Hezekiah’s Great Passover Invitation 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 was invited to God’s feast.”
Hezekiah was the king of Judah. He wanted all of God’s people to come to Jerusalem, to the LORD’s house. They would keep the Passover. The Passover is a big feast. It helps us remember how God saved his people from Egypt.
Not many people had kept the Passover for a long time. The priests were not ready yet. The people were not together yet. So the king and his helpers said, “We will keep it one month later.”
King Hezekiah sent letters to everyone, far and near. From the very south of the land to the very north! Everyone was invited to God’s feast.
Messengers took the letters from city to city. Run, run, run! Can you run in place like the messengers?
The letters said, “You children of Israel, turn again to the LORD.” Turn again means to come back. He is the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
“Now don’t be stiff-necked, as your fathers were.” Stiff-necked means stubborn – like a neck so stiff it will not turn. Can you turn your head this way and that way? Your neck is not stiff!
“The LORD your God is gracious and merciful.” Gracious and merciful means God is kind and loves to forgive. “He will not turn away his face from you if you return to him.” Everyone was invited to God’s feast.
Some people made fun of the messengers. They did not want to come. But others came, humble and ready to listen. God gave the people of Judah one heart, to do what God said. Soon a very great crowd was in Jerusalem.
First they took away the altars of false gods from the city. They threw them into a little river called the Kidron.
Many of the people were not ready for the feast. They had not done what God’s law said. So Hezekiah prayed for them. “May the good LORD pardon everyone who sets his heart to seek God.” To pardon means to forgive.
The LORD listened to Hezekiah. He healed the people. Everyone was invited to God’s feast.
They kept the feast for seven days, with great gladness. Let’s count seven days: one, two, three, four, five, six, seven! The priests praised the LORD every day, singing with loud music.
Then everyone wanted to keep the feast for seven more days. And they did! King Hezekiah gave a thousand bulls and seven thousand sheep as gifts to God. The leaders gave even more!
All the people were glad. The people of Judah were glad. The people from Israel were glad. Even the strangers who lived in the land were glad! Everyone was invited to God’s feast.
There was great joy in Jerusalem. There had been nothing like it since the days of King Solomon. Last of all, the priests stood up and blessed the people. Their prayer went up to heaven, to God’s holy home.
The LORD is gracious and merciful to all who come back to him. Everyone was invited to God’s feast.
3. Talk together (3 min)
- How do you think the people felt when they got the king’s letter?
- What do you like best about a big family party?
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)
The feast lasted 7 days, and then 7 more days. Color 7 suns, and 7 more suns.
6. Verse and prayer (2 min)
“The LORD your God is gracious and merciful” — 2 Chronicles 30:9 (the LORD your God → point up; gracious → hand on your heart; merciful → open your arms wide)
Dear God, thank you that you are kind and love to forgive. Thank you that I am invited too. Amen.
Lesson for older kids (ages 6–10)
Big idea: It's Never Too Late to Come Home
Memory verse: “The LORD your God is gracious and merciful, and will not turn away his face from you if you return to him.” — 2 Chronicles 30:9 · WEB
The Bible story
A brave young king sends runners across the land with a joyful invitation, calling everyone to come home and celebrate God together again.
Talk about it
- How did young King Hezekiah feel when he saw that people had forgotten God? — Sad but hopeful
- What special place did Hezekiah want to clean and use again? — The temple
- What special feast did the king want everyone to celebrate? — The Passover
- How did Hezekiah send his invitation across the whole land? — Runners carrying letters
- What did the invitation letters ask the people to do? — Come back to God
- How did some towns react to the messengers? — Some laughed at them
Where is Jesus in this story?
Hezekiah sent messengers to invite everyone back to God, and that invitation points us to Jesus. One day, God sent Jesus as the greatest invitation of all, calling every person everywhere to come home to God's love. Just as the Passover remembered how God rescued His people, Jesus became our true Passover — the One who rescues us and welcomes us with open arms, so we can celebrate with God forever.
What God wants to tell us
This story shows us that God's heart is always full of welcome. Even when people had forgotten Him for a long time, God did not stay cross — He was waiting with open arms, ready to forgive and to fill everyone with joy. No matter how far we feel from God, He is always happy when we turn back to Him. Like Hezekiah's invitation hurrying across the land, God is always calling us gently home, wanting to share His love and celebrate with us.
Prayer
Dear God, thank You for always waiting for me with open arms. Thank You that it is never too late to come to You. Help me to say yes to Your invitation every day and to share Your love with others. I am so glad You are kind and full of welcome. Amen.
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