The Boy King

Have you ever noticed that people often think a child is "too small" to do important things? Well, today's lesson tells the story of a boy who, at just eight years old — about the same age as your class! — became king of an entire country. His name was Josiah.

And the most beautiful part is not that he became king so young. It is that, even as a little boy, Josiah chose to please God. He did not wait to grow up to start following the Lord. And that is what we are going to learn: you can decide to love and obey God even as a child — and that is the best choice in the world.

The story of the boy who became king

A long, long time ago, there was a country called Judah, and it was ruled by a king. Josiah's father, named Amon, was a very wicked king: he did things that made God sad and worshiped idols, which are false gods.

One day, Josiah had to become king in his father's place. But he was just a child — he was only eight years old! Just imagine: so young, not yet knowing all the laws, and already carrying such a big responsibility. Would Josiah do the same wrong things his father used to do?

No! Josiah made a different decision. He learned about the laws, learned how to govern, and chose good people who loved and respected God to help him. Little by little, the boy king did very important things to bring the people back to the Lord.

After a while, Josiah gave orders to repair the Temple, which was the house where the people worshiped God and which had fallen into ruin. There were carpenters and stoneworkers everywhere, new wood, stones — many people working to make the Temple beautiful again.

And then came a big surprise! In the middle of the repairs, the workers found a hidden treasure: the Book of the Law, the scroll with the Word of God. It had been lost for such a long time that no one read it anymore. That is why the people had forgotten how to please the Lord.

They took the Book to the king, and a man named Shaphan read it all out loud. Josiah was happy because they had found the Word of God — but he was also very sad, because he realized how much the people were displeasing the Lord. So he made another brave decision: he gathered everyone — the elderly, the adults, the men, the women, and the children too — and read the Word of God for all to hear. Right there, Josiah made a promise: to obey God with all his heart. And he ordered all the idols to be removed from the country, so that the people would worship only the true God, the Creator of heaven and earth.

The Bible says something incredible about him: there was never another king like Josiah, who served God with all his heart. And just think that it all started when he was still a boy!

What the story teaches

Josiah did not have a good example at home. His father did what was wrong. Even so, the boy king chose the right path: to please God.

This is very important for your class to understand. Some children live in homes where not everyone knows or obeys the Lord. But that does not stop anyone from deciding to follow God! Just like Josiah, every child — even at seven or eight years old — can already choose to love and obey the Lord for the rest of their life.

And look at what this choice does: it brings blessings. Not only to the one who chooses, but also to everyone around them. When Josiah decided to please God, the whole country was blessed along with him. Doing what is right is not always the easiest path — but it is always the best path.

❤ For the child's heart. You do not need to wait until you grow up to love God. Right now, just the way you are, you can say to the Lord: "I choose to follow You!" God is very happy with a child who decides to please Him — and He promises to bless whoever makes that choice.

Christ in the Lesson

Josiah loved the Word of God and led the people back to the Lord. He was a very good king! But Josiah was only a boy, and one day he grew up, grew old, and died. As good as he was, he could not take away the sin from people's hearts.

There is a much greater King, who does what no other king could ever do: Jesus. He is the perfect King, who never did anything wrong and obeyed God in everything. And Jesus did the most beautiful thing of all: He died on the cross and rose again to bring us close to God and give us a new heart.

Josiah opened the Book of the Law for the people to hear the Word of God. Jesus is the very Word of God who came to us! When a child chooses to follow the Lord, the One who helps them do it is Jesus, the King who reigns forever.

Closing Prayer

Dear God, thank You for the story of the boy Josiah, who even as a little child chose to please You and obey You. Help every child in this class to make the same choice today: to follow Your ways with all their heart. Thank You because, through Jesus, our perfect King, we can draw near to You. Bless these little ones and each of their families. In Jesus' name, amen.

Soli Deo Gloria — Scripture rules; everything else, on its knees.

Teacher's Guide

Introduce the Bible as a treasure. Before telling the story, show the children how the Word of God came down to us. Explain that the Bible did not always have the shape of a book: in ancient times, it was written by hand on long scrolls of parchment and papyrus. If you can, show a picture or make a scroll out of brown kraft paper. Emphasize how much time and dedication that took — every single word written by hand! This helps the child value the Book that Josiah ordered to be read to all the people.

Materials suggested by the quarterly: plain white paper, felt-tip markers, brown kraft paper (for the parchment scrolls), string (to tie the scrolls or hang up the verse).

Memory in action (2 Kings 22:2). Ask a student to read the verse in the Bible. Explain in a simple way what it means not to turn aside to the right or to the left (2 Kings 22:2): it is like walking on a straight path, without wandering off to the wrong sides — Josiah followed firmly after God, without turning aside. Then, hide a few "scrolls" (strips of brown paper) around the room: some with parts of the verse, one with the reference, and a few blank ones. The children search for them; whoever finds a part reads it out loud and waits for the others. When the verse is complete, everyone recites it together several times.

Three questions for the class:

1. How old was Josiah when he became king?
2. What treasure did the workers find during the repair of the Temple?
3. What can a child do today, just like Josiah did when he was little?

As you say goodbye, look each student in the eye and encourage them to do their best to choose to please God every day, in their everyday actions.