In 2 Kings 14, children learn that God sees how we live and cares about what is right and wrong, even when the people around us do not. This lesson is designed for children ages 5 to 11 and takes about 20 to 30 minutes to teach.
Big Idea
God wants us to do what is right, and He sees everything we do. Pride can lead us into trouble, but humble hearts can follow God.
Memory Verse
2 Kings 14:3
He did that which was right in the LORD’s eyes, yet not like David his father. He did according to all that Joash his father had done.
(WEB)
Ask the children to stand tall with their hands on their hearts, then sit down slowly while saying, “He did what was right.” Repeat it three times, standing up on “right” and sitting on “wrong,” so the motion helps them remember the verse.
The Story: 2 Kings 14 for Kids
Long ago, there was a king in Judah named Amaziah. He was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he ruled in Jerusalem for twenty-nine years. Amaziah tried to please God, but he did not follow God the way his father David had.
Amaziah had a problem. Some of his servants had hurt the king who came before him, and they were still around. The king did something fair. He punished the men who had done the wrong thing, but he did not punish their children. He remembered what God’s law said: each person is responsible for their own sin.
Amaziah then went to war with the Edomites. He won a big battle in a valley called the Valley of Salt. Winning made him proud. He sent a message to Jehoash, the king of Israel, and said, “Come, let us meet face to face.”
Jehoash answered with a story about a thistle and a cedar tree. He warned Amaziah, “You have won a battle, so enjoy your glory and stay at home. Do not start a fight you cannot finish.” But Amaziah would not listen. The two armies met, and Judah lost the battle. Jehoash even broke down part of Jerusalem’s wall.
After this, the story keeps going with more kings, both good and bad. In the end, the chapter reminds us that the kings were not the ones who ruled the world. God was still in charge the whole time.
Read It Together
2 Kings 14:6
But the children of the murderers he didn’t put to death; according to that which is written in the book of the law of Moses, as the LORD commanded, saying, “The fathers shall not be put to death for the children, nor the children be put to death for the fathers; but every man shall die for his own sin.”
(WEB)
Show the children that Amaziah was fair to the children of the men who hurt his father. Explain that God wants people to be responsible for their own choices and to treat others fairly.
2 Kings 14:10
You have indeed struck Edom, and your heart has lifted you up. Enjoy the glory of it, and stay at home; for why should you meddle to your harm, that you fall, even you, and Judah with you?’”
(WEB)
Read how Jehoash warned Amaziah that pride could lead to a fall. Talk about how it feels when we want credit for what we have done and whether we are willing to listen to good advice.
Talk About It
- What do you think it means to do what is right in God’s eyes?
- Why do you think Amaziah stopped listening when Jehoash gave him advice?
- How can we tell when we are feeling proud, and what can we do about it?
- Why was it fair for Amaziah to spare the children of the men who hurt his father?
- When is a time you had to choose between doing what was right and doing what was easy?
Activity Ideas
Thistle and Cedar Drawing
You will need paper, crayons or markers, and a pencil. Ask each child to draw two plants: a small thistle and a tall cedar tree. Then have them draw a wild animal walking over the thistle. Talk about how the story shows that pride can make someone think they are bigger than they really are.
Stand Tall, Sit Humble Game
Gather the children in an open space. Call out “Pride!” and have them stand on their tiptoes with their arms stretched high. Then call out “Humble!” and have them crouch down low. Mix it up quickly, and talk afterward about how it feels to stand tall versus sit low, and which posture God delights in more.
Right Choice Jar
You will need an empty jar, paper slips, and a pencil. Ask each child to write one way they can do what is right this week, then fold the paper and place it in the jar. Take the jar home and read one or two slips each day at dinner, reminding your family to pray for each person’s choice.
Teacher Notes
For adults, this chapter shows that God is faithful even when kings make poor choices. Amaziah’s story reveals how pride can lead to a downfall, and how God’s law calls for personal responsibility. Notice that God still keeps His promises to Israel, even as the nation suffers.
Avoid overstating to children that every proud person will lose a battle. The chapter describes what happened to Amaziah, but it does not teach that God always works this way. Focus instead on the lesson that humility and listening to wise advice honor God.
A Prayer to Close
Lord, help us to do what is right, even when it is hard. Help us to be humble and listen when others give us good advice. Teach us to remember that You see everything we do. Thank You for loving us. Amen.
