The Biblical Path of Life

Tag: Quarter Three

  • Iniquity Separates

    “But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.”
    Isaiah 59:2

    Excerpt from Year Two Quarter Three, Lesson 3: Isaiah 40-66: Grace and Salvation

    “This section begins with a pointing out of the people’s sin. “Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins” (Isaiah 58:1). Especially notice what the people had been doing. “Yet they seek me daily, and delight to know my ways, as a nation that did righteousness, and forsook not the ordinance of their God: they ask of me the ordinances of justice; they take delight in approaching to God” (Isaiah 58:2). They had been seeking God and His ways – daily. Moreover, they were going to the Temple when required and performing their duties. We can understand that outwardly it appeared they were doing everything right: they were seeking after God, wanting to know His ways, going to the Temple, and doing what they were supposed to do. However, from God’s perspective, they were sinners who needed their sin declared aloud. Knowing what sin is was not enough. Going through the motions of religion was not enough. There was a serious problem! God was not pleased. “4b. … ye shall not fast as ye do this day, to make your voice to be heard on high. 5. Is it such a fast that I have chosen? a day for a man to afflict his soul? is it to bow down his head as a bulrush, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? wilt thou call this a fast, and an acceptable day to the LORD?” (Isaiah 58:4b-5)…

    “God wanted to see a people humbled before Him, seeking forgiveness for their sins. This would change their whole outlook. “Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the LORD shall be thy rereward” (Isaiah 58:8). Then God would hear them and answer them (see Isaiah 58:9-14).

    “God’s people had not yet learned how to do it correctly. Nevertheless, that could not stop God from doing all he planned. “Behold, the LORD’S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear” (Isaiah 59:1). It was God’s people in the error. “But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear” (Isaiah 59:2). They were a sinful people, and everything they tried to do to become a righteous people failed. God was warning them again that because of their sinfulness, the enemy would come in and take them away from their homeland. But one day, in the distant future, God gives hope again, of one who can take their sin from them. “And the Redeemer shall come to Zion, and unto them that turn from transgression in Jacob, saith the LORD” (Isaiah 59:20). And this verse introduces us to what the rest of the book of Isaiah is all about.

    “Remember back for a minute. We read that God’s glory filled the Tabernacle when Moses completed it in the wilderness (see Exodus 40:34). God’s glory also filled the Temple that King Solomon built (see 2 Chronicles 5:14). We will read in Ezekiel how God’s glory departed before the coming invasion of the Babylonians to carry God’s people out of the land. Do you remember why the glory of the Lord departed? The people sought idols instead of watching for Jesus to come. Remember what we can read in John 1:14: “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.” Jesus came. He was God’s glory. Nevertheless, the world (as a whole) rejected Him. As we read Isaiah chapter sixty, we find a promise. “Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee” (Isaiah 60:1). One day, Jesus will come again. And at that time, God will turn His attention back to His people, the Israelites. However, before that day comes, see what will happen. “For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee” (Isaiah 60:2). The world will become a very dark place before the Lord returns to rule and reign. At that time, God will make Jerusalem what He had always intended for it to be – and the whole world will want to come and see it! (“… And they shall call thee, The city of the LORD, The Zion of the Holy One of Israel” Isaiah 60:14b.)” 

    Remember why it was that Jesus sent Paul to proclaim the message of salvation to all: “To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me” (Acts 26:18).

    Have you turned from darkness to Light (Jesus), from the power of Satan unto God, receiving forgiveness of sin?

  • Lesson 13: Jesus in the Old Testament Jesus and the Cross

    Key Verse

    For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.

    —1 Corinthians 1:18

    Key Verse Thought: Read the Key Verse. Use the following definitions to help you understand the key verse:

    • preaching means to speak intelligently about the word of the cross 
    • cross means the whole passion of Christ and the merit of His sufferings and death 
    • them that perish means exposed to eternal death 
    • foolishness means foolishness or absurdity
    • saved means those who have obtained salvation through Christ and are kept by Him 
    • power means a person in whom the power of God is manifested  

    In this lesson, we will see the “power of God” revealed as we look at the promise of Jesus found in Isaiah chapter fifty-three.

    Emphasis: We are to recognize what Jesus did upon the cross for our sins, believe it, and then tell others what Jesus did for us and will do for them.

    Lesson Summary: In this lesson, we begin with a couple of people in the New Testament who had walked and talked with Jesus, yet did not recognize Him after his resurrection – until He revealed Himself to them. We are to understand that they too, had a hard time understanding Jesus’ death. 

    As we look back at Isaiah chapters fifty-two through fifty-three, we will understand the promise of Jesus that God gave to His people. We will compare those promises made in the Old Testament that Isaiah recorded with the truths revealed in the New Testament (we will only see a few in the New Testament – for there are so many!). As we read them, we too, are to understand just what Jesus had to do upon the cross because of mankind’s sin. When Jesus died upon the cross, God made salvation available to the entire world (not just the Israelites). 

    We will learn that it is a choice that each person must make for himself or herself – whether or not to trust Jesus to take away our sin.  Once we understand why Jesus died upon the cross, we are to believe in Him. Then we are to share these truths to the entire world, so that they too, can know just what Jesus did for them upon the cross.

    Y2Q3 – Lesson 13 Questions

    Y2Q3 – Lesson 13 Children’s Worksheets

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

    We colored this stop sign to remind us the importance of stopping and hearing what God is teaching us from His Word (the Bible).

  • Lesson 12: Lamentations

    Key Verse

    It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

    —Hebrews 10:31

    Key Verse Thought: Read the Key Verse and consider the following. After learning of the destruction of Jerusalem and the carrying away of God’s people as captives into Babylon, remind them that this was God’s judgment upon His people for breaking their covenant with Him. They had promised to obey God’s commands and follow Him. They failed! For that, there was a price to pay. They had lost their fear of God. Remember what we have learned before, that God’s people had obviously forgotten: “The fear of the LORD prolongeth days: but the years of the wicked shall be shortened” (Proverbs 10:27). 

    Emphasis: Recognize that we are to humble our hearts before the Lord, acknowledging our sin. It is then we can and understand that God never leaves His people without hope!

    Lesson Summary: The book of Lamentations, written by Jeremiah, is a poem revealing the horrors of seeing Jerusalem and the Temple of God destroyed after a terrible siege against the city. Notice that it falls in the center of the five Major Prophets, helping us see the division in history before the captivities, and the return from captivity. 

    Jeremiah wrote lamentations from the perspective of a witness. He was in Jerusalem when the enemy besieged the city until it was destroyed and the people were taken captive. He began the book writing about the destruction – as if he were watching it. Soon he wrote as one who was in the middle of the suffering with the people. As we look at Lamentations in this lesson, see how the heart of Jeremiah was revealed during the destruction of Jerusalem. Jeremiah understood the great sin of God’s people, for he had been calling for their return to the Lord for many years. Amazingly, he still prayed for God’s mercy to be given to the people who had rejected Jeremiah’s preaching all of those years. Through the book of Lamentations, Jeremiah reveals why God’s wrath had been poured out upon His people. He also found hope that God would not forsake them forever. During his time of prayer, we recognize that Jeremiah understood that when he called out to God, God would hear and draw near. “Thou drewest near in the day that I called upon thee: thou saidst, Fear not” (Lamentations 3:57). 

    Y2Q3 – Lesson 12 Questions

    Y2Q3 – Lesson 12 Children’s Worksheets

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

    We colored this sign to help us remember the importance of making time for God in our lives. We attached a magnet on the back to hang it.

  • Lesson 11: Jeremiah, God’s Suffering Servant

    Key Verse

    For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

    —Romans 8:18

    Key Verse Thought: Read the key verse. Have you ever suffered? Suffered means “endured affliction (hardships, troubles, misery, etc.).” This verse is comparing suffering here in this life with the eternal “glory” that we will know one day. (Glory means “the ideal condition God created man –the condition that was lost in the fall, but that can be recovered in Jesus.”) We will learn about a prophet who suffered greatly, yet remained faithful to God. He understood that sufferings now “are not worthy to be compared” to what we will be in heaven one day.

    Emphasis: We are to be faithful to God (just like Jeremiah was) – no matter what “sufferings” we think we endure.

    Lesson Summary: In our last lesson, as we began the book of Jeremiah, we learned that God knew him before he was even born. And that he would be a prophet to the nations! We read many of the words that Jeremiah spoke to God’s people, and even to the kings of Judah.

    As we continue in our study of Jeremiah, we will read about some of his rejections and sufferings. We will begin to understand why Jeremiah is known as the “Weeping Prophet.” Jeremiah faithfully proclaimed God’s Words to the people, warning them of the coming destruction and captivity, if they did not repent and return to God. When the people failed to repent, God allowed the Babylonians to besiege them. Jeremiah witnessed the captivity of Judah by Babylon and the destruction of Jerusalem, the city where God had chosen to place His name. Even through all of this, Jeremiah faithfully shared the Word of the Lord with the people. We will learn of God’s protection of Jeremiah, allowing him to remain in the land to continue delivering God’s Words to the remnant that was left behind.

    God gave Jeremiah many words on the future of the nation Israel. We will look at a few of them today. He also reminded the people that God would keep His promise and send that Promised One, Jesus. See one of those promises. Jeremiah called Jesus the Branch of David. “In those days, and at that time, will I cause the Branch of righteousness to grow up unto David; and he shall execute judgment and righteousness in the land” (Jeremiah 33:15).

    Tradition has it that Jeremiah was stoned to death.

    Y2Q3 – Lesson 11 Questions

    Y2Q3 – Lesson 11 Children’s Worksheets

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

    We made wall hangings with stickers and a verse (Jeremiah 38:6) to remind us of Jeremiah and his faithfulness to proclaim the Word of God no matter what they did to him.

  • Lesson 10: Jeremiah, God’s Prophet

    Key Verse

    Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.

    —2 Timothy 4:2

    Key Verse Thought: Read the Key Verse and use the following definitions to help you understand it better:  

    • preach means to herald (as a public crier) especially the divine truth (the gospel); proclaim
    • instant means to stand upon, that is, be present; be at hand, present, stand
    • in season means conveniently.  From the word that means well timed, that is, opportune.
    • out of season means inopportunely.  From the word that means to be inopportune (for oneself)
    • reprove means to confute, admonish:  convict, convince, tell a fault, rebuke, reprove
    • rebuke means to tax upon, that is, censure or admonish; by implication forbid; (straitly) charge
    • exhort means to call near, that is, invoke (by imploration, or consolation): beseech, call for, intreat, pray

    We will see today that Jeremiah had this call upon his life. It wasn’t an easy message he had to deliver, but he remained faithful through much!

    Emphasis: We are to hear and understand the call of God upon our life. Christians are to be faithful, as Jeremiah was, to obey that call no matter how difficult it may seem.

    Lesson Summary: There is so much information found in the book of Jeremiah (much like the book of Isaiah), that we could never fully understand it in a couple of lessons. The next couple of lessons are meant to help one grasp a few of the important things found in the book of Jeremiah. In addition, one should recognize that Jeremiah too, preached Jesus.

    Jeremiah lived about one hundred years after Isaiah. Jeremiah was both a priest and prophet. God ordained Jeremiah as a prophet before he was even born (see Jeremiah 1:4-5). He lived during the last five kings of Judah; the kings we studied the last couple of lessons. Remember that only one of them was a good king and that was King Josiah. Jeremiah preached during his reign (see Jeremiah 2-12) during which time King Josiah began eliminating idolatry and cleaning out the temple. Remember that while repairing the temple, a copy of the Law was found. King Josiah read the law, leading Judah to one final time of repentance and reformation. Today we will find new information about the heart of the people during this time of reformation in Judah.

    Jeremiah was given many signs for God’s people, and he had many messages from God for the people. We will take time to look at some of the words he spoke to the kings. We will especially remember the time that Jeremiah wrote the words of the Lord, and the evil king Jehoiakim cut it up with a penknife and threw it into a fire.

    Jeremiah was a prophet to Judah before they were carried into captivity, and he prophesied that the people would be held in captivity for seventy years. We will continue to consider Jeremiah in our next lesson.

    Y2Q3 – Lesson 10 Questions

    Y2Q3 – Lesson 10 Children’s Worksheets

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

    We made a wall hanging picturing Jeremiah speaking the Word of the Lord to the people.

  • Lesson 9: 2 Kings 23:31 – 25; 2 Chronicles 36: Jehoahaz, Jehoiakim, Jehoiachin, and Zedekiah

    Key Verse

    For mine eyes are upon all their ways: they are not hid from my face, neither is their iniquity hid from mine eyes.

    —Jeremiah 16:7

    Key Verse Thought: Read the Key Verse and understand that God sees and knows all.  God knows when His people do wrong. Nothing can be hidden from God. Keep that thought in mind as we remember the final kings of Judah today. God saw and knew of their wickedness, and He did not let it go unpunished.

    Emphasis: We are to understand that God sees and knows all – there is nothing hidden from God. He sees mankind’s sin. We will remember again in this lesson, that there is a penalty for sin. Nevertheless, God left them with hope.

    Lesson Summary: In our last lesson, we read of the last good king of Judah, King Josiah. 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 being made, a book of the Law was found. When the king heard the Words read, he rent his clothes in repentance. He led all of Judah to make a covenant with the Lord to obey His commands. King Josiah died, and we then come to the final four kings of Judah:  Jehoahaz, Jehoiakim, Jehoiachin, and Zedekiah. Jehoahaz did evil and only reigned for three months because the king of Egypt took him. Jehoahaz died in Egypt. The king of Egypt made his brother, Eliakim (changing his name to Jehoiakim) king instead. He too, was an evil king, and King Jehoiakim reigned for eleven years. During his reign, Babylon became known as their enemy, and King Jehoiakim served them for three years. “So Jehoiakim slept with his fathers: and Jehoiachin his son reigned in his stead” (2 Kings 24:6). Babylon began to besiege Jerusalem during his reign, “and the king of Babylon took him in the eighth year of his reign” (2 Kings 24:12). After carrying away everything of value (including the king, his family, princes, and servants), the king of Babylon made Jehoiakim’s brother, Mattaniah, the king – changing his name to Zedekiah. Zedekiah was a bad king and he reigned for eleven years. None of these men were good kings, and all of them led Judah further from God’s commands – until God allowed Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, to invade the land. He destroyed the house of the Lord, broke down the walls of Jerusalem and burned the city gates.  He killed many and took more hostages to his land, making them his servants.  Babylon besieged Judah in the 9th year of King Zedekiah, and then they took Judah captive. Nevertheless, we find a word of promise – God touched the heart of a king seventy years later, sending God’s people home to rebuild the house of the Lord.

    Y2Q3 – Lesson 9 Questions

    Y2Q3 – Lesson 9 Children’s Worksheets

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

    We made a door knocker with stickers and the verses from 2 Chronicles 36:22-23. Although they were carried captive, God left them with the hope of return to Jerusalem.

  • 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 7: Habakkuk: He Asked God Why and Was Answered

    Key Verse

    For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

    —Romans 1:17

    Key Verse Thought: Read the key verse, and understand the “faith to faith.” The first faith is believing in Jesus and He saves you. The second is living a life obeying Jesus and his commands. For as we will learn today (as it is written), the just (those who conform to God’s standard and authority) shall live by faith.

    Emphasis: We must learn to seek the Lord, learning to live a life of faith. It is then we realize we can take our burdens to God – for He will answer!

    Lesson Summary: In this lesson, we will continue our break from the kings of Judah to study a minor prophet, Habakkuk, keeping in mind that we will study them as close to where they belong in Judah’s history as possible. Remember the last kings about whom we learned: King Manasseh and King Amon. Both of them were bad kings – actually King Amon continued in his wickedness and never humbled himself before God. Therefore, we are to remember that the nation of Judah was in a deplorable condition.

    As we learn about Habakkuk this week, we will find he was a unique prophet because he recognized the condition of God’s people, and it disturbed him. When something troubled him, he took his trouble to God. He was a prophet who asked God a question, and God answered him.  God knew the problem, and He would deal with it. God was going to do such a mighty work among His people; they would hardly be able to believe it. Probably the most important verse in Habakkuk is Habakkuk 2:4, where it says: “Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith” (Habakkuk 2:4). We will discover that Habakkuk learned to have faith in God. We also should be as bold as Habakkuk – when we have a problem, we should know to take it to God first!

    As we learned Zephaniah’s message last week, we find much of the same message for God’s people from Habakkuk this week: Both warned the people of God’s coming judgment, but both prophets left the nation with the hope that God promised to restore His people.

    Y2Q3 – Lesson 7 Questions

    Y2Q3 – Lesson 7 Children’s Worksheets

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

    We decorated frames with stickers and placed the verse Habakkuk 2:4 inside.

  • Lesson 6: Zephaniah: God’s Judgment and Mercy

    Key Verse

    That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us.

    —Acts 17:27

    Key Verse Thought: Read the Key Verse and use the following definitions for better understanding of it:

    • seek: to seek God means to turn to Him, to strive humbly and sincerely to follow and obey Him.
    • haply: nevertheless, but stronger meaning though indeed.   

    This basically sums up the message the prophets continually presented before the people: to seek the Lord, for He is never far from His people. God never left His people; they left Him.

    Emphasis: We are to understand the importance of turning to God, striving humbly and sincerely to follow and obey Him. If Christians would just do that, they would find Him – for He is not far. He is always waiting for His people to return to Him.

    Lesson Summary: In this lesson, we take a break from the kings of Judah to study another minor prophet book, Zephaniah, as close to where it belongs in Judah’s history as possible. Remember that we learned about King Manasseh and King Amon in our last lesson. Both of them were bad kings, and even though Manasseh finally humbled himself before God, King Amon continued in his sin never humbling himself before God. From this, we understand that the nation of Judah was in a deplorable condition.

    The book of Zephaniah begins with, “The word of the LORD which came unto Zephaniah the son of Cushi … son of Hizkiah, in the days of Josiah the son of Amon, king of Judah” (Zephaniah 1:1). He was the descendant of good King Hezekiah, and that means he was related to King Josiah. We will study the kingdom of King Josiah after learning of Habakkuk next week. Zephaniah boldly spoke of the day of the Lord – and that it was coming soon. He understood God was displeased with His people. Zephaniah warned of immediate judgment and destruction. He encouraged the people to, “Seek ye the LORD, all ye meek of the earth, which have wrought his judgment; seek righteousness, seek meekness: it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the LORD’S anger” (Zephaniah 2:3). 

    Zephaniah warned the people of God’s coming judgment, but he left them with the hope that God promised to restore His people.

    Y2Q3 – Lesson 6 Questions

    Y2Q3 – Lesson 6 Children’s Worksheets

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

    We took a votive candle and glued the following verse on the outside: “And it shall come to pass at that time, that I will search Jerusalem with candles …” Zephaniah 1:12.

  • Lesson 4: Micah: Hear God’s Words

    Key Verse

    But he said, Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it.

    —Luke 11:28

    Key Verse Thought: Read the Key Verse. Do you understand what this verse means?  (Remember that this is Jesus speaking. As Jesus was teaching the people, a woman in the crowd spoke up. She said that the woman who bore and nursed Him, Jesus’ mother, should be blessed. Our key verse in this lesson is Jesus’ response.) The word blessed means: “fully satisfied; possessing the favor of God; a partaker of God’s nature through faith in Christ.” Hear means “to understand or comprehend.” Keep means “to keep, to observe, to not violate.” Jesus declared we are blessed if we obey God’s Word (the Bible).

    Emphasis: As Christians, we have the hope (promise) that God will forgive our sin, forever, and we are to show that we believe by hearing God’s Word (reading the Bible).

    Lesson Summary: The book of Micah begins with, “The word of the LORD that came to Micah the Morasthite in the days of Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, which he saw concerning Samaria and Jerusalem” (Micah 1:1). This tells us when he lived and to whom God sent him to speak. Notice that these were the same kings to whom Isaiah spoke, so they lived around the same time – Micah coming just a little later. He warned the people of the coming judgment, but he also told them of the future blessing. One of the main things we can remember about Micah is that he called for the people to hear. “Hear, all ye people; hearken, O earth, and all that therein is …” (Micah 1:2a). 

    Micah spoke to both Israel and Judah during the reign of King Hezekiah (see Jeremiah 26:18). We can also see that this helped King Hezekiah decide to make great reformations in Judah. In addition, remember that Israel was carried captive during the reign of King Hezekiah of Judah. Therefore, Micah saw Israel carried away captive by the Assyrian army.

    Like many prophets before him, he reminded the people where they had failed, calling for the people to repent and to have a right relationship with God (by obeying His commands). He warned of the coming destruction of Jerusalem. Nevertheless, he too, left the people with the hope of restoration one day. God even allowed Micah to reveal where the Messiah would be born (see Micah 5:2). He then left the people with hope – God would remove their sin (as far as the depths of the sea), and He would keep His promises made, “… to Jacob … Abraham, which thou hast sworn unto our fathers from the days of old” (Micah 7:20).

    Y2Q3 – Lesson 4 Questions

    Y2Q3 – Lesson 4 Children’s Worksheets

    If you are teaching this to young children, the following is an idea for a craft to go along with this lesson.

    We made a journal to write special Bible verse in to help us remember God’s Word and the importance of keeping those Words (obeying them). We added stickers to the front along with Proverbs 3:1-2.