A CHRISTMAS PROMISE
Text: 2 Kings 16:1 – 9
Introduction:
• Title of sermon is “A Christmas Promise”
• What does this text have to do with Christmas?
• Israel was ruled by Saul for 40 years, by David for 40 years, and then by Solomon for 40 years.
• Following the death of Solomon, Israel split into 2 kingdoms:
o 10 tribes in the north formed the northern kingdom and retained the name “Israel”, also referred to as “Ephraim”
Immediately fell into idolatry and rebelled against God
At this time, northern kingdom had been ruled by 17 kings, all evil
Pekah, 18th king, had become king by conspiring against and killing the previous king
o Two tribes in the south formed the southern kingdom, retaining the name of the larger of the two tribes, “Judah”
Ruled by several good kings
Ahaz was not one of those good kings
• 2 Chronicles 28
o He sacrificed his own children to an idol by burning them alive
o Cut the vessels of the House of God into pieces and shut up the temple
o Made pagan altars in every corner of Jerusalem
o Provoked the Lord God of his fathers to anger
o v. 22 – “…and in the time of his distress did he trespass yet more against the Lord: this is that king Ahaz.”
o North of the northern kingdom was Syria, ruled by king Rezin
Throughout her history, Syria had been a foe to the Israelites
David had defeated them, but Solomon lost control over the region
Following kings had problems with Syria
o North of Syria was Assyria, ruled by Tiglath-Pileser III
Assyrians were becoming the new super power, replacing Israel
Assyrians known for their ruthlessness and cruelty to prisoners (that’s why Jonah didn’t want to go the capital city – Ninevah)
• Syria and northern kingdoms were enemies, but both were being threatened by the growing power of the Assyrians
o Decided to form a confederacy to fight against the Assyrians
o Ahaz invited to join the confederacy, but refused
o Northern kingdom and Syria invade Judah to conquer Jerusalem and put a puppet king on the throne that would join their confederacy
o 2 Chronicles 28:5 says that God allowed this invasion to take place to punish Ahaz for his wicked deeds
o In one day 120,000 of the people of Judah were killed, including the son of Ahaz and Ahaz’s second in command
o Also, 200,000 women and children taken into captivity
o The Edomites and Philistines were raiding Judah as well
o 2 Chronicles 28 also says that all this still did not cause Ahaz to turn to God – instead, he chose to ask the Assyrians for their help
• That’s where the Christmas promise comes in
I. A promise was made to David
o Rewind 300 years
o 2 Samuel 7:11b – 16
David would have a child, who would succeed him and establish his kingdom (fulfilled about two years later with the birth of Solomon)
This son would build the temple instead of David (fulfilled when Solomon completed the temple about 40 years later)
The throne will not be taken away from him even though his sins justify it (fulfilled when Solomon died as king of the united kingdom)
David’s house, throne, and kingdom shall be established forever (meaning the right to rule will never pass from David’s descendants)
II. A promise was made to Ahaz
o Isaiah 7:1 – 12
o Ahaz already lost his son; thought that the invasion was the end of his rule, and that a puppet king would be put in his place
o God sent Isaiah to remind Ahaz that he was a descendant of David, and that the right to rule would never pass from David’s line
o God says that the northern kingdom and Syria were both about to meet their end
Calls them “smoking firebrands” (about to burn out) v. 4
Says that within 65 years, northern kingdom would cease to exist (fulfilled about 12 years after this when Assyria conquered the northern kingdom and carried away all of the survivors) v. 8
Warns Ahaz not to ask the Assyrians for their help
o Ahaz did not believe it
v. 9 “If you don’t believe, then Judah will fall as well”
God invites Ahaz to ask Him for a sign as proof that he would keep his promise to David
Ahaz refuses because he has already made up his mind to ask the Assyrians for help
God says he will show him a sign anyway
o Isaiah 7:13 – 16
OT prophecies usually have two meanings: a near meaning and a distant meaning
Near meaning:
• Children were thought to be morally conscious at about 3 years of age, about the time they began to speak
• In the time that it would take a virgin to conceive, bear a son, and for him to become morally conscious, the kings of both the northern kingdom and Syria would die, and they would cease to be a problem for Ahaz (fulfilled when Syria fell to the Assyrians two years later, followed by the 1st deportation of captives from the northern kingdom, which ceased to exist 63 years later)
• “Immanuel” means “God with us”; God was with Judah, would protect Ahaz against this attack, and would keep his promise to David
• Ahaz survives the attack, and his son Hezekiah becomes one of the good kings of Judah
o Lesson to learn: God always keeps his promises
III. A promise was made to the world
o Fast forward 740 years after Ahaz; further verification of God’s promise to David and Ahaz
o Matthew 1:18
o Three stages of marriage:
First stage, the two families agree to the union and negotiate the terms of the betrothal
Second stage, a public announcement was made and the couple was pledged to each other
Third stage, bride and groom are united; groom comes to get bride and they move out on their own
• Joseph and Mary were at the second stage
• Not officially married, but agreement could only be broken by death or divorce
• No sexual relations during this period
• Lasted 1 year to demonstrate the bride’s purity
• Couple lived apart from each other in parent’s homes
• Mary’s pregnancy was a disgrace to her and to Joseph; if he married her, he was claiming responsibility; if he divorced her, he was charging her with adultery, and by law, she could be stoned to death
o Joseph decided to divorce her in a non-public ceremony in order to protect her
o Matthew 1:19 – 25
o Distant fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy – Christ is born
o Greek word “virgin” means “a woman that has not had sexual relations”
o Mary was a virgin when she conceived and she remained a virgin until after Jesus was born
o Joseph went on and completed the third stage of marriage, but did not have sexual relations with her until after Christ was born v. 25
o “Emmanuel” “God with us”; He was with Judah when they were attacked by Syria and the northern kingdom; now He was literally with all mankind in the form of a baby
o John 1:14 “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.”
o This baby would grow up to become the Savior of the world
He used His time on earth to preach the gospel to the poor, to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives and the recovering of sight to the blind, and to set at liberty them that were bruised
He was crucified as a payment for our sins, He died a literal death, He was buried in a borrowed tomb, and He rose on the third day
He walked among His disciples for forty days and ascended up to heaven on a cloud
o That baby born in Bethlehem over 2000 years ago became the greatest Christmas present of all time
o John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
o 2 Corinthians 9:15 “Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.”
Conclusion:
o God always keeps His promises
o Remember the promise God made David?
David would have a child, who would succeed him and establish his kingdom (fulfilled about two years later with the birth of Solomon)
This son would build the temple instead of David (fulfilled when Solomon completed the temple about 40 years later)
The throne will not be taken away from him even though his sins justify it (fulfilled when Solomon died as king of the united kingdom)
David’s house, throne, and kingdom shall be established forever (meaning the right to rule will never pass from David’s descendants)
o Notice that the last part of the promise is still in effect, and will be fulfilled at least seven years from now in our future
o What am I talking about?
o Matthew 1:1 – 17 gives genealogy of Christ from a legal standpoint and proves that He is a descendant of David
o Last part of David’s promise will be fulfilled when Christ returns
Revelation 19:11 – 16
o Bible says that seven years before that happens, another promise will be kept
o John 14:1 – 3
The rapture of the church is the next thing on God’s calendar
This promise could be fulfilled today
Are you ready?
God always keeps His promises
