Psalm 23 Coloring Sheet

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Learning about Psalm 23 for Kids is made possible by: Award-winning science curriculum by Apologia, and Make math simple and effective with CTCMath for grades k-12.

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Psalm 23 for Kids

Have you ever read Psalm 23 with your kids? It’s a comforting and beautiful passage—and it’s packed with nature!

Psalm 23 starts like this:

“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.”

These verses have brought peace to my heart and to my kids as we memorized them together. But did you know Psalm 23 also gives us a chance to explore nature and science?

This blog post is based on our podcast episode Lesson 76: A Nature Walk Through Psalm 23. Let’s take a walk through the first two verses and see how God teaches us about His creation—and His love—through sheep, green pastures, and still waters.

Why Do Sheep Need Shepherds?

Right at the beginning, we’re introduced to a shepherd—and that means we’re the sheep.

Now, we’re not actually covered in wool or walking around on four legs, but this psalm uses the picture of sheep to help us understand how God cares for us.

My neighbors raise sheep, and my oldest son helps care for them sometimes. One thing we’ve seen again and again: sheep need their shepherd.

Here’s why:

• They need someone who stays – A shepherd doesn’t leave. God says, “I will never leave you or abandon you” (Hebrews 13:5).
• They need fresh food and water – A shepherd leads sheep to green pastures where they can graze.
• They need protection – Sheep are vulnerable. They can’t defend themselves like snakes, turtles, or octopuses. Our neighborhood has mountain lions, and the shepherd works hard to keep the sheep safe.
• They need healing – A good shepherd knows when a sheep is hurt or sick, and how to care for it.
• They need help getting back – Sometimes sheep wander off. A good shepherd leaves the flock to bring back the one that’s lost (Matthew 18:12).

What Is a Bummer Lamb?

Sometimes, a mama sheep will reject her baby. That little lamb is called a bummer lamb. It can’t get milk or protection from its mom, and unless the shepherd steps in, it won’t survive.

The shepherd brings the lamb inside, bottle feeds it, and gives it extra care. And because of this, the bummer lamb knows and trusts its shepherd more than any other sheep.

When the shepherd calls, the bummer lamb is the first to run.

That’s a beautiful picture of how we can respond to God. Like bummer lambs, we’ve been rescued and cared for by a loving Shepherd. We can trust His voice and follow closely.

“My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.” – John 10:27

What Are the Still Waters in Psalm 23?

“He leads me beside still waters.” (Psalm 23:2)

Still waters can sometimes make us think of murky puddles or slimy ponds. But that’s not the picture here.

The original Hebrew word for “still” is menuchah, which means quiet or restful.

God doesn’t lead us to gross, stagnant water. He leads us to restful waters—places where we can be refreshed.

How Can We Trust God and Follow His Lead?

Have you ever laid in a big grassy field? That’s one of my favorite things to do—exploring a meadow full of wildflowers.

Psalm 23 says: “He makes me lie down in green pastures.” That’s not just about real pastures (though those are lovely too!). It’s about knowing we can trust God to give us what we need.

Whenever life feels overwhelming or our thoughts feel noisy, we can remember: God leads us to rest.

You can find that rest:

• Sitting beside a creek or river
• Reading His Word
• Spending time in prayer

When we slow down and follow our Shepherd, we can enjoy green pastures and restful waters.