Lamentations

Passage:

Familiarize yourself with the following passage:

 The Book of Lamentations

The word lamentation, or lament, is an expression of grief when someone faces a loss or death. The book of Lamentations is a song of lament over the fall of the precious city of Jerusalem. While no one knows for sure who wrote this book, it is believed that is could have been Jeremiah, who witnessed firsthand the destruction of his beloved city. This book shows us that it is ok for us to grieve a loss. It also reveals that the messages of destruction from all the prophets had been true. Even though this is considered one of the most depressing books in the entire Bible, God does not leave us without hope here. The writer of Lamentations reminds us that, “Because of the Lord’s faithful love we do not perish, for His mercies never end. They are new every morning; great of Your faithfulness!” (3:22-23).

Object Lesson:

Supplies Needed:

• Toys that may be considered favorites of the children
• Stuffed animals
• Legos
• Phones
• Books
• Etc…
• An empty trash can

Directions:
1. One at a time bring out the favorite items and show them to the class. Describe how beautiful and wonderful the item is. Ask how many of the children would really like to have it. Ask who would spend the most time playing with it. Set the item aside and repeat this process for each item you brought.
2. If you have just studied the book of Jeremiah, remind the children that sometimes our favorite toys can become idols if they become more important to God.
3. Explain to the children that when our toys become more important than God, God will sometimes take away the idol.
4. Take each item you just showed the children and very dramatically throw them in the empty trash can. Watch for their reactions.
5. Ask the children how they felt when you threw away the toys.  Explain that God did the same thing in today’s story when he destroyed Jerusalem. They also felt sad, and that is why we have this book in the Bible today.

Memory Verse:

Lamentations 3: 40-41
Let us search out and examine our ways, and turn back to the Lord. Let us lift up our hearts and our hands to God in heaven.

Jesus Connection:

The book of Lamentations shows us how God poured out His wrath on Jerusalem, the city He loved, the same way he poured out His wrath of Jesus, His only begotten Son. Although Jerusalem was destroyed, Jesus overcame sin and death so that he could be our great helper (Romans 5:21). Now Jesus can help us overcome the temptation of having idols in our lives, and when we do fall into this sin, Jesus is right there to forgive us and help us make things right with God.

Songs:

“Great is Thy Faithfulness”

Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father,
There is no shadow of turning with Thee;
Thou changest no, Thy compassions, they fail not
As Thou hast been Thou forever wilt be.

Great is Thy faithfulness! Great is Thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see;
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided-
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord unto me

Summer and winter, and springtime and harvest,
Sun, moon and stars in their courses above,
 Join with all nature in manifold witness
To Thy great faitfulness, mercy and love.

Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth,
Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide;
Strenght for today and a gright hope for tomorrow,
Blessings all mine, with then thousand beside!

Games/Activities

We All Fall Short

Supplies needed:

• Tape
• marker
• Prizes (candy, stickers, shapes rubber bands, etc…)

Directions:
1. Place the prizes on the floor against the wall on one side of the room.  Starting on the other side of the room place small pieces of tape on the floor, writing numbers on each piece (1, 2, 3, 4 ,…). Place the tape so that each following number is farther away that then previous one. Make sure that the final number is too far away for the children to reach by walking, but not too far for you.
2. Have the children line up on the side of the room with the piece of tape marked 1.
3. One at a time, allow the children the chance to retrieve a prize from the pile. They must WALK, (not jumping) and step on each piece of tape in numerical order.
4. None of the children will be able to retrieve a prize! Take a turn yourself, retrieving a prize for each child.
5. Explain to the children that our sin makes it impossible for us to reach the best prize ever, that is to be with God in heaven! When Jesus came and died for our sins, He made a way for us to be with God. All we have to do is believe in Him!

Crafts:

Hands and Hearts

Supplies Needed:

• White paper
• Red paper
• Markers
• Scissors
• Wooden clothes pins
• Glue

Directions:
1. Give each child a white paper, a red paper and a marker. Instruct the children to draw a small heart on the red paper. The heart has to be small enough to fit in their hand. On the white paper have them trace their hands, but have their fingers all touching each other, not spread out. Have them cut out their hearts and hands.
2. Give each child a clothes pin. Put a little glue on the bottom of the heart, near the point, and only on one side. Pinch the clothes pin open and put the heart in so that the glue will adhere to the inside of the clothespin.
3. Put glue on the top half of the clothes pin. Place one of the hands on the glue and position so that the heart cannot be seen. Flip over the clothes pin and repeat on the other side.

Coloring Page: