Message Theme & Verses: 2 Chronicles
Memory Verse: 2 Chronicles 6:42 O Lord God, do not turn away from the face of your anointed one! Remember your steadfast love for David your servant!”
Happy Family Lesson:
1 Chronicles was originally one big book with 2 Chronicles called “the events of the years.”
The book of Chronicles was broken up for convenience in handling Greek scrolls, which were longer than those written in Hebrew. It is no surprise that 2 Chronicles picks up directly where 1 Chronicles finishes. We move from the reign of King David to his son Solomon as we begin this book and continue to see how the fortune and direction of the nation are determined by the actions of its kings.
The primary audience for the Chronicles are the people of Judah who have returned from exile to a restored community. The author doesn’t want them to fall into the same sins as their fathers, but to be faithful to loving and following God with their heart, soul, mind, and strength.
The people are taught the privilege of being chosen as God’s holy people through His covenant. They are reminded of their responsibility to keep a pure relationship with God through their worship of Him. What has brought harmony and shalom in the past is the same that will restore the nation.
Throughout, we see God’s grace toward His people, particularly as His people repent of their sins. The book ends with great hope that the nation will be restored as new King Cyrus, the Persian who has defeated Babylon, purposes to rebuild the temple after is has lay desolate for seventy years. Once again, God’s people will have opportunity to enter into God’s Sabbath rest and respond to the Davidic covenant with obedient faith and worship.
Read 2 Chronicles 28:1-5 & 19-27
· Talk about how one person’s sin can affect others. Mention these Bible characters and ask the kids who was affected by their sin. Then ask about people in their lives. Abraham, David, Solomon, the kings of Israel and Judah.
· Set up “false idols” like a stuffed animal or action figure and have the kids ask for candy from them. Then have the kids ask the leader for candy (the leader should give candy) and show the difference between worshiping the One True Living God and false gods.
Barkadang Lesson:
God chose Israel to be His people and promised to bless all of the families of the world through them, especially by raising up the ultimate heir of David to rule them. When God’s appointed kings live up to the demands of that office, they are a type of Christ, pointing to the coming King. God gave His people the honor and privilege of worshiping and obeying Him, but often they were unfaithful and needed God’s gracious discipline. Because God is faithful and good, the harsh punishment of being captured by sinful people and sent far away from God’s presence as symbolized by the temple, would not be the end for God’s people. We see great hope in the promised restoration as the people return to Jerusalem and await the perfect king who completely fulfills the role of establishing God’s kingdom and providing for His people.
Questions
If you need something, who is the first person you ask? Why?
Why do you think King Ahaz was afraid all the time? (King Ahaz did not know the peace that comes from being in a right relationship with God. He tried to worship many gods just in case one of them had power. He was wasting his time and was so afraid that he sacrificed his sons by burning them up in a fire to try and please the false gods that were really demons. People who have faith in Jesus do not need to be afraid. Instead, they pray to the true and powerful Savior.)
What is it that makes you afraid?
Sometimes people today pray to idols. Sometimes they trust false gods or even things like their family, money, or intelligence to save them. What do you think is the biggest idol for people today?
King Ahaz was unfaithful and all of the people suffered. Can you tell us a time when a friend or sibling did something bad and you got in trouble too?
How do you think others are affected by the bad things you do?
Do you think King Ahaz was afraid to die?
Why can followers of Jesus not be afraid to die? (Followers of Jesus know that this life is not all that there is. After He died on the cross for our sins, Jesus raised to new life. This means that if we put our faith in Jesus as our Savior and follow Him as our Lord, we too can have a new, forever life with Him. We do not have to be afraid to die because Jesus conquered death. We know that if we love Jesus and belong to Him, we will go to be with Him in heaven. King Ahaz made sacrifices to lots of false gods, hoping they would keep him alive, but they did not have any real power and he died afraid.)
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