VERSES: 2 Kings 11:1-21
MEMORY VERSE: 2 Kings 11:21 "Seven years old was Jehoash when he began to reign."
BOOK TO REMEMBER: Micah. Write "Micah" on small slips of paper and hand out at the end of class.
PRAYER: Thank God for those who love us and take care of us.
SPECIAL SONG: The Family In God's Plan (see March - Songs We Sing In Bible Class #4 on this blog)
VISUAL AID: Draw a picture of a young boy with a crown on his head. Write "Joash" on the board.
LESSON POINTS: Since this is a short lesson, it may be a good time to review some of the stories you have had recently, so they stay fresh in the students' minds.
- There were many wicked kings of Israel and Judah and very few good kings who loved God and followed His ways. Many of the kings were killed by people who wanted to be king, some were killed by their relatives, and a few were killed in battle. It wasn't always easy being a king. A king never knew who his friends were. He had to be careful.
- There was a wicked king of Judah who name was Ahaziah. He only reigned one year and then he died. When his wicked mother, Athaliah, saw that her wicked son was dead, she had all of his children--which were her grandchildren--killed, so she could be queen. How terrible was that! A very bad woman!
- However, there was one little boy whose name was Joash who had a kind aunt who loved him and saved his life by rescuing him and hiding him. His aunt took him when no one was looking, so no one even knew he had escaped! She hid him in the house of the LORD for SIX years! No one knew he was alive, especially not the wicked queen!
- Then, when Joash was seven years old, Jehoida, the priest, brought in the captains of the army, made them promise not to say anything, and then showed them the young boy, Joash, who would be king. Jehoida was a good man and he wanted Joash to be protected, so he had all of the captains of the army watch over Joash to make sure he was safe.
- Then they put a crown on Joash and made him king and anointed him. The people clapped their hands and shouted, "God save the king!" When the queen, Athaliah, heard the noise, she went to the temple of the LORD where the young king was standing by a pillar. The princes and the ones who blew on their trumpets were standing by Joash. All the people were rejoicing and were happy. All but Athaliah. She tore her clothes and cried, "Treason! Treason!" She was very distressed and unhappy that Joash was alive and that he was the king and she was not the queen.
- Jehoida made certain that Joash was not harmed. He told the captains of the army to follow Athaliah and kill her with a sword, but not to kill her in the temple of the Lord. So they followed her and killed her by the way where the horses came into the king's house. And that was the end of the wicked and bad queen Athaliah.
- Jehoida made a covenant or promise between the LORD and the king and the people that they should be the LORD's people, so all the people went into the house of the idol, Baal, and broke it down. All of the city was quiet and at rest because Athaliah was not queen and Joash was the brand new king at the age of seven years old!
"Older Student" Tips:
- The definition of treason is betrayal.
- Discuss how wicked Athaliah was. Read 2 Chronicles 23. It reads almost the same as 2 Kings 11.
ACTIVITY: Joash is king at seven years old!
Materials needed: 9" x 12" tan piece of construction paper, scrap of yellow paper, sequins or shiny pieces of paper, scissors, glue, marker and crayons.
- Hand out tan paper.
- Draw a picture of the side of a young boy.
- Cut a crown out of the yellow paper.
- Glue sequins of small circles of shiny paper on crown.
- Glue crown to the top of Joash's head.
- Write "Joash is king at SEVEN years old!!" and "2 Kings 11" on the tan paper.
