Key Verse
“I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee.” Job 42:5
Has anyone ever “heard” of God? Has anyone seen God? (Moses saw the back of God as He passed by – that’s all we know of.) What does it really mean when someone says they’ve “seen” God? (Explain that the person has seen God move in their life through events.)
In this lesson, we are going to begin looking at some men in the Bible who wanted to know God better. These men wanted to communicate with God, and wanted to know Him better. Their words collectively are the five Personal books, each book written as poems and some as songs. The five Personal books are called such because they deal very personally with man. Each book deals with different individual’s experiences with God: Job, the men who wrote the Psalms (David, Moses, Asaph – who led the music, and others), King Solomon – as he recorded wise words in the Proverbs, when he wrote about the vanity of life apart from God in Ecclesiastes, and as he wrote of the beauty of a perfect love in marriage in Song of Solomon. They mainly deal with the individual’s heart issues as they seek to know and understand God better. We often set some these poems to music and sing them. We will emphasize and mention all five books.
In this lesson it is important to recognize that “seeing” God is when someone sees God move in their life through events.
Optional Worksheets to be downloaded:
Lesson 7 – Volume 1 Children’s Worksheet 1
Lesson 7 – Volume 1 Children’s Reinforcement Worksheet
Ideas for children:
In any lesson, you may want to work on your coloring timeline – especially when it relates to the lesson.
Review the 3×5 cards if you made them, practicing the divisions. Focus on putting the Personal books in order for today’s lesson.
Display the poster of the books of the Old Testament (may be downloaded from the Lesson 4 Blog). Review the five Personal Books (showing them on the poster). You may have them write or draw a picture of their favorite event from the Personal books.
It would be good to have a special time set aside each week for prayer. Encourage your students to discuss any prayer requests they may have. Help them understand the importance of prayer. If they do not know how to pray, help them learn and become comfortable praying aloud. You may want to begin by learning The Lord’s Prayer together. This is an example of prayer that Jesus gave to His disciples. Not only will they learn the basics of praying, but they will become more comfortable speaking prayers aloud.
“Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.” Matthew 6:9-13
If you close with the Lord’s Prayer each session, it will implant it in their hearts for a lifetime!
Mural idea:
Refer to the wall in your classroom that has become a mural. For this week, have them each add the picture, news article, poem they have written, picture they may have drawn, etc. of something they believe is relevant to the lessons we have been studying. Encourage everyone to participate. Watch as it grows weekly, as they express what God is revealing to them through our study of how the Bible fits into His plan to help us become more like Him.
Today, ask them to open their Bibles to Proverbs. Ask: Have any of your parents sent you to your room to read Proverbs, or have they quoted you verses from the book of Proverbs? Have them read their favorite verse from Proverbs. If they don’t have one, assign one (or more) of the following (or another one of your favorites) for them to look up (choose your favorites before class):
Proverbs 3:1-2 Proverbs 3:5-6 Proverbs 3:7 Proverbs 3:12 Proverbs 3:27 Proverbs 3:30 Proverbs 4:23 Proverbs 6:20 Proverbs 7:2 Proverbs 13:3 Proverbs 13:20 Proverbs 14:12 Proverbs 15:3 Proverbs 15:5 Proverbs 16:3 Proverbs 16:7 Proverbs 16:18 Proverbs 16:25 Proverbs 17:13 Proverbs 17:17 Proverbs 17:28 Proverbs 18:24 Proverbs 20:11 Proverbs 23:7a Proverbs 23:17 Proverbs 26:22 Proverbs 30:5
Have them decorate a piece (or pieces) of cardstock or construction paper with the verse. (Only one verse per sheet.) Then have the students add them to your mural. Encourage them to “hide these words in their hearts” (Psalm 119:11.)
