Archive for category: LivingEd – Youth

Featured Passage: 1 Chronicles 15-17, 22

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King David had built a house for himself in the City of David which is in Jerusalem. Though he had a beautiful place to live, he was sad because the ark of the covenant, the special box which represented God’s promises to Israel, was being kept in a man’s home at a place called Kirjath Jearim. He wanted the ark to be put in its own special house. He knew that the ark represented God’s dwelling place, so he wanted to build a house for God in Jerusalem to help show the people that God was with them. Before the house – the temple – could be built, David set up a special tabernacle in Jerusalem where the ark could be placed. He was very excited that the ark would finally come into the City of David, so he prepared a special celebration. 

Discuss:

• Who were the only ones who were allowed to carry the ark of the covenant? What was the special way the ark was to be carried? 
• What kind of instruments did David want to accompany the ark being brought into the city? What do you think the music sounded like? 
• What was David doing to worship God when the ark was brought into the city of David? What are some ways that we can worship God? 
• What did David give all the people so they could join in the celebration? (1 Chronicles 16:3)
• What is a psalm? How do we use psalms and music in church today? 
• What was the covenant God made with David about the temple that he wanted to build? 

Memory Challenge: 

2 Chronicles 15:3 

And David gathered all Israel together at Jerusalem, to bring up the ark of the Lord to its place, which he had prepared for it.

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Featured Passage: 1 Kings 5-8

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King David had a special desire: He wanted to build God a house. He felt bad that God still dwelt in the Tabernacle as He had with the Israelites in the wilderness while he lived in his own beautiful palace. However, God had other plans in mind for His house. He decided that King David was not the right man for the job, but rather He would let David’s son do the special project. Four years after Solomon began to reign over Israel, he started to build a house for God—the temple in Jerusalem. Solomon spared no expense to get materials of the finest quality with which to construct this marvelous dwelling place for the Most High. Even the stones were carefully shaped to fit perfectly together so that not a single hammer would need to be used when they assembled it. When it was finally completed, seven years later, it certainly must have been something wondrous to behold. The Ark of the Covenant was brought into the Most Holy place, and there awaited one more essential component—the presence of God Himself. 

Discuss: 

• What didn’t God want David to build the temple even though it was something he desired? Why did He instead give the job to Solomon? 
• To whom did Solomon write asking for help in building the temple? 
• What were some of the key materials Solomon used to build the temple? What were some of the elements that were built or crafted for the temple? 
• Why do you think Solomon had the stones crafted perfectly before they were brought to the temple mount to be put together? What kind of connections can we make between this and us as a spiritual temple? (Read Ephesians 2:19-22 for some clues)
• What were some of the colors used in the temple when it was furnished?
• At the dedication of the temple, what were some of the things included in the ceremony? What happened when the priests brought the ark of the covenant into the Most Holy place? Try to describe what it would have been like to be there. 

Memory Challenge: 

1 Kings 8:30

And may You hear the supplication of Your servant and of Your people Israel, when they pray toward this place. Hear in heaven Your dwelling place; and when You hear, forgive.

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Featured Passage: 2 Samuel 5-8

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After many years of running from his enemy, David learned that King Saul and three of his sons, including David’s beloved friend Jonathan, had died in a battle. Instead of rejoicing at the death of his enemy, David was very sad and mourned for Saul and for Jonathan. Though David was sad, God’s promise finally came true and David became King of Israel. When David first became king, he ruled from a city called Hebron. David had his eye on another city where he wanted to set up his capital and build his palace. The name of it was Jerusalem which means “City of Peace”. Jerusalem sat on a small mountain called Zion where David would build his city and where the King of Kings will one day return and build His own city of peace. 

 Discuss:

• How old was David when he began to reign as king of Israel? How many years did he rule as king?
• David made a tabernacle for the ark of God. What was the ark and why do you think it was so important to David? 
• How do you think David felt when he was finally able to bring the ark into the tabernacle in Jerusalem? What did he do? What are some ways that we can worship and praise God?
• David wrote a song about the ark being brought to the tabernacle (Psalm 105). Can you find the hymn we sing at church that is based on this psalm? 
• God promised David that his throne would be established forever. What does this mean? What will David be doing in the kingdom? 

Memory Challenge:

2 Samuel 7:26

So let Your name be magnified forever, saying, ‘The Lord of hosts is the God over Israel.’ And let the house of Your servant David be established before You.

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Featured Passage: 1 Samuel 4-6

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When Israel finally came into the land God promised them, under Joshua’s leadership each of the tribes were given different territories where they could build their homes and families. During their wanderings in the wilderness, God had led them with the ark of the covenant and the tabernacle to represent his presence. Upon entering the new land, Joshua and the people set up the tabernacle in Shiloh where the ark would stay for many years, long after Joshua was gone. For a long while the ark was undisturbed and kept by the Levites in the tabernacle, but the people were forgetting why it was important. One day, when the Israelites were desperately preparing to go out to battle against their enemies, they made a rash decision. If they were to bring the ark of the covenant into battle with them like in the days of Joshua, surely God would protect them, right? 

Discuss: 

• Why was the ark of the covenant so important? What did it represent? 
• Why do you think the Israelites decided to bring the ark into battle with them? Why didn’t their plan work? 
• What did the Philistines do with the ark when they first captured it? What happened to their idol when the ark was put in their pagan temple? What message do you think God was trying to send?
• Why did the Philistines decide to give the ark back to the Israelites? How did they do it? 
• Where was the ark kept after the Philistines sent it back? 
• The next person to move the ark of the covenant was King David (2 Samuel 6). Why did David move it? What happened when he tried?

Memory Challenge:

1 Samuel 4:22

And she said, “The glory has departed from Israel, for the ark of God has been captured.”

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Featured Passage: Joshua 6

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After the Israelites made it across the Jordan River, they prepared to meet the next obstacle – the great walled city of Jericho. The men who Joshua sent to spy out the city had come back with important information, but now Joshua needed a plan. Joshua knew that God was the one who would give Israel the victory, but he needed some directions. And, guess what? The Commander of the Army of the Lord Himself came to deliver them. On top of that, the directions He gave were not ordinary battle plans. These plans required a little bit of patience and a whole lot of faith! 

Discuss:

• All the people of the land had heard of the children of Israel. How do you think the people of Jereicho felt when they heard that the Israelites had crossed over the Jordan into their territory? Do you think the people of Jericho felt safe inside the city walls?  
• What were the directions that God gave to Joshua? What was unusual about them? What do you think the people of Jericho were thinking when they saw the Israelites following the directions they were given?
• How was the instruction for the army different on the seventh day than on the other days? Who did God protect in the city?
• Why do you think God planned the Battle of Jericho the way He did? 

Memory Challenge:

Joshua 6:2 

And the Lord said to Joshua: “See! I have given Jericho into your hand, its king, and the mighty men of valor.

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