Jeremiah for Me! Lesson 5: "Search for Truth!" A Jeremiah Journey, Journal, and Puppets
At the end of this lesson, you'll see photos of the Puppet Box, the game board cover, the Jerusalem Gate, and more! On the "street" Prophet Man, Jeremiah, will 'run' trying to find someone who holds to truth! Don't miss the Unjust Leaders, much like our day, who overlook or bypass evildoers!!
Read Aloud: 1-5. 11-15, 18-19, 20-23, and 26-31. How very important it is to read the Bible aloud with your children. As a child I was so blessed to hear The Word read aloud daily even though I couldn't comprehend everything I heard. Today I can truly testify Scripture taught early has not been forgotten!! The more you read Jeremiah the more you'll realize how very apt is the book of Jeremiah for us today. And chapter five is such a key chapter-- do dig into it!
Remember: IYB=In Your Bible, and IYJ= In Your Journal!
Jeremiah Seeks Truth in the Streets: In lesson five God tells Jeremiah to run around Jerusalem's streets asking folks if there's anyone who stands for truth. As he does, he asks "O LORD, are not your eyes upon the truth?" (Jer. 5:3) But, says Jeremiah, these people have refused to be sorry for their sins, and refused to return to the Lord.
IYJ cut off and use sticky note tops to make a little street. Remember, for little folks use a whole page! Kids will enjoy arranging different colored strips into a path. Help them glue or write the Jer.5:1 verse: "Run ye to and fro through the streets of Jerusalem, and see ..., if ye can find a man ,.. that seeketh the truth; ...." onto the path. Kids begin at the green dot to trace the path to the "Jerusalem pic." Find a Jerusalem image here: images of the streets of jerusalem to color - Bing images
View journal page below.
Did Jeremiah find anyone who stood for truth at all? By the way, throughout the book of Jeremiah there are references to the streets in Judah and Jerusalem. As you find them especially notice what's happening in those streets!
Just Like in Jeremiah's Day: As in Jeremiah's time much has been happening in our streets as well. Stop here to talk about what's been happening, and why.
Jeremiah Gem Verse: Jeremiah 5:3a: "O LORD, are not thine eyes upon the truth?" IYJ: Above the verse trace around the word truth with shiny or glittered crayons! Cutout or draw six Os; form into an an O ring frame. Inside each "O" write or glue printed verse words. In the very middle write the New Testament "truth" verse John 14:6 where Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life; no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." Help younger kids read round the O Ring.
For adults and older kids, you may wish to share parts of a special booklet titled Truth or Consequences? by Warren B. Smith. P.S. Look for the Jeremiah verses! Read it here: BOOKLET - Truth or Consequences (lighthousetrails.com)
Truth Is Fallen in the Streets! There are two verses in Isaiah that mention more about streets and truth. IYB: Go to Jeremiah chapter one and back up a few chapters to Isaiah 59:14-15. See the journal page! Read the verses. How like us where it says judgment and truth are upside down. IYJ: Make some street ribbons from paper, print verse on them, and put them together in order. Or just write " for truth is fallen in the street...." (Isaiah 59:14) on one "street ribbon"; use as a Bible marker. Make note too that the major prophet Isaiah also prophesied to Judah and Jerusalem! Study the journal page at end of lesson!
A Face Place: Harder than Rock Faces! While he searches Jeremiah sees many have faces that are harder than rocks. They just refuse to do right! IYB: Find Jer. 5:3. Write FP beside it for "Face Place." IYJ: draw a face or faces of those who look unhappy. Write: "... they have made their faces harder than a rock; they have refused to return." Look at photo down below.
How sorry Jeremiah feels for the people thinking they were poor and foolish, for they didn't know the way of the Lord. Therefore, Jeremiah decides he should talk to important or great men who have known the way the Lord, for they will certainly want to stand up for truth. But these men too have departed from the Lord. Sound like today? Sadly, yes!
Other Face Places! Like the Wind! Like Fire! The Lord says Jeremiah 5:14, "You house of Judah, have been against me. As for your prophets they are like the wind! My word is not in them. But I will make my words in you Jeremiah like fire." IYJ: draw a prophet with wind-like swirls coming out of its mouth. Make a "fire frame" for Jeremiah and place him inside. Check out the journal photos below!
What About You? Are your words like wind and mean nothing? Or are your words like fire full of what the Lord wants you to say?
A Mighty Nation Is Coming! Next Jeremiah warns that a mighty nation is on the way, an ancient nation, whose language they can't speak. That nation, says Jeremiah, will make war on you. Then the people will ask: "Why does the Lord punish us?" Then Jeremiah will tell them it's because they have worshipped "strange gods." Because of this, says Jeremiah, God will allow you to be captured by strangers and live in a strange land too. Read verses 12,13 and 19. Yet even with all the evil, God promised when war came, they wouldn't all be destroyed.
Hear Ye Now This O Foolish People: Later Jeremiah says in Jer.5:20, "... O foolish people, and without understanding; which have eyes, and see not; which have ears, and hear not; Fear ye not me? saith the LORD: ..." Draw a picture showing a man without understanding whose eyes and ears are shut to hearing truth. Draw an "X" over both eyes and ears. Whom should the people honor or fear? Did they? Click below to read IYJ action commands written specially for 'lil kids.
Unjust Leader Scripture Depiction: Reread verses. Draw a pic of a rich leader. Surround pic with these descriptive words: wicked, deceitful, great, fat, rich, sleek, and prosperous. IYJ: Print out or copy verse as shown in photo below. Highlight words above in the verse. What an apt description of what's happening in our world now just as in Jeremiah's day many of our leaders are unjust often overlooking true justice. How wonderful to know the Lord Jesus the righteous judge as our Savior and Lord! Click on journal page photo to view pic!
Be a Truth Sleuth! Be someone who seeks truth from God's Word, and then shares it with others, Help those who are unaware of or deceived about current issues enabling them to become more discerning. Recently, there's been a TV series "The Chosen" that many people really like yet has deception and untruth in it. If you want to find out more read: The Chosen Series: 10 Critical Concerns.. Find it here: BOOKLET -THE CHOSEN Series: 10 Critical Concerns (lighthousetrails.com)
Hint: Always remember to speak "the truth" in love as Ephesians 4:15 encourages us!
Click on each photo to enlarge them.
The Jerusalem Woman Puppet: Part of a Jerusalem family, the Jerusalem lady puppet is someone Jeremiah would have met on the street. In Lesson 7 you will view the family and their idol worship of the Queen of Heaven.
Puppet Container: A plastic box with an indented edge is perfect to hold the puppets, and to use as a stage for puppet activity. Besides, the lid makes a perfect spot for using bottle top pieces to play a Jeremiah verse game. Notice the dark gray bubble wrap path, and silver bubble wrap road. Both these pieces were inside mailers I received.
Journal Page Photos: Each page is a resource page for you to use. the sticky note strip street begins with Jeremiah and ends with a Jerusalem pic. Notice the words from Jer. 5:1. Underneath the bottom righthand corner is a Jerusalem city picture with the word "truth" underneath. See the rock, wind, and fire face places. Note the "flame" frame. The third page shows pics (kids draw) of a foolish person; don't forget to make Xs over both the eyes and ears. Ponder the "Unjust leaders or unjust judges." The "truth" page shows the gem verse plus an Isaiah "truth verse."
Bottle Top Bible Verse Gameboard: Check out the bottle top game verse pieces both along top edge, and in an "O". Use the large bottle top (green) to cover a word; kids guess which word it is. Keep removing until all words are used. One may also use a different smaller colored top, e.g., to highlight the word "truth!"
