VERSES: 2 Chronicles 36:20-23
MEMORY VERSE: 2 Chronicles 36:20 "And them that had escaped from the sword carried he away to Babylon; where they were servants to him and his sons until the reign of the kingdom of Persia."
BOOK TO REMEMBER: Again, review all 39 books of the Old Testament. Singing " The Books of The Old Testament" song may help some of the students remember the books in order. (See under 'Special Song' below)
PRAYER: May we always do right wherever we go.
SPECIAL SONG: The Books of The Old Testament (see March - Songs We Sing In Bible Class #3 on this blog)
VISUAL AID: Map, showing distance between Jerusalem and Babylon.
LESSON POINTS:
- We studied last time about Judah being carried away into Babylonian Captivity because of their rebellion to God and their love of idols more than their love of God. In today's lesson, we find that all those who had escaped the swords of the Babylonians were taken far away to Babylon (show the distance on the map). The people of Judah did not hop on a train or a bus to get to Babylon. No, they didn't have the transportation that we have now. They walked and it was a very long way. Do you think their feet hurt? Do you think the Babylonians cared if they were hot and tired and their feet had blisters on them? No. The Babylonians were ruthless fighting soldiers. Do you think the people of Judah wished they had obeyed God and longed for his protection and His providing them food? Yes. But they had been disobedient and their hearts had followed after false gods that were made out of stone and wood and made from men's hands. They were in a bad situation. The people were captives in Babylon and could not leave. They were slaves like they were in Egypt a long time ago.
- The Bible says that the people stayed in Babylon for 70 years and were servants to the king of Babylon until there arose a king of Persia named Cyrus who, by the providence of God, provided a way for the the people to return to Jerusalem.
- God worked and works through nations to subdue other nations. God is always in control and He always knows the future. God is more powerful than any ruler, any king, any president, or any council. He uses nations to fulfill His plan. God is ruler over all the heavens and the earth!
- Between verses 21 and 22 there is a gap of 70 years of history. In order to know what happened during those 70 years of captivity, we must read the books of Ezekiel and Daniel.
- To know the end of the Old Testament history, Ezra, Nehemiah and Esther tell us many things we need to know.
- The books of Poetry (Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiates, and the Song of Solomon) and the Prophets (from Isaiah through Malachi) were mixed into 1 and 2 Samuel, 1 and 2 Kings, and 1 and 2 Chronicles. The prophets lived at the same time of the kings and sometimes God would send more than one prophet to warn the people of their sin.
- These simple and basic notes can help us in studying the Bible, so it might be easier for us to understand why, for example, we read of the prophet, Isaiah, (2 Kings 20) speaking to Hezekiah and the prophet, Jeremiah, lamenting Josiah's death (2 Chronicles 35:25). Prophets and kings were contemporaries and lived at the same time.
- Also, the Bible was not necessarily written in chronological order. It is good to remember these things as we study God's Word.
ACTIVITY: God's People In Babylon Book
Materials Needed: 12" x 18" piece of any color construction paper (one color for each student), scissors, marker or crayon, stapler, staples.
- Hand out construction paper to students.
- Fold paper in half.
- Fold in half again.
- Cut 8 large circles out of paper.
- Trade one circle to a friend.
- Page One: On the different colored circle, write "God's People In Babylon." (see picture above.)
- Page Two: Write "2 Chronicles 36:20-23."
- Page Three: Write "God's people were captives. They could not leave."
- Page Four: Write "The people stayed in Babylon 70 years."
- Page Five: Write "The people were servants to the king of Babylon."
- Page Six: Write "The people stayed in Babylon until there arose a king of Persia.".
- Page Seven: Write "Cyrus was the king of Persia."
- Page Eight: Write "God's people should have obeyed God."
- Put pages of book in order.
- Staple.
- Read together.
