This lesson teaches children that God keeps His promises, and He wants His people to keep their promises too. It is written for children ages 5 to 11 and takes about 20 to 30 minutes to teach.
Big Idea
God always keeps His word, so we should keep our promises to Him and to the people around us.
Memory Verse
Jeremiah 34:5
You will die in peace; and with the burnings of your fathers, the former kings who were before you, so they will make a burning for you. They will lament you, saying, “Ah Lord!” for I have spoken the word,’ says the LORD.”
(WEB)
Have the children hold both hands out flat, palms up, as if carrying a promise, then slowly bring them together and clap once. Say the verse together while you do the motion each time, and let the children do it with you.
The Story: Jeremiah 34 for Kids
A long time ago, the big army of Babylon came to attack the city of Jerusalem. Its king was named Nebuchadnezzar, and he had many soldiers and many people from other lands marching with him. The people of Jerusalem were scared, and their king, Zedekiah, was scared too.
God sent His prophet Jeremiah to speak to King Zedekiah. Jeremiah told the king that the city would be given to the king of Babylon. But God also had a kind word for Zedekiah. He said, “You will not die by the sword. You will die in peace.” God always keeps His word, even when it is a hard word to hear.
Now, the people of Jerusalem had made a promise to God. They promised that every Hebrew servant who had been held as a worker would be set free. This was a good promise, because God had always wanted His people to treat one another with fairness and kindness. For a while, everyone kept the promise and let the servants go free.
But then the people changed their minds. They took the servants back and made them work again. They had said yes to God, and then they broke that promise. God was not pleased, and He told Jeremiah to tell them so. He reminded them that He had made a covenant with their families long ago, and they had not listened.
God said, “You turned away and did not keep the promise I wanted you to keep.” Because the people broke their word, God told them that hard things would come to them. Their enemies would take the city, and the people would be scattered. But God’s warnings always came with a chance to turn back to Him.
Read It Together
Jeremiah 34:8-10
8 The word came to Jeremiah from the LORD, after king Zedekiah had made a covenant with all the people who were at Jerusalem, to proclaim liberty to them; 9 that every man should let his male servant, and every man his female servant, who is a Hebrew or a Hebrewess, go free; that no one should make bondservants of them, of a Jew his brother. 10 All the princes and all the people obeyed who had entered into the covenant, that everyone should let his male servant, and everyone his female servant go free, that no one should make bondservants of them any more. They obeyed and let them go…
(WEB)
Point out that the people made a promise together and kept it for a while. Ask the children what it feels like when everyone does the right thing at the same time, and why keeping a promise matters so much.
Jeremiah 34:14-15
14 At the end of seven years, every man of you shall release his brother who is a Hebrew, who has been sold to you, and has served you six years. You shall let him go free from you; but your fathers didn’t listen to me, and didn’t incline their ear. 15 You had now turned, and had done that which is right in my eyes, in every man proclaiming liberty to his neighbor. You had made a covenant before me in the house which is called by my name…
(WEB)
Show the children that God reminded His people of a promise He had already made with their families. Explain that God was pleased when His people chose to do right, and that doing right is a good way to show our love for God.
Jeremiah 34:17
Therefore the LORD says: “You have not listened to me, to proclaim liberty, every man to his brother, and every man to his neighbor. Behold, I proclaim to you a liberty,” says the LORD, “to the sword, to the pestilence, and to the famine. I will make you be tossed back and forth among all the kingdoms of the earth.
(WEB)
Help the children see that God’s words are always true, both the warnings and the promises. Point out that God is faithful even when His people are not, and that He calls them back to Himself with kindness.
Talk About It
- What did the people of Jerusalem promise God, and what did they do after that?
- How do you think King Zedekiah felt when he heard God’s words through Jeremiah?
- Why do you think God wanted His people to set their servants free?
- Can you think of a time when you made a promise to someone? How did you keep it?
- What is one promise you can keep this week to show that you trust God?
Activity Ideas
Promise Handprint Craft
You will need construction paper, crayons or markers, scissors, and glue. Have each child trace their hand on the paper and cut it out. On each finger, have them write or draw one promise they can keep, such as helping at home or being kind to a friend. Glue the handprint to a sheet of paper and display it in the classroom or at home.
Keep Your Word Freeze Game
Gather the children in an open space and explain that when you call out a promise, they should freeze in place and hold their pose. Call out things like “Keep your word!” and have them march in place, then freeze. Mix in silly commands and let the children take turns being the leader. This game helps children practice listening carefully and following through.
Take-Home Promise Jar
You will need a clean jar, paper slips, and a pen. Give each child a jar and a small stack of paper slips. Ask them to write one promise they plan to keep each day, such as making their bed or saying thank you, and place it in the jar. At the end of the week, read the promises together as a family and talk about how God helped them keep their word.
Teacher Notes
For adults, this chapter shows that God’s word is always reliable, even when His people fail to keep their commitments to Him and to one another. The people of Judah made a solemn covenant, then broke it, and God responded with justice and a call to return. It reminds us that faithfulness matters deeply to God and that our promises carry weight.
Avoid overstating to children that God will always punish people immediately when they break a promise. The chapter describes serious consequences tied to a specific historical moment, and it is better to focus on God’s faithfulness and His desire for His people to do what is right.
A Prayer to Close
Dear God, thank You for always keeping Your word and for being faithful to us. Help us to keep our promises to You and to the people around us. When we want to break a promise, remind us of Your kindness and help us do what is right. Amen.
