Thank you for coming to Samsbiblestories.com and for taking a look at the lessons I have added. These lessons are the result of years of teaching Sunday school at an Elementary level. God has richly blessed me in being able to share His Word with thousands of young people. It is now my privilege to share them with you. Please feel free to use them with your class, wherever God has planted you. The only think I ask is that you drop me a line and let me know who you are and how the lessons are working for you. Any comments or suggestions would be appreciated. God Bless you, Sam God Bless

Denver the wise dog?

Bible Story-time Danger Zone (cautious people see danger and get out of the way!; Josiah chooses to follow God) Proverbs 22:3; 2 Kings 22–23

Recently we studied the story about a King of Israel who was the son of King Solomon, who remembers this King’s name? Who remembers? King Rehoboam made some bad choices and followed foolish advice from his friends and do you remember what happened to the Kingdom?

The Kingdom divided

Many Kings later, there was a King by the name of Amon who was very evil and was killed by his own men. Amon had a son who was only 8 years old. He was the only choice to become the new King.

22 Josiah was eight years old when he began to rule. He ruled 31 years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Jedidah the daughter of Adaiah of Bozkath. 2 Josiah did what the L ORD said was right. He followed God like his ancestor David. Josiah obeyed God’s teachings—he did exactly what God wanted. 2 Kings 22-23

One Josiah Character Five workers in the Temple Several false prophets One High Priest Hilkiah and his assistant Shaphan

There had been many bad Kings who had forgotten to follow God and had completely accepted the false gods of the people around them. They not only did not worship the true God any longer, they did not even know what the Word of God was. King Josiah wanted to serve God, but did not know where to begin. He was only eight years old, but had a wise mother. His mother told him to rebuild the Temple of God (which was kind of a mess) and God would show him the way. The Kingdom of Israel

8 Hilkiah the high priest said to Shaphan the secretary, “Look, I found the Book of the Law in the L ORD ’s Temple!” Hilkiah gave the book to Shaphan, and Shaphan read it. King Josiah (2 Kings 22-23) 10 Then he told the king, “And Hilkiah the priest also gave this book to me.” Then Shaphan read the book to the king.

What do you think was Josiah’s reaction when he heard God’s word for the first time? 11 When the king heard the words of the Book of the Law, he tore his clothes to show he was sad and upset.

“Go and ask the L ORD what we should do. Ask for me, for the people, and for all Judah. Ask about the words of this book that was found. The L ORD is angry with us, because our ancestors did not listen to the words of this book. They did not obey all the commands that were written for us.” Then Josiah took charge, he said.

23 King Josiah told all the leaders of Judah and Jerusalem to come and meet with him. 2 Then the king went up to the L ORD ’s Temple. All the people of Judah and the people who lived in Jerusalem went with him. The priests, the prophets, and all the people—from the least important to the most important—went with him. Then he read the Book of the Agreement. This was the Book of the Law that was found in the Lord’s Temple. Josiah read the book so that all the people could hear it.

Josiah went on to do some serious house cleaning in the Temple of God! But he didn’t stop there…

3 The king stood by the column and made an agreement with the L ORD. He promised to follow the L ORD and to obey his commands, the laws, and his rules. He promised to do this with all his heart and soul. He promised to obey the agreement written in this book. All the people stood to show that they promised to follow the agreement.

25 There had never been a king like Josiah before. Josiah turned to the L ORD with all his heart, with all his soul, and with all his strength. No king had followed all the Law of Moses like Josiah. And there has never been another king like Josiah since that time.