Jeremiah 50 teaches children that God is faithful, even when His people wander away, and that He is the one who brings them home. This lesson is for children ages 5 to 11 and takes about 20 to 30 minutes to teach.
Big Idea
God is a faithful Shepherd. Even when His people get lost, He is strong enough to bring them back home, and He always keeps His promises.
Memory Verse
Jeremiah 50:6
My people have been lost sheep. Their shepherds have caused them to go astray. They have turned them away on the mountains. They have gone from mountain to hill. They have forgotten their resting place.
(WEB)
Hold your hands up like you are carrying a little lamb in your arms, then gently rock them side to side. Ask the children to do the same motion each time they say “Shepherd” or “lost sheep” while they recite the verse together.
The Story: Jeremiah 50 for Kids
A long time ago, the prophet Jeremiah wrote a message from God about the great city of Babylon. Babylon was a powerful city in the land of the Chaldeans, and its people were proud. They believed no one could ever defeat them.
God told Jeremiah to tell the nations that Babylon would fall. Its idols, which people had made with their own hands, could not save it. God said that a great army would come from the north and make the land quiet and empty.
God also spoke about His own people, the children of Israel and Judah. They had wandered away from Him like sheep that got lost on the mountains. Their shepherds had led them the wrong way, and they had forgotten the safe place where they belonged.
But God said that one day His people would come back, crying and looking for Him. They would say, “Come, let us join ourselves to the LORD in a promise that will never be forgotten.” God promised to forgive them and bring them home.
God is strong, and He is the one who will plead their cause. He would bring rest to His people and bring justice to those who had hurt them. The people of Babylon had been proud, but God would make them humble.
Read It Together
Jeremiah 50:4-5
4 “In those days, and in that time,” says the LORD, “the children of Israel will come, they and the children of Judah together; they will go on their way weeping, and will seek the LORD their God. 5 They will inquire concerning Zion with their faces turned toward it, saying, ‘Come, and join yourselves to the LORD in an everlasting covenant that will not be forgotten.’
(WEB)
Point out that God’s people are coming back to Him with their faces turned toward Him. Ask the children to notice that they are crying, yet they are seeking the LORD, which shows that God welcomes those who return to Him.
Jeremiah 50:19
I will bring Israel again to his pasture, and he will feed on Carmel and Bashan. His soul will be satisfied on the hills of Ephraim and in Gilead.
(WEB)
Explain that God says He will bring His people back to a good pasture, where they can eat and be full. Help the children see that God takes care of His people and gives them what they need.
Jeremiah 50:34
Their Redeemer is strong: The LORD of Armies is his name. He will thoroughly plead their cause, that he may give rest to the earth, and disquiet the inhabitants of Babylon.
(WEB)
Tell the children that God is called their Redeemer, which means He is the one who buys back and rescues His people. Emphasize that God is strong and that He is faithful to protect those who belong to Him.
Talk About It
- What did God’s people do when they got lost, and how did God want them to respond?
- Why do you think God called His people sheep, and what does a shepherd do for his sheep?
- How does it make you feel to know that God can always find you and bring you home?
- What do you think it means that God is strong enough to take care of His people?
- What is one way you can turn your heart back to God when you feel far away from Him?
Activity Ideas
Paper Plate Sheep Craft
Gather paper plates, cotton balls, glue, black construction paper, and markers. Have each child glue cotton balls onto the paper plate to make a fluffy sheep, then add black paper ears, legs, and a face. As they work, remind them that God is their Shepherd who always knows where they are.
Follow the Shepherd Game
Choose one child to be the Shepherd and have the other children be the lost sheep who wander around the room. Call out, “Come back to the Shepherd!” and have the sheep quickly find their way back to the Shepherd. Play several rounds, and talk about how God always calls His people home.
Take-Home Promise Card
Give each child an index card and a pencil. Have them draw a simple picture of a shepherd and a sheep on the front and write the words “God brings me home” on the back. Encourage them to place the card on their bedside table or in their backpack as a reminder that God always keeps His promises.
Teacher Notes
For adults, Jeremiah 50 shows that God is sovereign over nations and their pride, and that He remains faithful to His people even after they have wandered far from Him. The chapter moves from judgment on Babylon to the promise of restoration for Israel and Judah, revealing God’s justice and His mercy.
When teaching children, avoid overstating the violence and destruction described in the chapter. Focus on God’s faithfulness and His desire to bring His people back home, rather than dwelling on the details of the battles or the fall of Babylon.
A Prayer to Close
Dear God, thank You for being our faithful Shepherd. When we get lost and wander away from You, help us remember that You always know where we are. Bring us back home to You, and help us trust that You always keep Your promises. Amen.
