2 Kings 16–25

Consider displaying the following questions and giving students time to silently ponder their answers. You could then invite a few students to share their answers to the second question.

• How important are my covenants to me?

• How are my day-to-day actions influenced by the covenants I have made with God?

Remind students that after the Lord delivered the children of Israel from Egypt, He established His covenant with them at Mount Sinai. The Lord promised the Israelites that if they obeyed His voice and kept their covenant with Him, they would be His holy and chosen people (see Exodus 19:5–6). In the centuries that followed, the Israelites had periods where they honored their covenant with the Lord and other periods where they did not. Eventually, Israel’s breaking of their covenants with the Lord led to the scattering of Israel.

It may be helpful to remind students that after the death of King Solomon, Israel was divided into two separate kingdoms: the Northern Kingdom of Israel and the Southern Kingdom of Judah (see 1 Kings 12:6–20). You could display the diagram, “The Kingdoms of Israel and Judah at a Glance” to help explain these details.

To help students learn about the events related to the scattering of Israel, consider displaying the following study options. Give students time to study the verses and related entries in Scripture Helps: Old Testament for one of the options.

After sufficient time, invite students to share what they learned. As part of this discussion, you could help students identify the following truth: Because Israel rejected the prophets and broke their covenant with the Lord, He scattered them among the nations.

You could also ask a question like this:

• How can remembering these events affect the way you honor your covenants with the Lord?

Explain that despite Israel’s broken covenant, the Lord has made many hopeful promises to scattered Israel. Invite students to study Deuteronomy 4:27–31 and Isaiah 54:7–10, looking for some of these promises. Then consider asking:

• What stands out to you from these verses?

• What does the promised gathering of Israel help you understand or feel about Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ?

Testify of the truths you have discussed today. Encourage students to consider what they can do to remain faithful to the Lord and honor their covenants with Him. Encourage them to record their thoughts in their journals.

Return to “Learning Activity Options.”

Consider beginning by inviting students to ponder or record their answers to questions like the following:

• What are some of the challenges or fears you face?

• How might those challenges or fears test your faith in the Lord?

• What are some ways the Lord helps you trust Him?

Explain that 2 Kings 18–19 describes a frightening challenge facing King Hezekiah and his people. Encourage students as they study today to pay attention to the impressions that come to their minds and hearts from the Holy Ghost that can help them in their situations.

Point out that Hezekiah was a righteous king over the Southern Kingdom of Judah. The kingdom was threatened by the Assyrians, who had recently conquered the Northern Kingdom of Israel. The Assyrian army was very large and appeared to be unstoppable. The Assyrians had destroyed many nearby cities before approaching the city of Jerusalem. Assyrian messengers then came to Jerusalem, the capital of Judah, to deliver a warning to Hezekiah and his people. (For more context related to this account, you and the students could read the entries for 2 Kings 16:7 and 18:7–13 in Scripture Helps: Old Testament.)

Invite students to read 2 Kings 18:28–33, looking for what the Assyrian messenger told the people. You could then consider having students discuss the following questions with a partner:

• How might the people of Jerusalem have felt when they heard this message?

• What are modern messages that might influence some to feel afraid or doubt God and His chosen leaders?

Explain that during this desperate and frightening situation, Hezekiah acted in faith. To help students study and learn from Hezekiah’s actions, you could give them a piece of paper and instruct them to draw a vertical line down the middle of the page. At the top of one side, invite them to write “Hezekiah and His People.” On the other side, invite them to write “Me.” This can prepare them to liken what they learn from the scriptures to their lives. (To learn more about this skill, see “Likening the Scriptures” in Scripture Study Skills.)

Invite students to study the actions of Hezekiah and his people in 2 Kings 19:1–2, 6–7, 14–20. Encourage them to record on their paper the ways that Hezekiah and his people acted in faith. Then have students write down similar actions they can take to act in faith on the other side of their paper.

After sufficient time, you could encourage students to share their insights with a partner or small group.

Invite students to read 2 Kings 19:32–35, looking for how the Lord delivered Hezekiah and his people. Then consider asking questions like the following:

• What did this account help you learn or feel about Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ? (Students could identify a truth like the following: If we turn to the Lord, He can help us overcome our fears and challenges.)

• How have Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ supported you or someone you know during a difficult situation?

Encourage students to recall the fears or challenges they identified at the beginning of the learning activity. Invite them to consider what they have learned or felt today that can help them with these situations. Have them record ideas or impressions they received from the Holy Ghost.

Return to “Learning Activity Options.”

Consider displaying the following self-evaluation or printing it for students. Give students time to complete the evaluation individually.

Rate your experience with studying the scriptures by answering the following statements, using a scale from 1 (not true of me) to 5 (very true of me).

1. I regularly make efforts to study the scriptures.

2. I strive to connect with God through my scripture study.

3. Studying the scriptures is important to me.

Encourage students as they study today to look for truths that can help them in their efforts to study God’s words in the scriptures.

Explain that after the death of King Hezekiah, the people of the Kingdom of Judah returned to idolatry and wickedness. Over time, the scriptures were lost. Hezekiah’s great-grandson Josiah became king at the age of eight after his father was killed. During the 18th year of his reign, Josiah arranged payment for workers to repair the temple in Jerusalem (see 2 Kings 22:1–7).

Invite students to read 2 Kings 22:8–13, looking for what happened as the temple was being repaired. You could also show the video “Josiah and the Book of the Law” from time code 3:19 to 8:00.

12:25

Have students share what they found in the verses they studied. You could also ask:

• Why do you think Josiah was so concerned after he heard the words of the scriptures?

Explain that Josiah gathered the people of his kingdom together and read the book of the law to them. (For more about what Josiah read to the people, see the entry for 2 Kings 22:8 in Scripture Helps: Old Testament.)

Invite the students to study 2 Kings 23:1–4, 21–25, looking for how the word of God affected Josiah and the people.

To help students share their insights from these verses, consider asking questions like the following:

• What stands out to you from these verses?

• What can we learn from the account of Josiah and his people about how the scriptures can affect us? (Students could identify a truth like the following: Studying the scriptures can help us turn to the Lord with all our heart and put away evil influences.)

Consider using one or more of the following ideas to help students deepen their understanding of the importance of the word of God:

1. Invite students to find and share scriptures or statements from Church leaders that describe the blessings of studying God’s words in the scriptures. If students need help, you could suggest that they study some of the following scriptures: Psalm 119:105; John 5:39; 1 Nephi 15:23–24; 2 Nephi 32:3; Helaman 3:29–30.

2. Ask students to find scripture passages that have helped them draw closer to Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. Have them share their scripture with a partner or small group and explain why that passage has been especially meaningful to them.

3. Discuss the following questions:

   • What are obstacles people face today that might prevent them from studying the word of God? What can help us overcome these obstacles?

   • What would you say to someone who feels like they don’t have time to study the scriptures?

   • How has studying God’s words affected your life?

Invite students to consider adjustments they could make in their scripture study that will help them draw closer to Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. Encourage them to write down their plans and any other impressions they have received from the Holy Ghost.

Return to “Learning Activity Options.”