Listen up, little ones
Listen for the words Lord, God, gods.
Reading
Judges 2:1-15-Loving Discipline
Optional Reading
Hebrews 12:5-17
Keys for kids
- We often disobey God.
- God loves us enough to discipline us.
- God's discipline is to help us repent and obey.
Questions
- Why did Israel weep?
- Why does God discipline His people?
- How should we respond to discipline?
Notes
(See Saturday for authors.)
The book of Judges is full of exciting stories, powerful heroes, and important lessons. As it begins, God gathers His people and reminds them of all the good things He has done for them. But instead of obeying Him, they often chose to do the wrong thing. God asked them, "Why have you done this?"
God tells the Israelites that He will leave some of the other nations in the land to test them. Will they follow God, or will they follow the ways of the people around them?
The Israelites were very sad when they heard this. They cried so much that they named the place Bochim, which means "Weeping." Will this be godly sorrow that brings forth repentance? (1 Cor 7.10)
Sadly not. We then get a preview of what the rest of the book will describe-increasingly negative cycles of disobedience, discipline, distress, then deliverance.
Everyone chooses someone or something to follow. Israel was supposed to follow the one true God, but they kept turning to idols instead. When they did, God disciplined them because He loved them, just like a good parent disciplines a child.
God's discipline for Israel was to hand them over to their enemies where they found that their enemies, like their enemies' gods, were cruel masters. Yet Judges is not just about ancient Israel-it's about us. Because God loves us, He will discipline our disobedience.
Swedish Method questions
Praise
Psalm 118d, 51d
Prayer
- Thank God that He loves you and disciplines you.
- Give thanks for something from last Lord’s Day’s sermons.
- Pray for a member of our church, for your family, and for a non-Christian friend/family member.