to the strongest. Trust leans its whole weight on Him.

Hard days. Standing firm does not mean that hard days never come. It means the Lord holds His people steady through them.

Surrounded (125:2). “As the mountains surround Jerusalem, So the Lord surrounds His people From this time forth and forever.” Jerusalem sits among higher hills on every side.

God on every side. The Lord does not stand at a distance. He is around His people the way those hills are around the city.

Forever. “From this time forth and forever.” His care starts now and does not end.

A daily reminder. Every time a traveler looked up at the hills around Jerusalem, the land itself pictured God’s care.

A pilgrim song. God’s people most likely sang this psalm as they traveled up to Jerusalem.

Standing in the armor. Ephesians 6 tells believers to stand in what God gives. Psalm 125 shows why they can: the Lord Himself surrounds them.

When you feel shaken. Worry and fear are real. Bring them to the Lord, and talk to a parent or a grown-up you trust.

The answer. “For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God” (1 Peter 3:18). He died on the cross and rose again, and all who trust Him are forgiven.

Application. Write Psalm 125:2 on a card and read it before school each day this week.

The Rock That Is Higher Than I

☐

Paul wrote about standing strong (Ephesians 6:13). In Psalm 61 a psalm writer who felt weak asked God to lead him to a high, safe place.

Hear my cry. “Hear my cry, O God; Attend to my prayer” (Psalm 61:1). Attend means to listen closely.

Far away. “From the end of the earth I will cry to You, When my heart is overwhelmed” (61:2). He felt far from home and very weak inside.

Telling God. The writer did not hide his weak feelings from God. He prayed them.

Overwhelmed. Overwhelmed means feeling that there is too much, as if a big wave is rolling over you.

Higher than I. He prayed, “Lead me to the rock that is higher than I” (61:2). He could not climb up by himself, so he asked God to lead him.

Led by God. God goes with His children and shows them the way.

A safe place. “For You have been a shelter for me, A strong tower from the enemy” (61:3). A shelter keeps you safe, and a tower is a high, strong place.

He remembered. The writer remembered how God had kept him safe before. That helped him trust God again.

Close to God. “I will abide in Your tabernacle forever; I will trust in the shelter of Your wings” (61:4). He wanted to stay close to God, the way chicks stay under a mother bird’s wings.

God heard. “For You, O God, have heard my vows” (61:5). Vows are promises made to God.

Praise every day. “So I will sing praise to Your name forever, That I may daily perform my vows” (61:8).

Every day. The writer wanted to keep his promises to God every day, not just once.

The safest place. The highest, safest place is close to God.

Standing in God. We stand strong, not because we are big, but because God is the high rock under our feet.

When you feel overwhelmed. Tell God how you feel. Tell a parent or a grown-up you trust too.

Brought near. Our sin puts us far from God. Jesus died on the cross for our sins and rose again. Everyone who trusts Him is brought near to God.

What this means for you. When a day feels like too much, pray the writer’s words: “Lead me to the rock that is higher than I.”

Paul tells believers to stand in God’s strength (Ephesians 6:10, 13). Psalm 61 shows a believer whose strength was gone, asking God to lift him to safety.

A cry (61:1). “Hear my cry, O God; Attend to my prayer.” Attend means to pay close attention.

Overwhelmed (61:2). “From the end of the earth I will cry to You, When my heart is overwhelmed.” Overwhelmed is ’ataph (say: ah-TAHF), to grow faint or feeble. The writer had no strength left.

From the end of the earth. Distance did not stop his prayer. No place is too far for God to hear.

Higher than I (61:2). “Lead me to the rock that is higher than I.” The safe place was beyond his reach, so he asked God to lead him there.

Led to safety. He did not ask for strength to climb; he asked to be led. God does for His people what they cannot do for themselves.

Remembered help (61:3). “For You have been a shelter for me, A strong tower from the enemy.” Past help gave him reason to trust God now.

Staying near (61:4). “I will abide in Your tabernacle forever; I will trust in the shelter of Your wings.” He longed to stay in God’s presence and under His care.

Heard (61:5). “For You, O God, have heard my vows; You have given me the heritage of those who fear Your name.” Heritage means the gift handed down to God’s people.

Daily praise (61:8). “So I will sing praise to Your name forever, That I may daily perform my vows.” Rescue leads to a life of praise.

Forever and daily. Praise is both a lifelong song and a daily habit.

Standing on the rock. Believers are not asked to make themselves tall enough to stand. The Lord is the rock higher than they are.

When you are overwhelmed. Pray honestly, as this writer did, and tell a parent or a grown-up you trust.

Our need. Every person has sinned, and sin puts us far from God.

The answer. “Christ died for our sins” and “He rose again the third day” (1 Corinthians 15:3-4). He died on the cross for us, and all who trust Him are brought near to God.

Application. Memorize the second half of Psalm 61:2: “Lead me to the rock that is higher than I.” Pray it on a hard day.

📖

Complete all sections to finish!

Read each section and answer the questions correctly.