In this lesson, children learn that Solomon built a special house for God in Jerusalem and that God wants to be close to His people. This lesson is for children ages 5 to 11 and takes about 20 to 30 minutes to teach.
Big Idea
God is worthy of our very best, and He wants to live with His people. Solomon built a beautiful house for God, and God is still with us today.
Memory Verse
2 Chronicles 3:1
Then Solomon began to build the LORD’s house at Jerusalem on Mount Moriah, where the LORD appeared to David his father, which he prepared in the place that David had appointed, on the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite.
(WEB)
Have the children stand tall and pretend to hammer nails with both hands, one hand after the other, as you read the verse together. Repeat it three times, speeding up a little each time, so the words stick.
The Story: 2 Chronicles 3 for Kids
A long time ago, a king named Solomon was ready to build a house for God. His father, King David, had wanted to build it too, but God gave the job to his son. Solomon chose a special hill in Jerusalem called Mount Moriah, the same place where God had appeared to David.
Solomon began the work in the second month of his reign. The builders set the foundation carefully, measuring every part so the house would be just right. Think about how big and important this project was for the whole nation.
Inside, the walls, beams, floors, and doors were covered with fine gold. Workers carved pictures of angels called cherubim into the walls. Solomon even made a special room called the most holy place, and it was covered in more gold than you could count easily.
Two large cherubim statues stood in that inner room, each with wings that stretched wide. Their wings touched the walls and each other, so the room felt like it was guarded by these shining angels. Solomon also made a curtain of blue, purple, red, and white linen, decorated with more cherubim.
Outside the house, Solomon set up two tall pillars, one on the right and one on the left. He gave them names, Jachin and Boaz. Solomon wanted everyone who came near to remember that this was a place set apart for God.
Read It Together
2 Chronicles 3:6
He decorated the house with precious stones for beauty. The gold was gold from Parvaim.
(WEB)
Ask the children to notice that the house was decorated with precious stones for beauty. Explain that the builders wanted to honor God by making His house beautiful, which shows that God deserves our very best effort.
2 Chronicles 3:16
He made chains in the inner sanctuary, and put them on the tops of the pillars; and he made one hundred pomegranates, and put them on the chains.
(WEB)
Point out the one hundred pomegranates hanging from the chains. Explain that these fruit decorations were part of the beauty of God’s house, and that every detail was chosen with care to show respect for God.
Talk About It
- Why do you think Solomon wanted to build a beautiful house for God?
- What is one thing you would want to make for God, and how would you make it special?
- Why do you think God chose a special place like Mount Moriah for His house?
- What are some ways we can show God that He is important to us every day?
- How does it make you feel to know that God wants to be close to His people?
Activity Ideas
Gold-Trimmed Temple Drawing
You will need paper, crayons or markers, and a gold crayon or yellow marker if you have one. Ask each child to draw a tall house with two pillars in front, one on each side of the doorway. Let them color the house and add gold trim around the doors and windows to show how the temple was covered in gold.
Build the Pillars Game
You will need empty paper towel tubes, or stacks of cups or blocks. Divide the children into two teams and give each team a pile of blocks or cups. Each team builds a tall pillar as quickly and carefully as they can. When they finish, call out the names Jachin and Boaz, and let the children celebrate their two pillars.
Take-Home Promise Card
You will need index cards, a pencil, and tape or a magnet. Help each child write or draw one way they can make God’s house, or their heart, a special place this week. Encourage them to put the card on the fridge or by their bed as a reminder that God wants to be close to them.
Teacher Notes
This passage shows that God cares about the details of worship and that His people are called to honor Him with their best. For adults, it also points to God’s faithfulness across generations, since He appeared to David and then continued His work through Solomon. The bigger picture is that God chose to dwell with His people, a truth fulfilled later in Jesus.
When teaching children, avoid overstating the gold, the measurements, or the exact size of the temple. The focus should be on God being worthy of honor and wanting to be near His people, not on the specific numbers or amounts of treasure used.
A Prayer to Close
Dear God, thank you for being with us and for wanting to be close to us. Help us to honor you with our best in everything we do and say. Thank you for keeping your promises from long ago until today. We love you. Amen.
