Single lesson
Baruch 1: The exiles request sacrifices, intercession, and public confession
Baruch 1:10–14
Baruch 1:10–14 records a message sent with money, prayer requests, and a book to be read publicly. The passage joins worship, confession, and life under foreign rule in one careful response to God.
Before you teach
The speakers say money has been sent to buy offerings, incense, and an oblation for the altar of the Lord. They ask for prayer for the Babylonian king and his son, ask for prayer for themselves because they have sinned, and command that the book be read in the house of the Lord on feast days and solemn assemblies.
Explain the central teaching of Baruch 1: The exiles request sacrifices, intercession, and public confession, using two details from the reading. This passage shows the people seeking God through offerings, prayer, confession, and public reading while living under foreign rulers.
Welcome: Baruch 1: The exiles request sacrifices, intercession, and public confession
5 minIntroduce “The exiles request sacrifices, intercession, and public confession” and locate Baruch 1:10–14. This passage shows the people seeking God through offerings, prayer, confession, and public reading while living under foreign rulers. Invite each learner to name a detail or question they will listen for.
Baruch 1:10, Baruch 1:12, Baruch 1:14
Read and explain the passage
12 minThe message begins with money being sent for worship. It is to be used for burnt offerings, sin offerings, incense, and an oblation, all to be offered on the altar of the Lord their God. The list shows that their concern is not only practical support, but worship directed to the Lord.
The passage says, "The Lord will give us strength and light to our eyes." It also says they will live under the shadow of the Babylonian king and his son, serve them many days, and find favour in their sight. Dependence on the Lord stands alongside a long period of service under others.
They add, "Pray for us also," and explain why: "we have sinned against the Lord our God." They say the Lord’s wrath and indignation are not turned from them. Then they command that the book be read in the house of the Lord to make confession on feast days and solemn assemblies.
Read the selected verses together, pausing at “The exiles request sacrifices, intercession, and public confession”. Use the source reading below and check the explanation against the words of the passage.
Baruch 1:10, Baruch 1:12, Baruch 1:13, Baruch 1:14
Discuss the details and their meaning
8 minUse the three questions below. Begin with “What were the people told to buy with the money, and what does that show about their priorities?” and allow time to find the supporting verses. This passage shows the people seeking God through offerings, prayer, confession, and public reading while living under foreign rulers. Ask learners to explain which details support their answer and to identify a question they would like to explore further.
Baruch 1:10, Baruch 1:11, Baruch 1:12, Baruch 1:13, Baruch 1:14
Make and respond: Vision and message evidence map
12 minWork on “Baruch 1: The exiles request sacrifices, intercession, and public confession: Vision and message evidence map”. Follow the materials and steps below, using “The exiles request sacrifices, intercession, and public confession” as reading headings. Each learner should include at least two accurate details and their verse references. Share one observation from the finished sheet and explain how it connects with the central teaching.
Baruch 1:10, Baruch 1:12, Baruch 1:14
Closing: return to The exiles request sacrifices, intercession, and public confession
3 minRevisit Baruch 1:10–14. Invite a learner to summarise what the group has learned about The exiles request sacrifices, intercession, and public confession and another to support the summary with a verse. Give learners a moment to complete their response sheet. They can share a question or, if appropriate for the group, join the optional prayer.
Baruch 1:10, Baruch 1:12, Baruch 1:14
Questions to explore
What were the people told to buy with the money, and what does that show about their priorities?
Look at the list of worship items and notice that the money is directed towards offerings and incense for the Lord’s altar.
Baruch 1:10
How does the passage connect prayer for Nabuchodonosor and Baltasar with the people’s own life?
Read the request together with the next verse, which speaks about living under their shadow, serving them many days, and finding favour.
Baruch 1:11, Baruch 1:12
How are prayer, confession, and public reading linked in this passage?
Notice that they ask for prayer because they have sinned, and then order the book to be read publicly to make confession in the house of the Lord.
Baruch 1:13, Baruch 1:14
Make, think or respond
Baruch 1: The exiles request sacrifices, intercession, and public confession: Vision and message evidence map
What you’ll need
- plain paper or card
- pencils or pens
- a Bible or the source reading on this page
Try it together
- Fold a sheet into three panels or draw three columns. Label them “What the passage describes”, “What is explained in the text”, “What question remains”.
- Read Baruch 1:10–14. Use “The exiles request sacrifices, intercession, and public confession” as your reading headings and add a short quotation or detail with its verse reference to each panel.
- Compare your notes with a partner. Check that every quotation is accurate and every conclusion has support in the passage.
- Circle an explanation the passage itself provides. Leave unexplained details as questions for further reading.
The finished sheet keeps the details of Baruch 1: The exiles request sacrifices, intercession, and public confession connected to their Bible references and gives the group a way to explain what they noticed.
Adapt for your group
- For learners who need more support, prepare the reading headings “The exiles request sacrifices, intercession, and public confession” and let them match short quotations to the correct heading.
- For confident readers, compare two sections of Baruch 1:10–14. Ask for a written explanation with two supporting references and one question that the text leaves open.
An optional closing prayer
“God, help us listen carefully as we read Baruch 1:10–14. Help us understand what we have read, ask thoughtful questions and respond with care for others. Amen.”
Read the Bible passage World English Bible Classic
Baruch 1
10 And they said: Behold, we have sent you money; therefore buy with the money burnt offerings, sin offerings, and incense, and prepare an oblation, and offer upon the altar of the Lord our God;
11 and pray for the life of Nabuchodonosor king of Babylon, and for the life of Baltasar his son, that their days may be as the days of heaven above the earth.
12 The Lord will give us strength and light to our eyes. We will live under the shadow of Nabuchodonosor king of Babylon and under the shadow of Baltasar his son, and we shall serve them many days, and find favor in their sight.
13 Pray for us also to the Lord our God, for we have sinned against the Lord our God. To this day the wrath of the Lord and his indignation is not turned from us.
14 You shall read this book which we have sent to you, to make confession in the house of the Lord upon the day of the feast and on the days of the solemn assembly.
World English Bible Classic. Public domain.