This lesson teaches children that God keeps every promise He makes, even when people try to stop Him. It works for children ages 5 to 11 and takes about 20 to 30 minutes, including the story, the verses, and the activity.
Big Idea
God always does what He says. No king, queen, or army can stop Him from keeping His promise.
Memory Verse
2 Kings 9:6
He arose, and went into the house. Then he poured the oil on his head, and said to him, “The LORD, the God of Israel, says, ‘I have anointed you king over the people of the LORD, even over Israel.
(WEB)
Have the children stand up and place both hands on their hearts as you say the verse together. On the word “anointed,” have them pretend to pour a little oil on their own heads, then sit down. Repeat it three times, faster each time, until they can say it with the motions.
The Story: 2 Kings 9 for Kids
Long ago, there was a wicked king named Joram. He ruled the land of Israel, and he did many bad things. God had a plan to set things right, and He chose a man named Jehu to become the next king. God sent a young prophet to find Jehu while he was sitting with the other army captains.
The young prophet walked right up to Jehu and poured oil on his head. He said, “The LORD says, I have anointed you king over Israel.” Then he ran away quickly. Jehu’s friends wanted to know what had happened, so Jehu told them the news. They were so happy that they blew a trumpet and shouted, “Jehu is king!”
Jehu got into his chariot and rode fast toward the city of Jezreel. King Joram was there, resting because he had been hurt in a battle. Joram saw Jehu coming and asked, “Is everything okay?” Jehu answered, “How can it be okay while your mother Jezebel is still doing evil things?”
Joram turned his chariot around to run away, but Jehu was faster. Jehu shot an arrow straight into Joram, and the wicked king fell down dead. Jehu remembered that God had promised to punish Joram for the bad things he had done to Naboth long ago. So Jehu told his helper to throw Joram’s body onto Naboth’s field, just as God had said.
Queen Jezebel heard that Jehu was coming. She fixed her hair and put on makeup, then looked out of a window. Jehu called up to the servants below her, and they threw her down. Jehu’s men then came back, and they found that the dogs had eaten her, just as God’s prophet Elijah had said long before. God kept every single one of His promises.
Read It Together
2 Kings 9:1-3
1 Elisha the prophet called one of the sons of the prophets, and said to him, “Put your belt on your waist, take this vial of oil in your hand, and go to Ramoth Gilead. 2 When you come there, find Jehu the son of Jehoshaphat the son of Nimshi, and go in, and make him rise up from among his brothers, and take him to an inner room. 3 Then take the vial of oil, and pour it on his head, and say, ‘The LORD says, “I have anointed you king over Israel.”’ Then open the door, flee, and don’t wait.”
(WEB)
Point out that God sent His prophet with a clear message before anything happened. Ask the children to notice how specific God’s instructions were, down to where Jehu would be sitting. This shows that God knows exactly where each of His people is.
2 Kings 9:36-37
36 Therefore they came back, and told him. He said, “This is the LORD’s word, which he spoke by his servant Elijah the Tishbite, saying, ‘The dogs will eat the flesh of Jezebel on the plot of Jezreel, 37 and the body of Jezebel will be as dung on the face of the field on Jezreel’s land, so that they won’t say, “This is Jezebel.”’”
(WEB)
Explain that these verses show God fulfilling the words He spoke through Elijah many years earlier. Remind the children that God’s words are never forgotten, and that every promise He makes will come true in its own time.
2 Kings 9:25-26
25 Then Jehu said to Bidkar his captain, “Pick him up, and throw him in the plot of the field of Naboth the Jezreelite; for remember how, when you and I rode together after Ahab his father, the LORD laid this burden on him: 26 ‘Surely I have seen yesterday the blood of Naboth, and the blood of his sons,’ says the LORD; ‘and I will repay you in this plot of ground,’ says the LORD. Now therefore take and cast him onto the plot of ground, according to the LORD’s word.”
(WEB)
Help the children see that Jehu remembered what God had said about Naboth and his sons. Point out that God does not forget wrongs done to innocent people, and that He is a God of justice who keeps His word.
Talk About It
- What did God send the young prophet to do, and how did he feel about carrying out God’s message?
- Why do you think Jehu’s friends were so excited when they heard the news?
- What promise did God keep in this story, and how do we know He kept it?
- How can you tell that God is in charge even when bad people seem powerful?
- What is one promise God has made to you that you are thankful for?
Activity Ideas
Crown Drawing Craft
You will need paper, crayons or markers, scissors, and glue or tape. Have each child cut a strip of paper long enough to fit around their head, then decorate it with colors and shapes. Tape the ends together to make a crown. As they wear their crowns, remind them that Jehu became king because God kept His promise.
Chariot Race Game
You will need a clear open space, a few cardboard boxes, and a bell or whistle. Have the children pair up and push a box along the floor like a chariot, racing to a finish line. When the whistle blows, they stop. Talk about how Jehu drove quickly to Jezreel because he was obeying God’s command.
Promise Keeper Take-Home Card
You will need index cards, a pencil, and a marker. Ask each child to write or draw one promise God has made in the Bible, such as His promise to always be with us. Let them decorate the card and take it home. Encourage them to read it each night before bed as a reminder that God keeps every promise.
Teacher Notes
For adults, this chapter shows that God’s word is trustworthy from beginning to end. The judgment on Ahab’s house and Jezebel was spoken long before it happened, and God carried it out exactly as announced. It reminds us that God’s justice is real and that He does not forget the suffering of the innocent.
With children, avoid suggesting that God wants us to be violent or that we should celebrate people dying. Keep the focus on God’s faithfulness and His authority to keep His word. Let the children know that this is a difficult story and that God’s justice belongs to Him.
A Prayer to Close
Dear God, thank You that You always keep Your promises. We know that You are in charge of everything, and nothing can stop You from doing what You say. Help us to trust You every day and to remember that Your words are always true. Amen.
