Psalms for family worship
Open the Bible at the table, sing a psalm, and pray one thing back to God. That’s enough for an evening. Here are a few songs to get you started.
Around the table
Read the psalm aloud
Take turns reading. With younger children, a few verses will do. Ask, ‘What does this tell us about the Lord?’
Play the song and join in
Open the lyrics and let everyone find the chorus. If you’re learning a new song, sing just that much together and come back to it tomorrow.
Pray from what you read
A line from the psalm can give the youngest person at the table something to pray. Thank the Lord for what He has done, or ask Him for the help the psalm names.
Start with one of these psalms
Psalm 121
Beyond the Hills
The Lord who made the hills watches over His people. Sing this before a journey or when someone is worried about going somewhere new.
Psalm 127
Build This House
Read the first two verses together. Ask what the builders can do and what only the Lord can do. Then pray for your own home.
Psalm 128
Look Around the Table
Try this at a meal. Look around and let each person name one ordinary gift they can thank the Lord for.
Psalm 133
How Good, How Pleasant
Read the psalm after a difficult day together. Ask the Lord for the peace and unity He gives His people.
For the next evening, pick up the same psalm again. Children often learn a song by hearing it a few times when no one is asking them to learn it.
The Reformed practice of family worship has room for three ordinary things: Scripture, singing and prayer. The songs here give you a place to begin. Read the psalm itself, because the lyrics may put it into fresh words or draw out how it points to Christ.