This lesson teaches children that King Josiah loved God with his whole heart, so he cleaned out idols and read God’s Word to his people. It is best for ages 5 to 11 and takes about 20 to 30 minutes.
Big Idea
When we love God, we want to get rid of anything that takes His place in our hearts, and we want to obey what He says.
Memory Verse
2 Kings 23:3
The king stood by the pillar, and made a covenant before the LORD, to walk after the LORD, and to keep his commandments, his testimonies, and his statutes, with all his heart, and all his soul, to confirm the words of this covenant that were written in this book; and all the people agreed to the covenant.
(WEB)
Stand up tall, then place both hands over your heart. Slowly open your arms wide while you say the verse together, as if you are promising God all of your heart.
The Story: 2 Kings 23 for Kids
A long time ago, a boy named Josiah became king of Judah. He was only a young boy when he started to rule, and he wanted to please God. Many of the people before him had worshiped statues and idols instead of the one true God.
One day, the workers in God’s temple found an old book. It was the book of God’s law, the words God had given to Moses. King Josiah had the book read out loud to everyone, from the youngest child to the oldest grownup. Then he stood by a pillar and promised God that he would follow His commands with all his heart.
Josiah got to work right away. He told the priest Hilkiah to carry out every idol from God’s house and burn them outside the city. He tore down the places where people had been bowing to fake gods. He even got rid of the places where people had sacrificed their children to a false god named Molech. Josiah was making God’s land clean again.
Josiah also remembered a prophet who had warned about a king who would one day destroy the false altar at Bethel. When Josiah looked at a tomb there, the men of the city told him it was the prophet’s tomb. Josiah said, “Let him be! Let no one move his bones.” Then he celebrated the Passover, a special day to remember how God rescued His people long ago.
The story of Josiah does not have a happy ending for everyone, since God still had to judge the sin of the people. But Josiah was a king who loved God and obeyed His word, and the Bible remembers him for it.
Read It Together
2 Kings 23:2
The king went up to the LORD’s house, and all the men of Judah and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem with him, with the priests, the prophets, and all the people, both small and great; and he read in their hearing all the words of the book of the covenant which was found in the LORD’s house.
(WEB)
Point out that Josiah read God’s law to everyone, from the smallest child to the grownups. Ask the children why it matters that everyone heard God’s words.
2 Kings 23:21
The king commanded all the people, saying, “Keep the Passover to the LORD your God, as it is written in this book of the covenant.”
(WEB)
Show how Josiah told the people to keep the Passover to the Lord. Explain that the Passover was a reminder of how God saved His people, and that remembering God’s goodness is something we can also do today.
2 Kings 23:25
There was no king like him before him, who turned to the LORD with all his heart, and with all his soul, and with all his might, according to all the law of Moses; and there was none like him who arose after him.
(WEB)
Point out that the Bible says Josiah turned to the Lord with all his heart and all his soul. Ask the children what it looks like to love God with all of our heart.
Talk About It
- What did King Josiah do when he found God’s book of the law?
- Why do you think Josiah wanted to get rid of the idols in God’s land?
- What are some things that can take up the place in our hearts that only God should have?
- How did Josiah show that he loved God with all his heart?
- What is one way you can show God that you want to obey Him this week?
Activity Ideas
Draw a Clean Heart
You will need paper, crayons or markers, and scissors. Ask each child to draw a big heart and then color in something that is important to them. Next, have them cross out or cut off anything that is not for God and write the words “God First” inside the heart. Hang the hearts on the wall as a reminder that God should be first in our lives.
Idol Clean-Up Race
You will need a few small toys or paper cutouts to act as idols, a bin, and a timer. Scatter the toys across the floor and have the children race to collect them and put them in the bin, saying “God is first!” as they go. Explain that Josiah cleared the idols out of God’s land, and this game helps us remember that we want to clear out anything that keeps our hearts from God.
Take-Home Bookmark
You will need cardstock, a marker, and a hole punch with a ribbon. Have each child write “2 Kings 23:3” on one side and draw a heart on the other. Punch a hole at the top and tie on the ribbon. Encourage the children to use the bookmark when they read their Bible at home, and to say the memory verse before bed.
Teacher Notes
For adults, this chapter shows a leader who took God’s Word seriously and led his people back to worship of the one true God. It also shows that real change often means removing things that have pulled hearts away from God, and that reform begins with hearing God’s words again.
Avoid overstating to children that obeying God always brings an easy or happy outcome. Josiah was faithful, yet the chapter also reports that God’s judgment on Judah was not turned away. Help children see that God is faithful and good, and that obeying Him is always right, even when the results are complicated.
A Prayer to Close
Lord, thank you for giving us your holy Word that tells us how to live. Help us to love you with all of our hearts, and to get rid of anything that takes your place. Give us courage to obey you every day, just like King Josiah. Amen.
