Longing for Isaiah 6 2 7 Have you

Longing for Isaiah 6: 2 -7

Have you ever waited for something really important for a long, long time? Are you waiting now?

Isaiah 9: 2 -7 NLT The people who walk in darkness will see a great light. For those who live in a land of deep darkness, a light will shine. 3 You will enlarge the nation of Israel, and its people will rejoice. They will rejoice before you as people rejoice at the harvest and like warriors dividing the plunder. 4 For you will break the yoke of their slavery and lift the heavy burden from their shoulders. You will break the oppressor’s rod, just as you did when you destroyed the army of Midian. 2

Isaiah 9: 2 -7 NLT The boots of the warrior and the uniforms bloodstained by war will all be burned. They will be fuel for the fire. 6 For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 His government and its peace will never end. He will rule with fairness and justice from the throne of his ancestor David for all eternity. The passionate commitment of the LORD of Heaven’s Armies will make this happen! 5

What was it like to be waiting for the Messiah?

The World Where Messianic Expectations Were Born King Saul Israel’s first king: Israel transitioning from being a tribal culture to a nation Ruled for about 20 years About 1032 BCE to 1012 BCE

The World Where Messianic Expectations Were Born While Saul was still king, the prophet Samuel anointed David as Israel’s next king because Saul had failed as king. 1 Samuel 16 “After David had killed the Philistine, women from all the towns of Israel came out to meet King Saul. They sang and danced for joy with tambourines and cymbals. This was their song: ‘Saul has killed his thousands, and David his ten thousands. ’” 1 Samuel 18: 6 -7 NLT

The World Where Messianic Expectations Were Born ANOINTED, BUT NOT YET CROWNED For years after David was anointed (messiah), before he was enthroned, Saul tried to kill him. When Saul died in battle, David became king of Judah. 7 ½ years later he became king of Northern Israel as well, uniting the nation. Upon his death, his son Solomon became king (970— 931 BCE).

Shortly after Solomon’s death, the kingdom of Israel was divided. 931/932 BCE

2 Kings 17: 7 -23 NLT This disaster came upon the people of Israel because they worshiped other gods. They sinned against the LORD their God, who had brought them safely out of Egypt and had rescued them from the power of Pharaoh, the king of Egypt…. 13 Again and again the LORD had sent his prophets and seers to warn both Israel and Judah: “Turn from all your evil ways. Obey my commands and decrees—the entire law that I commanded your ancestors to obey, and that I gave you through my servants the prophets. ” 7

2 Kings 17: 7 -23 NLT But the Israelites would not listen. They were as stubborn as their ancestors who had refused to believe in the LORD their God…. 18 Because the LORD was very angry with Israel, he swept them away from his presence. Only the tribe of Judah remained in the land. 19 But even the people of Judah refused to obey the commands of the LORD their God, for they followed the evil practices that Israel had introduced. 20 The LORD rejected all the descendants of Israel. He punished them by handing them over to their attackers until he had banished Israel from his presence. 14

Longing for the Messiah While Captives in Babylon • Israelites restored to their land • Twelve tribes reunited • Temple rebuilt • Ruled by a king from the line of David Shortly after the Bablyonian Empire was conquered by the Persian Empire (586 BC) King Cyrus helped many of the Jews to return to Jerusalem and begin rebuilding (536 BC). Rebuilt Temple dedicated 516 BC. About 100 years later (456 BC) Persian King Artaxerxes authorized Jewish self-rule. Jerusalem wall rebuilt 445 BC.

Psalm 126 A song for pilgrims ascending to Jerusalem. When the LORD brought back his exiles to Jerusalem, it was like a dream! 2 We were filled with laughter, and we sang for joy. And the other nations said, “What amazing things the LORD has done for them. ” 3 Yes, the LORD has done amazing things for us! What joy! 1

The Greek Period In 332 BC, Alexander the Great (Greek general) conquered Palestine, ending Medo-Persian rule. Nine years later, Alexander died at age 29 and his empire was divided among three generals. Israel was ruled by two competing Greek dynasties—Seleucids and Ptolemies--for the nest 160 years or so.

Antiochus Ephiphanes & the Maccabbees In 167 BC, Seleucid (one of the Greek dynasties) king Antiochus Epiphanes IV captured Jerusalem. He forbid the worship of Yahweh. In the Temple, and altar to Zeus was erected. Sacrifices were to be made at the feet of an idol of an image of the king. Judas Maccabbees led the Jews in a guerilla revolt against the Hellenized Jews and Greeks from 167 to 160 BC.

Hannukah is a celebration of the rededication of the Temple after the Maccabean revolt defeated the Seleucids and Temple worship resumed. Rabbinic tradition says that only one day’s supply of holy oil could be found in the Temple. However, when the Temple lamps were lit, they miraculously burned for 8 days. Thus the 8 days of Hannukah.

Roman Conquest A civil war broke out in Judea, and the Roman general Pompey saw this as an opportunity to expand his power. He conquered Jerusalem in 63 BC, ending Jewish national independence.

Roman Occupation Herod the Great became king of Judea in 37 BC. He is remembered for his great building projects, including expanding the Temple. He is also remembered for his great cruelty. Longing for the Messiah grows stronger!

Isaiah 9: 2 -7 NLT The people who walk in darkness will see a great light. For those who live in a land of deep darkness, a light will shine. 3 You will enlarge the nation of Israel, and its people will rejoice. They will rejoice before you as people rejoice at the harvest and like warriors dividing the plunder. 4 For you will break the yoke of their slavery and lift the heavy burden from their shoulders. You will break the oppressor’s rod, just as you did when you destroyed the army of Midian. 2

Isaiah 9: 2 -7 NLT The boots of the warrior and the uniforms bloodstained by war will all be burned. They will be fuel for the fire. 6 For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 His government and its peace will never end. He will rule with fairness and justice from the throne of his ancestor David for all eternity. The passionate commitment of the LORD of Heaven’s Armies will make this happen! 5

Two Strands of Messianic Prophecy Universal National � Israel’s enemies defeated � Temple restored � King from David’s line reigns over Israel “So when the apostles were with Jesus, they kept asking him, ‘Lord, has the time come for you to free Israel and restore our kingdom? ’” -- Acts 1: 6 NLT � All weapons destroyed � All violence ends (lamb lies down with lion) � All Jews fully obey God’s law � All peoples come to Jews asking to learn about God � King from David’s line rules over the earth

Into this world, Jesus was born

Some came to believe he was the Messiah “When Jesus saw that they were ready to force him to be their king, he slipped away into the hills by himself. ” --John 6: 15 NLT --Matthew 21: 4 -5 NLT Triumphal Entry 4 This took place to fulfill the prophecy that said, 5 “Tell the people of Jerusalem, ‘Look, your King is coming to you. He is humble, riding on a donkey— riding on a donkey’s colt. ’” Then he asked them, “But who do you say I am? ” 16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God. ” --Matthew 16: 15 -16 NLT 15

Jesus Scandalized the Jewish Leaders (The Four Key Jewish Cultural Markers) Temple: Instead of building a Temple, he declared judgment on it, then said, “Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up, ” meaning that He would be the new Temple. Nation: Jesus redefined Israel as being made up of those who obeyed his teaching. The Law: He claimed authority to radically reinterpret the Torah: “You have said that it was said by them of old time, but I say unto you…. ” Purity laws: Jesus ate with “sinners, ” healed on the sabbath, etc. “Sabbath was made for man, not man for the sabbath. ”

A Messiah or a Threat? � Most Pharisees saw Jesus as leading the people astray, leading them away from the observation of Torah that they believed would lead to the coming of the Messiah. � The Sadducees saw Jesus as a threat to the Temple system which was the source of their power and wealth. � But some believed he was the promised Messiah.

What is the Kingdom of God? The people of God living under the reign of God.

Joy to the World Joy to the world, the Lord has come! Let earth receive her King Let every heart prepare Him room And Heaven and nature sing And Heaven, and nature sing No more let sins and sorrows grow Nor thorns infest the ground He comes to make His blessings flow Far as the curse is found Far as, far as, the curse is found Joy to the World, the Savior reigns! Let men their songs employ While fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains Repeat the sounding joy Repeat, repeat, the sounding joy He rules the world with truth and grace And makes the nations prove The glories of His righteousness And wonders of His love And wonders, of His love

Many Jews Are Still Waiting � We don’t have world peace. � Not all weapons have been destroyed. � Everyone does not acknowledge God. As the Jews wait for the Messiah’s first coming, we wait for his second coming when these promises will be fulfilled. When Jesus comes again, will Jews and Christians be united in welcoming the Messiah?

Let Earth Receive Her King “Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter. ” --Matthew 7: 21 NLT