Ezra Reads God’s Word — The Joy of the Lord Preschool Lesson
Preschool lesson (ages 3–6, 20 minutes)
1. Welcome (3 min)
Sit in a circle, greet every child by name and show one thing from the story to touch.
2. The little story (5 min)
Teach the refrain first: “Everyone listened to God’s word.”
God’s people were home again in Jerusalem. One day in the fall, all the people came together. They stood in a wide, open place by the Water Gate. Men and women were there, and all who could understand. They asked Ezra to bring the book of God’s law.
Ezra was a priest and a scribe. A scribe is a man who writes and teaches God’s law. He brought the book out to everyone.
The people had made a wooden stand, high above the crowd. Ezra stood up on it. Six men stood on his right side. Seven men stood on his left side. Let’s count them all together: six and seven make thirteen!
Everyone could see Ezra. Then Ezra opened the book. And when he opened it, all the people stood up! Can you stand up tall, like the people? Everyone listened to God’s word.
Ezra blessed the LORD, the great God. All the people lifted up their hands. “Amen, Amen!” they said. Amen means “Yes, it is true!” Can you lift your hands and say, “Amen, Amen”?
Then the people bowed their heads. They worshiped the LORD with their faces to the ground.
Then Ezra read from the book. He read from early morning until the middle of the day. That’s a long time! Helpers read it clearly and explained the words. So everyone could understand. Everyone listened to God’s word.
When they heard the words of God’s law, all the people cried.
But Nehemiah and Ezra said, “Today is holy to the LORD your God. Don’t mourn, nor weep.” To mourn means to be very sad.
“Go your way. Eat the fat, drink the sweet.” That means: eat good food and have sweet drinks! “Send portions to him for whom nothing is prepared.” That means: share with people who have nothing.
“Don’t be grieved, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.” The helpers calmed all the people. “Hold your peace, for the day is holy,” they said.
So all the people went off to eat and drink and share. They had a big party, because now they understood God’s words. Everyone listened to God’s word.
On the next day, the leaders came to Ezra to learn more. They found something written in God’s law. Long ago, God had told Moses about it. God’s people should live in little huts for a feast in that month!
So the people went out to the hills. They cut olive branches, myrtle branches and palm branches, and branches of leafy trees. They made little huts. They put them on their roofs and in their yards. They even put them by God’s house!
They lived in the huts for a seven-day feast. Nobody had done it like this since the days of Joshua, long before. Maybe the children loved it most of all! There was very great gladness!
Every day, from the first day to the last, Ezra read to them from God’s book. The joy of the LORD was their strength. Everyone listened to God’s word.
3. Talk together (3 min)
- What do you think it was like to sleep in a hut made of branches?
- Why do you think the people had a party after they heard God’s word?
4. Move (3 min)
Refrain Freeze: move around the room; when you say the refrain, everyone freezes and says it together.
5. Make (4 min)
Draw a little hut made of branches on a roof.
6. Verse and prayer (2 min)
“The joy of the LORD is your strength” — Nehemiah 8:10 (the joy → big smile, hands by your cheeks; of the LORD → point up; your strength → make strong arms)
Dear God, thank you for your word. Thank you that your joy makes me strong. Amen.
Lesson for older kids (ages 6–10)
Big idea: God's Words Fill Us With Joy
Memory verse: “Don't be grieved, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.” — Nehemiah 8:10 · WEB
The Bible story
When God's people had forgotten His words, a kind teacher named Ezra read them aloud at sunrise, and a whole city cried, then cheered for joy!
Talk about it
- What had the people just finished building around their city? — Tall walls
- Where did all the people gather together? — By the Water Gate
- What did the people ask Ezra to bring them? — The book of God's law
- What was Ezra's special job? — A priest and scribe
- What did Ezra stand on so everyone could see him? — A tall wooden platform
- What did the people do when Ezra opened the scroll? — They all stood up
Where is Jesus in this story?
Ezra read God's Law, and the Levites explained it so the people could understand (Nehemiah 8:8). On the road to Emmaus, Jesus did something similar: He explained what all the Scriptures said about Himself (Luke 24:27). Afterward His friends said their hearts were burning inside them (Luke 24:32). Jesus still turns God's Word into joy for us.
What God wants to tell us
God loves it when we listen to His words, because they are like a warm light showing us how much He cares. At first the people felt sad, but God did not want them to stay sad. He wanted them to be filled with happiness! When we read the Bible and try to follow God, He gives us a special strength and joy deep inside that no worry can take away.
Prayer
Father God, thank You for Your wonderful words in the Bible. Help me to listen and understand them, just like the people did with Ezra. When I feel sad, fill me up with Your joy and make me strong. I love You. Amen.
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