The Biblical Path of Life

Tag: Lesson 8

  • Lesson 8: Ezra 7-10 Ezra Restores the Relationship

    Key Verse

    … behold, ye have sinned against the LORD: and be sure your sin will find you out.

    —Numbers 23:23

    Key Verse Thought: Read the Key Verse for this lesson. Have you ever sinned? Did you get in trouble? Do you think you have ever gotten away with something? It is important to understand that though one may not have gotten in trouble at that time, keep in mind that God sees and knows all. Be careful when you sin against God – for your sin will find you out!

    Emphasis: Christians are to prepare our hearts to serve God – no matter what task God may have for us to do. Remember: when the people of Israel sinned against God, their sin was made known. It was difficult to make it right.

    Lesson Summary: In our last lesson, we learned about Esther and the salvation of the Jews from certain death. If you think about it, without godly people like Daniel, Mordecai, and Esther about whom we have learned, the recognition of God by the people, and especially the kings, may not have been. Even in our more recent history, there are people who have made sure that future generations know of God and learn to trust in Him.  

    This week we will learn of Ezra. He led the second remnant back to Jerusalem from the land of Babylon. Before he left, he prepared his heart. He determined to go back to Israel to make sure God’s people not only had the written Word of God (for he was a scribe), but he wanted to be sure the people knew the Word of the Lord and lived it. He had no idea the challenge that lay ahead of him!

    King Artaxerxes (King Ahasuerus’ son, and possibly Esther’s son as well), issued a decree that any and all who wanted to return to Israel could go. Not only that, but he sent much silver, gold, and vessels for the house of the Lord. Ezra recognized the hand of God and the blessing of the king.

    Ezra made sure they had priests and Levites to return with them. Many of these he placed in charge of the great riches they were carrying into Jerusalem. 

    As soon as they arrived in Jerusalem, they found out that many of the men had married wives of the heathen nations around. Some even had children by them. Ezra was astonished and devastated at the condition of the people. He rent his garment and prayed. Ezra was ashamed of the great sin in which the people were living. As the people gathered, they acknowledged their great sin and were willing to do something about it. Ezra challenged the people to correct their ways. 

    The men who had married foreign women had to send them away – and the children born by them.

    Y2Q4 – Lesson 8 Questions

    Y2Q4 – Lesson 8 Children’s Worksheets

    If you are teaching this to children, the following are a couple of ideas for a craft to reinforce this lesson.

    One time we sewed a heart together with the top open, put stickers on the outside, and hid verses inside of it. Another time we made a heart frame with stickers and put the verse Ezra 7:10 in the center to help us remember how important Ezra understood that God’s Word is.

  • Lesson 8: 2 Kings 22 – 23:30; 2 Chronicles 34-35: Josiah

    Key Verse

    Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.

    —Psalm 34:14

    Key Verse Thought: As you read the Key Verse, think about what it means to “depart from evil.” Read the following to help in the understanding: depart means “to turn away; to remove; to put away” and the word evil comes from the word that means “to make useless, to break; to live wickedly or contrary to God’s will; i.e. an attitude that rejects God’s authority.” Instead of evil, we are to do good (means “right; correct; virtuous”). Not only that, but we are to seek peace (remember that seek means “to look, search”). Christians are to stay away from things contrary to God’s will and instead search, choosing to do what is right or virtuous. We will learn about a king who rejected the evil things of his fathers, and instead chose to seek after the things of God – and he pursued them.

    Emphasis: In this lesson, we will learn the importance of departing from evil, much like King Josiah, and choosing instead to do what is right.

    Lesson Summary: After learning about the prophets Zephaniah and Habakkuk in our last two lessons, we can now better understand the condition of the people of Judah. Especially remember the reign of King Manasseh and King Amon and there will be no question about the state of Judah. They were living very wicked, idolatrous lives. Amon was a bad king and did evil in the sight of the Lord. He never humbled his heart as his father, Manasseh had. Remember that there was a conspiracy against bad King Amon after only two years. When he was killed, his son Josiah became king of Judah. “1. Josiah was eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned thirty and one years in Jerusalem … 2. And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, and walked in all the way of David his father, and turned not aside to the right hand or to the left” (2 Kings 22:1-2).  

    King Josiah was the last good king of Judah. We will learn today that he sought God while he was still young, and he removed much of the wickedness out of the land. He did that which was right in the sight of the Lord. King Josiah made many great reformations, including repairing the house of the Lord. While repairs were made, a book of the Law was found. When the king heard God’s Word read, he rent his clothes in repentance. After the book of the Law was read to all of the people, a covenant was made before God, and King Josiah reinstituted the temple worship. He led all of Judah to make a covenant with the Lord to obey His commands. Not only did King Josiah remove idol worship out of Judah and Israel, he led the people to keep the Passover in Jerusalem.

    King Josiah died in battle with Egypt, and his son, Jehoahaz, became king in his stead.

    Y2Q3 – Lesson 8 Questions

    Y2Q3 – Lesson 8 Children’s Worksheets

    If you are teaching this lesson to younger children, the following is a craft idea to go with this lesson:

    We used rolls of paper and dowel rods to make scrolls. We then glued different Bible verses inside (and wrote a few) to remember the importance of having and reading God’s Word.

  • Lesson 8: 2 Kings 8:16 – 9; 2 Chronicles 21 – 22:9 Jehoram (Joram) and Ahaziah

    Key Verse

    You only have I known of all the families of the earth: therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities.

    —Amos 3:2

    Key Verse Thought: Read the Key Verse. Have you ever known someone who got away with doing something wrong? Does it seem fair when you get in trouble for doing something wrong? Do you understand why it is that you may get into trouble, but others seem to get away with doing the same kinds of things? Our Key Verse today may help to remind us that if we are a Christian, belonging to the Lord, we cannot get away with doing things that other people seem to get away with. God will discipline His people (see Hebrews 12:5-8).

    Emphasis: To recognize that when God’s people sin against Him, God will discipline them.

    Lesson Summary: In our last lesson, we remembered King Jehoshaphat – a very good king. Notice that the kings were compared back to King David to determine if they were good kings or bad kings. 

    In this lesson, we will look at two more of Judah’s kings. Notice that we only include the kings of Israel when they are directly involved with a king of Judah – for none of them were legitimate kings (because none were descendants of King David). We begin in this lesson with King Jehoram, son of good King Jehoshaphat. What a disappointment his son was! He rose up and killed all of his brothers, and he walked in the ways of the kings of Israel – for wicked King Ahab’s daughter, Athaliah, was his wife. Remember that King Ahab was a very wicked king from Israel. Elijah sent a writing warning that King Jehoram would die of a sickness in his bowels because he rejected the Word of the Lord. King Jehoram died of a sickness in his bowels after reigning for eight years. 

    His son, Ahaziah, became king, reigning only one year. He, too, was a bad king – walking in the ways of the kings of Israel. Because of advice from bad counselors (including his mother, Athaliah), he helped the king of Israel in battle. The king of Israel was injured in battle. Because King Ahaziah visited the injured king of Israel at the same time God told Jehu to seek God’s revenge upon the household of wicked King Ahab, King Ahaziah was killed.

    Y2Q2 Lesson 8 Questions

    Y2Q2 Lesson 8 Children’s Worksheets

    If you are teaching this to young children, the following is a craft idea to go with this lesson:

    For this lesson, we made a journal to remember that God keeps His promises, and we added Scriptures inside of it.

  • Lesson 8: 2 Kings 13:9 – 15:15: Jehoash – Shallum: Wickedness Punished

    For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee.

    —Psalm 86:5

    Key Verse Thought: Have you ever thought about how good God really is? He is always ready to forgive — any who will call upon Him (remember Romans 10:13). In our Key Verse see that mercy means “kindness, love, or mercy shown. Even when men may prove unfaithful to this relationship, God’s mercy to His people is everlasting.”

    Emphasis: We are to understand God’s faithfulness and mercy to His people — even when they forget Him.

    Lesson Summary: As we continue with our study today, do not get confused by the king’s name; Jehoash is often called Joash. Keep in mind that they are the same person as you read through 2 Kings 13–15. We also will learn of the Prophet Elisha’s death.

    While Jehoash is king, he is challenged by the king of Judah (after he won a great victory against the Edomites) which led to the defeat of Judah. After King Jehoash died, Jeroboam II became king and reigned for 41 years. Because the kings had continually allowed the worship of the golden calves in Bethel and Dan, God permitted the enemies around to oppress Israel. God revealed to them that they had used all of their resources, tried everything they could, and still needed help. God never left them; they left God. One continual theme we can see as we study our lesson today is the same as our memory verse: “For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee” (Psalm 86:5). In spite of Israel’s continual state of sin, because they were God’s people, He continually saved them from their enemies. Even though King Jeroboam II continued in the same sin of the previous kings, God allowed him to restore much of Israel’s land that had been lost to enemies around. We also remember back to Amos as he delivered God’s warning to Israel. Especially recognize Amos’ tenacity to continue preaching God’s Words to Israel even after being confronted by a priest of Bethel named Amaziah.

    After King Jeroboam II died, his son Zachariah reigned. We conclude our lesson today with God’s promise to King Jehu being fulfilled. If you remember, God promised that King Jehu’s children to the fourth generation would sit upon the throne of Israel because he destroyed Ahab’s family as God had commanded him. Remember the generations after Jehu: Jehoahaz, Jehoash (Joash), Jeroboam II, and Zachariah. Zachariah was the fourth generation to sit upon the throne after King Jehu. We conclude our history today with Shallum, the son of Jabesh, who conspired against Zachariah and killed him to reign in his stead.

    Y2Q1 Lesson 8 Questions

    Y2Q1 Lesson 8 Children’s Worksheets

    If you are doing these lessons and would like a craft idea, see the following:

    For this lesson we used a frame we decorated to look like a Bible Times house to hold the verse: “And the Lord said not that he would blot out the name of Israel from under heaven: but he saved them by the hand of Jeroboam the son of Joash.” 2 Kings 14:27