Jehoshaphat’s Choir Wins the Battle 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: “All their eyes were on the LORD.”
Jehoshaphat was the king of Judah. One day messengers came running. “A great multitude is coming against you!” they said. A multitude is a huge crowd. Big armies were coming to fight. They were already close, at a place called En Gedi.
Jehoshaphat was alarmed. That means he was very worried. But he set himself to seek the LORD. He told all the people to fast. To fast means to stop eating for a while, so you can pray.
People came from all the cities of Judah. They all came to ask God for help. All their eyes were on the LORD.
The king stood up in God’s house and prayed. “LORD, the God of our fathers, aren’t you God in heaven? Power and might are in your hand.” Might means great strength.
“We have no might against this great company,” the king prayed. “We don’t know what to do, but our eyes are on you.”
All the people stood before the LORD. The moms and dads were there. The little children were there too – children just like you! All their eyes were on the LORD.
Then the LORD’s Spirit came on a man named Jahaziel. He said, “The LORD says to you, ‘Don’t be afraid, and don’t be dismayed. For the battle is not yours, but God’s.’” Dismayed means very upset and scared.
“You will not need to fight this battle. Stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD. Go out against them tomorrow, for the LORD is with you.” Salvation means God saving you.
The king bowed down with his face to the ground. All the people bowed down and worshiped the LORD. Then the Levites stood up. They were helpers in God’s house. They praised the LORD with a very loud voice! Can you praise God with a big, loud voice?
Early the next morning, they went out into the wilderness – a wide, empty land. The king said, “Believe in the LORD your God!”
Then the king put singers in front of the army. Not soldiers in front – singers! They sang, “Give thanks to the LORD, for his loving kindness endures forever.” Loving kindness means God’s love that never stops. Can you sing it too? All their eyes were on the LORD.
When they began to sing and to praise, the LORD fought for them. The enemy armies got mixed up. They fought against each other, until none of them were left.
God’s people did not have to fight at all. They found so many riches that it took three days to carry them away. Let’s count the days: one, two, three!
On the fourth day, they all came together in a valley. There they blessed the LORD. So they called it the Valley of Blessing.
Then they went home to Jerusalem with joy. The king walked in front. They played harps and trumpets in God’s house. Strum, strum! Toot, toot!
After that the land was quiet. God gave the king rest all around. The battle was not theirs. It was God’s. All their eyes were on the LORD.
3. Talk together (3 min)
- How do you think the singers felt, walking in front of the army?
- What song would you like to sing to God?
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 line to who said it.
6. Verse and prayer (2 min)
“The battle is not yours, but God’s” — 2 Chronicles 20:15 (the battle → make two fists; not yours → shake your head and open your hands; but God’s → point up high)
Dear God, when I don’t know what to do, my eyes are on you. Thank you that you help me. Amen.
Lesson for older kids (ages 6–10)
Big idea: God fights our battles
Memory verse: “Don't be afraid, and don't be dismayed because of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God's.” — 2 Chronicles 20:15 · WEB
The Bible story
When three big armies marched against King Jehoshaphat, he did the bravest thing of all — he sang to God, and watched a miracle unfold.
Talk about it
- What kind of king was Jehoshaphat? — A good king who loved God
- What scary news did the messenger bring? — Three armies were coming
- What did Jehoshaphat do first when he was afraid? — He decided to pray to God
- Who did the king call together at the temple? — All the people, young and old
- What honest thing did Jehoshaphat say to God? — "Our eyes are on You"
- What did the man Jahaziel tell the people? — "The battle is not yours, but God's"
Where is Jesus in this story?
God told Jehoshaphat, “The battle is not yours, but God's” (2 Chronicles 20:15), and the people won by trusting and singing. Through His death on the cross and His resurrection, Jesus won the greatest battle of all, against sin and death. The Bible says, “Thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 15:57).
What God wants to tell us
Sometimes life feels scary, just like it did for Jehoshaphat when the armies came. But this story shows us that we do not have to face hard things alone. When we are worried, we can talk to God honestly and tell him we do not know what to do. God is bigger than any problem, and he loves to help his children. Best of all, we can praise him even before the answer comes, trusting that his love lasts for ever and that he is always with us.
Prayer
Father God, thank you that you are strong and that you fight for me. When I feel scared or do not know what to do, help me to look to you and trust you. Teach me to sing and praise you even before things get better, because I know you love me. Amen.
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