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Lessons in Hope: Tehillim Chapter 27

Grades: Middle School/High School

Introduction

The Book of Tehillim (Psalms) is a book from the Tanakh and attributed to King David. It has been a primary text for prayer and inspiration for more than 2,000 years. Its perakim cover the full range of human emotion from joy and gratitude to fear and despair. There are certain chapters and verses that have become particularly connected with the concept of Hope. 

Perek 27 is inserted into the daily service during the month of Elul through Shemini Atzeret in both Ashkenazi and Sephardi liturgy. David expresses his hope and faith in God as the ultimate protector. 

The goals of this lesson are:

A) to understand the deeper meaning of the text, including the metaphors used

B) to help build psychosocial tools students can use to bolster their own hope

C) to provide artistic outlets for students to express their hope

Note to teachers: The italicized questions are “talking points” to be used individually or in groups. (Feel free to select the prompts that you feel will resonate with your particular group of students). Students can keep journals or jot down thoughts and then share them in groups. It could be useful to combine responses into a chart or a Google Doc and share. It could also be useful to put responses on some kind of a physical sheet that is either distributed to students or hung up in a classroom.

A. Understanding the Text

  1. David spent the early part of his life as a shepherd. According to some opinions, he was somewhat of an outcast from his very prestigious family. How might being an outcast influence someone to turn toward God?
  2. David spent years running away from King Saul, who was trying to kill him. Even after Saul died, David still had many enemies who did not accept his legitimacy as king. How does faith and hope give David strength even in the face of life-threatening situations?
  3. Pasuk 1. David describes God as “my light,” “my salvation,” and “my fortress.” How does the possessive “my” add intimacy and support hope? What are the differences between these types of protection and how does each form of protection complement the others?
  4. Pasuk 1. What does David mean in describing God as “my light?” David says “God is my light…I shall not be afraid.” How does “light” provide an antidote to fear? What kind of protection does David mean here—physical, psychological, or both?
  5. Pesukim 2-3. How does David convey his hope, his confidence? Which phrase from these two verses resonates with you the most and why?
  6. The last word of verse 3 is “boteach” (rely on, be confident in). The modern Hebrew word for both security and insurance is bitachon. How might “bitachon” differ from “emunah” (faith)? What contributes to David’s confidence? Why do we need BOTH confidence and faith/hope to combat fear and dread?
  7. Pasuk 4. David says “One thing I ask of God…” and proceeds to make a list. What is David asking for? Do you think peace of mind comes only after peace of body, or can peace of mind exist even in times of distress, danger, and fear? Why is David’s spiritual life so important to him?
  8. Pesukim 5-12. These verses go back and forth between faith and confidence on one hand, and anxiety and fear on the other hand. Do you think that faith and fear co-exist? If so, how? Choose one verse that communicates the hope that resonates with you and explain why it does. Choose one verse that communicates fear that resonates with you and explain why it does.
  9. Pasuk 13 The word “lulei” in Hebrew means “if not for.” The verse is incomplete and open-ended. What would happen if David did not have faith? Why are faith and hope so important? What is “God’s goodness” that David has faith in?
  10. Pasuk 14. The verse is a loop—look to/trust in God, be strong and of good courage, look to/trust in God. How does the structure of the verse represent the process of maintaining hope? The Hebrew word for “hope” is the root of the word for “mikveh”—a pool of water. How are the metaphors of water and hope connected? The verbs “be strong” and “be of good courage” are in the command form. Can you command someone to have courage? Can you command yourself, make yourself, have courage? How is the dynamic between having hope/faith and developing courage like a cycle? Like a helix?
  11. Read this famous quote from Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks:

“Optimism and hope are not the same. Optimism is the belief that the world is changing for the better; hope is the belief that, together, we can make the world better. Optimism is a passive virtue, hope an active one. It needs no courage to be an optimist, but it takes a great deal of courage to hope. The Hebrew Bible is not an optimistic book. It is, however, one of the great literatures of hope.”
–https://www.rabbisacks.org/videos/rabbi-sacks-on-optimism-vs-hope-jinsider/

How does Pasuk 14 encapsulate this idea?

B. Building psychosocial tools to support hope

  1. David uses imagery and ideas familiar to him to help make “hope” more concrete and to visualize what it looks like. Do the images David uses—light, a fortress, dwelling in the House of God—speak to you and give you hope and comfort? Identify some images that bring you comfort and give you hope. Can you create an “image bank” that you can draw from? 
  2. Hope is both a general and a very personal thing. With a partner or in a small group, find out what others need/want to give them hope. How can you support hope in others
  3. For David, dread and anxiety, as well as his fear of abandonment are feelings he is battling. Have you ever felt like you were abandoned and alone? How do you nurture hope and faith when you—or someone you know—are in that space? What are things that have given you support and hope—your “light,” “fortress,” and faith?
  4. David identifies his “one wish.” What is your “one wish?” What are your hopes for the future? Write your “one wish” and/or your hope for the future down or record them somehow. Review them and figure out what you need to do to work towards them.
  5. David’s hope is inextricably linked to his faith in God. How can you nurture your own faith and hope in God? Does using a set prayer/psalm like Tehillim 27 help you? And if not, what is your “go-to?”
  6. Tehillim 27 has been adopted by a “collective” and included by both Ashkenazim and Sefaradim in liturgy. How does the notion of a collectively adopted text like this one give hope to you? How does being part of a collective, a praying and hopeful community, give you hope?

C. Creative Connections

Art: A. Have students create a visual representation of either scenes from this chapter or an abstract representation of the emotions evoked. B. Have students design or build something that they feel would/could protect them. 

Writing: A. Have students write about images/ideas that give them hope and comfort. B. Have students write about what makes them feel protected and how they can maintain that—a manual or “go to” list. C. Have students write their own psalm of hope. 

Audio: A. Have students create a guided imagery/meditation audio. B. Have students choose melodies to this psalm that they have connected with. C. Students can sing together/play instruments to their favorite melodies. D. Students can create playlists of different melodies with these verses. 

There are MANY songs from this chapter. A few suggestions for songs:

1. “Achat Sha’alti” 

2. “Kaveh el Hashem”

3. “Im Tachne Alay Machane”