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Journey to the Land of the Prophets
by Jenny Fulton Characters: *Place student's name in each blank. Narrator/God: ___________ Jeremiah: ____________ Amos:______________ Isaiah: _________________ Habakkuk:___________ Jonah:______________ Ezekiel: ________________ Joel:________________ Haggai:_____________ Daniel: _________________ Zephaniah:____________ Malachi:____________ Soldiers: Priests: Sailors: People who get their money stolen: Policeman: Judge: Fish: Costumes: *Regular school clothes *Robes or long shirts with a belt to show prophets *Sandals *Beards for the boys *Something to cover the hair of the girls Recommended Props *Imagination Station (cardboard) *Toy Blocks Small *Toy Blocks Large *Play Army/War Toys *Soldier Uniforms *Table and Chairs *Fruit Roll-Up *Lion's Den (cardboard) *Stuffed Lions *Writing on the Wall (paper) *Stuffed Sheep *Boat (cardboard) *Big Fish (cardboard) *Play bricks *Little notebooks [Setting: A classroom setting with the strange box off to the corner within costume-change range] Narrator: Israel had rejected God turned from serving Him to worshiping other gods. As would be expected, God's wrath was kindled against His Chosen people and He made plans to punish them for their transgressions. However, God continued to show loving-kindness. Desiring that his people repent and turn back to him, he warned them and gave them opportunities upon opportunities to turn back. That's where the prophets came in One day, as all the students in __________________ class arrived at school for the day, they noticed two very peculiar things. One was the absence of __________________ [insert teacher's name in these blanks]. Haggai/______________: Where is _________________? Zephaniah/____________: She's usually here by now! Narrator: The other peculiarity was the presence of a mysterious box-shaped object. Daniel/______________: Hey everyone, look at that! All Students: Wow! Amos/_______________: What is that? Jeremiah/____________: It looks like some kind of machine! Joel/________________: I wonder what it does! Jonah/______________: Hey, it sort of looks like the Adventures In Odyssey Imagination Station! Isaiah/______________: Maybe it will take us to another place! Habakkuk/__________: Let's find out! [They all pile in] Malachi/___________: Now, which button is it? Ezekiel/____________: How about this one? [he pushes a button] All: _______________! [insert student's name] [shaking sounds for about ten seconds while students throw on beards and prophet clothes] Joel/________________: It stopped! Jeremiah/___________: Ok, now what? [everyone gets out and starts giggling about how funny they all looked] The Girls (to each other): You look like a boy! The Boys (to each other): You have a beard! Zephaniah/____________: The question is: Where are we? Malachi/___________: And Who are we? God: Isaiah! Isaiah/______________: Did you all hear that? Amos/_______________: Hear what? God: Isaiah! Isaiah/______________: That! I think it was God! Ezekiel/____________: I didn't hear it, so I think He was talking to you. God: Whom shall I send and who will go for us? Isaiah/______________: Here am I. Send me! God: Go and tell the people of Judah what I have to say! Isaiah/______________: Hey guys, I have to go. See you all later! All: What? Why? Isaiah/______________: [goes to a corner of the room and pretends to be preaching] For unto us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace [exits backstage] Daniel/______________: Now what? Ezekiel/____________: Ahh!! A windstorm! God: Ezekiel Ezekiel/____________: Did you guys hear that? Jeremiah/_____________: Hear what? God: Ezekiel Ezekiel/____________: That! I think it was God! Haggai/______________: Well he must have been talking to you then, because we didn't hear it! God: Son of man, I am sending you to the Israelites, to a rebellious nation that has rebelled against me. Speak my words whether they listen or not. [gives Ezekiel a scroll] Ezekiel/____________: What? God: Eat this scroll; then go and speak to the house of Israel. Ezekiel/____________: You want me to do what? Really? [eats scroll] MMM Delicious! God: Now go, and do all that I tell you to. Ezekiel/____________: Um see you guys, I have to go. [goes to a corner and plays war, lays on his left side, then his right, pretends to cut his hair, etc.] Habakkuk/__________: Ok, that's weird God: Daniel Daniel/______________: Shh! Listen! Jonah/______________: Listen to what? I don't hear anything. Daniel/______________: [Gets down on knees in praying position] Shh Listen! Look! Do you see that writing there on the wall? All [Gasp!] Daniel/______________: I can understand what it means! [Soldiers come to take Daniel away] Joel/________________: What's happening? Habakkuk/__________: Stop! Daniel/______________: It's ok, God wants me to go with them, I'll be ok. Haggai/______________: They're taking her to those lions! Jeremiah/____________: Crazy! They're going to eat her! Jonah/______________: No, look the lions aren't attacking her! Malachi/___________: Aww they look like big, cute cats! Daniel/______________: Praise be to the name of God for ever and ever! Wisdom and power are His! He changes times and seasons, he sets up kings and removes them. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning. He reveals deep and hidden things, he knows what lies in darkness, and light dwells with him. [continues to mutely praise God and play with stuffed lions] God: Jeremiah Jeremiah/_____________: What? Amos/_______________: What what? I didn't say anything. God: Jeremiah Jeremiah/_____________: Yes? Zephaniah/____________: Who are you talking to? Jeremiah/_____________: I think its God. Joel/________________: We didn't hear anything, so I think he was talking to you. God: Jeremiah, before you were born, I set you apart I appointed you as a prophet to the nations. Jeremiah/______________: But All-Powerful Lord, I do not know how to talk. I am only a child. God: You are not a child. You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I tell you to say. Do not be afraid, because I am with you and will save you. Jeremiah/_______________: Um ok. Hey everybody, I have to go. I need to tell people what God wants them to know. [Exits stage] Jonah/______________: Thinks keep getting weirder and weirder!! Malachi/___________: Has anyone figured out where we are or who we are yet? [get responses from the audience] [Policeman and Judge come up behind two students and steel their wallet] Habakkuk/__________: [Gasp!] Look! Can you believe that! That person just stole the other person's wallet! Haggai/______________: Where? I didn't see anything. Guess you should tell the cops. Habakkuk/__________: But the cop is the robber! Where is the justice? Amos/_______________: How unfair! Zephaniah/____________: You should report that cop to the judge! Habakkuk/__________: But the judge is also a robber! Where is the one who does right? Joel/________________: That's not right! Something needs to be done about that! Jonah/______________: I'm confused Where are you seeing all of this? Malachi/___________: I know we can't see it, but God can. Maybe He will help. Haggai/______________: If God is going to help, He should help quickly. Those people are getting away with evil! Habakkuk/__________: "How long, Lord, must I call for help, but you do not listen? Why do you allow wrongdoing? Justice never wins and the righteous people are made to be helpless. God: Habakkuk, I see it all and I am doing something about it. Look at the nations. Watch and be amazed, for I am going to do something great. I am going to bring the strong, terrible, and powerful Babylonians to punish the wicked people in this nation of Judah. Habakkuk/__________: But God, you can't tolerate wrongdoing. So why are you going to use the terribly evil people of Babylon to punish the less evil people in Judah? As bad as it looks, I don't think the people of Judah are nearly as bad as the people in Babylon! God: Just wait. My judgment on Babylon will come. The enemy is proud, but the righteous person will live by his faithfulness. The wicked Babylonians will be brought low. The Lord is in his holy temple; let all the earth be silent before him. Habakkuk/__________: Yahweh, I have heard of your fame; I stand in awe of your deeds. You deliver your people and crush the wicked. Therefore, I will wait patiently for your judgments. I will rejoice in Yahweh, I will be joyful in God my Savior. The Sovereign Yahweh is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to tread on the heights. Amos/_______________: I guess God gave you an answer? Kaelan: Yes, and now I'm going to go write down everything He said. Zephaniah/____________: Have fun with that. [Habakkuk exits] Malachi/___________: Do you think anyone will ever read about it? God: Joel, look. Joel/________________: You guys, I feel really sad all of a sudden! Haggai/______________: Why? Joel/________________: I'm seeing really bad things! Cities are destroyed! Huge locusts have eaten up everything! Everyone is crying! Jonah/______________: That's depressing. Joel/________________: Wait, now I see something else! After this, God says, "I will pour out my spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days. I will show wonders in the heavens and on the earth. [exits to a corner to pray] [Priests approach Zephaniah, saying his name and gesturing for him to follow them] Zephaniah/____________: It's so weird, all these important looking people keep coming up to me and asking me to join them. They seem to think I'm one of them. They keep calling me, Zephaniah. Maybe I should go with them and see what this is all about. Amos/_______________: Guess it wouldn't hurt. Haggai/______________: See you later. [Zephaniah exits, will come back in soon] God: Amos. [Stuffed sheep get thrown onto stage] Amos/_______________: Hey, where did all these sheep come from? Malachi/___________: Aww they're so cute! Jonah/______________: And smelly! God: Amos, look at what my people are doing. Now leave your flocks and go, prophesy to my people Israel. Amos/_______________: [gasp] Everybody look! Look at what those people are doing! Listen you people! This is what the Lord says, "You sell the righteous for money, and the needy for a pair of sandals. You turn aside the way of those who are seeking me, and misrepresent who I am to the people." Haggai/______________: Oh no! Why would they do that? Amos/_______________: This is what the Lord says, "I brought famine, but you did not repent! I withheld the rain, but you did not repent! I brought the sword, but you did not repent!" Malachi/___________: That's terrible, why didn't they repent and seek God? Amos/_______________: I have to go! I have to tell these people to repent so they can live! If they don't, God is going to destroy them! Jonah/______________: What if they do stop? Amos/_______________: God says, "Seek Me so that you may live." [Amos leaves to go tell the people] [Zephaniah returns, looking very disturbed] Malachi/___________: Welcome back, ___________________. How was the meeting? Zephaniah/____________: It wasn't what I thought it would be. They were all leaders of this people of Judah, and I thought we'd be praising God and talking about ways to help the people. Instead, they were talking about how they had been cheating, using, and oppressing their own people to get more money. They aren't living the way God told them to live, and they don't think God will do anything about it. Haggai/______________: But why would the leaders act like that? Jonah/______________: Don't they know that God sees everything? He'll stand up for the helpless! God: Zephaniah Zephaniah/____________: Sh I think I'm getting a message from God. Maybe He can tell me what this is all about. God: Tell those people that my judgment is coming. I will stretch out my hand against Judah and against all the inhabitants of Jerusalem. I will bring distress on men so that they will walk like the blind, because they have sinned about the Lord. I will destroy all who are doing evil. Zephaniah/____________: Wow! That is some really terrible punishment that God has in store for those people. Malachi/___________: Is there any hope for anyone? Zephaniah/____________: Listen all you people! The Lord says, "I will remove from your midst those who are proud. Never again will you be boastful on my holy mountain. But I will leave within you humble and lowly people, and they will take refuge in the name of the Lord." God: I have not given up on my people. After they have been punished, I will give them honor and praise. I will do away with the proud and leave within you the meek and humble. Then everyone who is left of Israel will trust in the name of the Lord. They will do no wrong; they will tell no lies. Zephaniah/____________: I need to go tell King Josiah all that God has told me. Maybe he'll listen and this punishment will be delayed. [Zephaniah exits] Haggai/______________: Good bye. I hope it goes well for you and all of us! Jonah/______________: Well, ____________ and ____________, it's just us now Malachi/___________: Just don't you two go anywhere! I do NOT want to be left here by myself! God: Jonah! Jonah/______________: Did you hear that? Haggai/______________: Oh no! Now you are going to leave, too! God: Jonah, go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me. Jonah/______________: What's Nineveh? Oh that city? No way, they're huge! They'd kill me! These are the guys who use the skulls of our people to build their walls! Haggai/______________and Malachi/___________: Ew! Gross! Malachi/___________: I don't know what you're seeing, but it probably isn't a good idea to tell God, no. Jonah/______________: You obviously can't see what I'm seeing! They're terrible! No way! The others can do any of the crazy things God told them to do, but I'm out of here! And that boat looks like a good way to go. Haggai/______________: You'll be sorry Jonah/______________: [pretends to get in the boat where Jamie and Mollie are the sailors a storm comes, boat starts rocking] Throw me overboard! It's my fault the storm has come! [The sailors "throw" Jonah into the sea] Malachi/___________: Watch out ______________! Look out for that big fish! [One of the students from back stage comes out with the big fish to swallow Jonah] Jonah/______________: [pretends to be in the belly of a fish] Gross! In my distress I called to the Lord, and he answered me. From the depths of the grave, I called for help, and you listened to my cry. You hurled me into the very heart of the seas, and the currents swirled about me; all your waves and breakers swept over me; But I, with a song of thanksgiving, will sacrifice to you. What I have vowed I will make good. Salvation comes from the Lord. [Fish with Jonah exits] Haggai/______________: And now, we're down to two. Malachi/___________: Which one of us do you think will be next? [They stand staring at each other] God: Haggai Haggai/______________: Did you hear that, _______________? Malachi/___________: [In a disappointed voice] No, so I guess God's talking to you now and you're going to leave me all alone here. Haggai/______________: Finally! What do you want me to do, Lord? God: It is time for my temple to be rebuilt. Go, and tell them what I want them to do. Haggai/______________: This is what the Lord Almighty says: Is it time for you to be living in your rebuilt houses while my house is still in ruins? Give careful thought to your ways. Go up into the mountains and bring down timber and build the house, so that I may take pleasure in it and be honored. [Nolan pretends to help with rebuilding, then looks at the result]. God says, "From this day on, I will bless you." Malachi/___________: I'm glad you're still here. The temple is looking really great, Nolan. The people must be really excited that God is fulfilling all of his promises. Hey, everyone, God says he loves you! All [From backstage]: Yeah right! How has he loved us! Malachi/___________: I can't believe it! God has brought them back to their home, and they doubt His love. God, what should I tell them? God: Tell them that I have completely destroyed the nations around them. Because I love them, I have brought them back and given them the ability to rebuild this city of Jerusalem. A son honors his father. If I am a father, where is the honor due me? Malachi/___________: [looking around] It is you priests who have not shown honor to God. All [From backstage]: How have we not shown honor to God? Malachi/___________: By not offering to him the best that you have and so you don't show him respect. All [From backstage]: How is that showing him disrespect? Malachi/___________: Would you give the governor of this place rotten and diseased food? Why do you offer such things to God then? God: I am a great king and my name is to be feared among the nations. Malachi/___________: You have wearied the Lord with your words. All [From backstage]: How have we wearied him? Malachi/___________: By asking for justice but not acting justly yourselves. God: I will send my messenger, who will prepare the way before me. Malachi/___________: God says to return to him, and he will return to you. All [From backstage]: How do we return to God? Malachi/___________: Bring to him everything that you have promised and he will provide for you. You have spoken arrogantly against God. All [From backstage]: What have we said against God? Malachi/___________: You have said that it is pointless to serve God and that there is no gain in serving him. All [From backstage]: We will fear the Lord and obey. God: I have heard them. On the day when I act, I will spare them, just as a father has compassion and spares his sons who serve him. I will send the prophet Elijah to you before that great and dreadful day of the Lord comes. He will turn the hearts of the parents to their children, and the hearts of the children to their parents. [Everybody starts wandering back to where Aubrynn and Lynnea are still pretending to preach and praise lights go off BOOM back in regular school clothes, on the floor] Teacher: Here you all are! Sorry I'm late! Go ahead and get out your history folders. Today, we will be learning about the prophets in the Old Testament. Ezekiel/_____________: I think we just did! Jonah/______________: And it was stinky! I am a writer, a wife, and a mother with bachelors degrees in Bible and Elementary Education with ESL. My young adult fantasy novel, Invisible Battles: the Quest for Hope, is available for purchase on Amazon. http://www.faithwriters.com/member-profile.php?id=37392 heart-soul-mind.org Article Source: http://www.faithwriters.com |