YEA Lesson Library
The Promised King
About This Lesson
With a history of suffering, captivity, and occupation, God’s people have longed for the fulfillment of God’s promises to David that his offspring (Jesus Christ) would sit on the throne forever.
Scriptures
Deuteronomy 11:26-27
Deuteronomy 28
Psalm 89:1-4, 29, 36-37
Psalm 132:11-12
Isaiah 7:10-14
Isaiah 9:6-7
Isaiah 11:1-2
Isaiah 16:5
Micah 5:2
John 1:41
John 4:25
Hebrews 10:23
The Lesson
Derek, whose screen name is 4MeOnly, turned on his computer and was surprised by the conversation going on in the chatroom. Everyone seemed very concerned. “Something terrible has happened,” SweetKim said. “A foreign government has taken an entire country captive, a country you visited while on vacation last year. These captives are treated in the worst possible way. The enemies are withholding food, the people are sick, and they are suffering terrible treatment.” related to 4MeOnly and others on the Derek knew some of these people personally, he had made friends with them while he was abroad. So, this got Derek’s attention. He had more questions than answers. “How could such a thing happen to my friends?” 4MeOnly asked. “Why would God allow such a thing to happen to such nice people? I thought He would give them a king who would bring peace and prosperity.”
Does this story sound real? It is actually fabricated, but it’s not as remote as you might think.
The Israelites, who are our forefathers, suffered something similar to what SweetKim related to 4MeOnly and others on the internet. God’s chosen people had been promised a King. They expected Him to usher in a fantastic world and set up God’s Kingdom on this earth. They expected everything to be good. But just the opposite happened to them. Why?
The Israelites had lots of trials and tribulations. You’ve heard the expression, “Don’t worry, nothing is going to turn out right.” That’s probably how God’s people felt. Their history was full of suffering and sorrow.
God told the nation of Israel if they fully obeyed all His commandments, He would make them the greatest nation in the world. He would bless their cities and fields, give them many children, ample crops for food, and large healthy flocks. That’s a lot of wealth! God promised to defeat their enemies and prosper everything they did (Deuteronomy 28). But, it was conditional. The blessings depended on them being careful to obey God. If they didn’t, there would be consequences.
God further told His people if they didn’t listen to and obey His laws, curses would replace the blessings. He told them they would be failures in everything they did if they forsook Him. Their crops would be devastated, they would be plagued with diseases and droughts. They would flee before their enemies, but their enemies would over-take them. “You will be tossed to and fro before all of the nations.”
Israel did not obey God and the consequences were captivity and curses. Israel was divided and conquered. The people were taken captive to the strange land of Babylon and made slaves.
Eventually Israel returned to their beloved land. They rebuilt King Solomon’s Temple. But armies continued to march back and forth through their land. Rulers and conquerors came and went. After hundreds of years without peace, the powerful Roman Empire dominated the world and firmly ruled over the land of Judea. The Israelites must have wondered if God had forgotten about them. But, God hadn’t forgotten them—they had forgotten God and rejected His way.
The Israelites longed for their own King! They wanted to be a great nation again, as they were under Kings David and Solomon. The Scriptures and priests told of a promised Messiah. God made these promises long before the Romans ruled the world. “For to us a Child is born, to us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulders, and His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end. Upon the throne of David, and upon His Kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this” (Isaiah 9:6-7).
Isaiah says this coming King will descend from the family of Jesse, who was King David’s father. “There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots. And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord” (Isaiah 11:1-2).
Give some thought to why the Israelites suffered so much at the hands of their enemies. What can you learn from this? God promises blessings for everyone who will obey Him. On the other hand, His blessings and protection are withheld from those who refuse to obey Him.
God allowed Israel to suffer so they could learn the important lesson of obedience. God does not change. He keeps His promises. If you obey Him, you will have His blessings. If you refuse to keep His commandments, there are consequences—you will lose God’s protection as the Israelites did. You will leave yourself wide open for the same kinds of suffering and sorrow they experienced. The choice is yours!
Student Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father,
You have made it plain in your Word that sin brings pain, sorrow and suffering. You have also shown me that if I obey you, blessings will come my way. I don’t want to suffer as the Israelites of old did. But I am tempted so often to give in to sin. I need your help each day to please you. Please help me to be strong and obey you.
In Jesus’ name.
Amen.
Daily Devotions
Sunday: John 1:41; 4:25
Monday: Isaiah 7:10-14
Tuesday: Micah 5:2
Wednesday: Deuteronomy 11:26-27
Thursday: Psalm 132:11-12
Friday: Isaiah 9:6-7; 16:5
Saturday: Psalm 89:1-4, 29, 36-37
Objectives
At the end of this lesson, students will be able to:
1. Explain that the sorrow, suffering and captivity that the Israelites experienced was because they did not obey God.
2. Explain that God allowed Israel to suffer so that they could learn the lessons of obedience.
3. State that if they want God’s blessings and protection, they too must obey Him.
4. Tell that Israel longed for the King that God promised.
Topics & Themes
Blessings/Cursings
Captivity
Consequences of Sin
Fulfillment of Prophecy
Israelites
Jesus, Birth of
King of kings
Obedience
Romans
Sin (aka disobedience)
Temple
Materials Needed
Bible, YEA students and teacher’s books, chalk, construction paper, marker pen, chalkboard and/or newsprint paper, songbook, CD/cassette tape and player
How to Teach This Lesson
Memory work for this 10 week period will be learning the books of the New Testament. Plan ahead to give each student who recites these books an appropriate award on the tenth week.
You may have a combination of early and mid teens in your class. As children enter their early teen years they often become embarrassed with their families. They may not want to be seen in public with their parents or siblings. Young intermediates haven’t yet developed the maturity to accept small foibles of friends and families. These teens can even be mortified by their own behavior. Developing bodies add to their embarrassment. It’s not uncommon for intermediates to be withdrawn and refuse to communicate.
Getting this age group to participate in a meaningful discussion can be a real challenge. It is almost certain to be a nonstarter to begin a discussion by asking early teens to explain a scripture. Begin the discussion with the familiar – in their world, and work your way gently into a Bible discussion. Listen and watch body languages, even when they don’t talk. Allow each teen space and don’t call attention to their awkward moments. Give a lot of positive reinforcement such as, “good point”, “well put”, “that’s helpful to all of us”, etc. Rather than assuming the roll as a director of teens, be a consultant. Listening is important, but so is sound biblical teaching.
By sequentially following the questions laid out below, you will be well equipped to stay on track, complete every section and meet the objectives of this lesson. Start the discussion by relating a personal incident when you were influenced by another person to sin. Suddenly nothing was working for you, and it seemed as though you were under a curse. When you realized that God was no longer first place in your life, you confessed your sin and repented. Your life began to work, and God began to bless you.
How many of you think that you have more influence on your friends than they have on you? Just for fun, let’s take a survey and see what we find out. If your answer is yes, please raise your hand after each of these questions. As you ask the questions count the raised hands and write the number on a newsprint pad or a chalkboard beside each number.
1. Are you usually the first to decide if your gang will go get pizza or a hamburger?
2. Are you the first to wear a new color, style or something different to school?
3. Are you the one who chooses the movie you and your friends go to see?
4. Are you the one who decides which activity you and your friends will do for fun?
5. Do you usually stick with your decision not to do something you feel is wrong?
As a class, do the numbers show that we have more influence on others or do our peers have more influence on us? (Tally the numbers and see what it shows the class.)
How great are the consequences if you have pizza rather than a hamburger? Not very great. How great are the consequences if one of your friends lead you to sin and destroy your relationship with God? This could be much more serious.
The Israelites were God’s chosen people. Even though they were very special to God, we learned in our lesson that they suffered trials, tribulation and were ever captured by the Romans.
Why were they captured by foreigners? Because they disobey God and didn’t follow Him. Was their suffering necessary or could they have avoided it?
Ask one of the better readers to read Deuteronomy 28:15 aloud. Allow the students to use their Bibles and ask them to name some of the curses that God said would happen to Israel if they didn’t obey Him. Write “curses” on one side of the chalkboard. Write these words under it as the student reads: crop failures, famine, unable to have children, cattle wouldn’t reproduce, diseases, plagues, war, no rain, defeated by their enemies, captivity. Ask one of the students to read Deuteronomy 28:1-10 aloud. Add “blessings” on the chalkboard, and list each one as the students read – blessed in the city, blessed in the field, many children, ample crops, large flocks and herds, blessed with fruit and bread, blessed when you come home, blessed when you leave.
What should the Israelites have done to prevent captivity? Obey God and keep His commandments.
What should the Israelites have done to receive God’s blessings? Obey God and keep His commandments.
What should you do to receive God’s blessings? Obey God and keep His commandments.
Teacher-Directed Activity
Have the kids create road signs that will lead them into a relationship with God from red, yellow, white and orange construction paper. Encourage them to brainstorm sign ideas. Give them newsprint to reach from floor to ceiling, and have them paint a road in the middle of the newsprint paper, with a dividing line. On one side they will attach positive signs to keep them on the right path and on the other side, caution or warning signs. The following are suggested signs: “Keep right with God,” “One Way to God,” “Stop Sinning,” “Yield to Christ,” “Do Not Enter into Sin.”
REACH Activity
Memory Verse Spotlight
Look up the word “confession.” Write down the Greek word and its meaning. Then find three other Scriptures where this word is used.
Where in the World?
Photocopy a map which shows an overview of the Roman world in 5 B.C. Highlight the major trade routes and cities. Then copy a current map to compare. Make a special place in your Bible notebook to keep your maps for future reference.
They Did What Back Then?
Research Roman occupation of Judea around the time of Christ. These questions will get you started: When did Roman General Pompey incorporate Judea into the Roman Empire? Who was Herod the Great? How did he become king? Who was Augustus Caesar and when did he rule? Find two Scriptures which indicate what life was like under Roman occupation.
Making It Mine
Although God promises to reward those who obey Him and punish those who disobey, God’s timing is always involved. Think about Jesus: Jesus suffered greatly. Was it because of His disobedience? No. We know Jesus never sinned! Rather, because of Jesus’ obedience to the Father’s will, He is now seated at God’s right hand. He was rewarded for His obedience, in God’s time.
So suffering does not always indicate you are outside the will of God. It can mean He is trying to teach you something. Think of a time when you suffered. Did you suffer because of sin? If it wasn’t a direct result of your sin, then pray about the situation and ask God to show you what He wants you to learn. Make a section in your Bible notebook for journaling your thoughts. Write about suffering, sin, consequences (both negative and positive), and God’s timing.
Worldview Collisions (see introductory information for an explanation)
A secular worldview says that there is no absolute right or wrong. The individual gets to decide what works best for him or her. A biblical worldview says God sets the absolutes of right and wrong; God’s laws are a reflection of His character. Using a concordance, find three to five Scriptures that talk about God setting the standard. (Hint: Good words to look up might be: words, laws, decrees, ways.)
Questions
As you’re working through the YEA lesson, Daily Devotionals, doing the activity, or reading the Bible, be sure to write down any questions you have. That way you’ll remember to ask someone. Also remember to share the really interesting things you’re learning with family and friends.
Song
“Hear O Israel” is on page 100 of The Group Songbook.
Closing Prayer
The prayer in their book is for the students to think about and perhaps learn how to pray or improve their time with God. Ask one of the students to lead in prayer.
Printable Pages
