
I. A LAND IN DARKNESS
Isaiah 9:2
The First Temple Period (970BC – 586BC)
• 957 BC Solomon completes and dedicates the temple (1 Kings 8)
• 740 BC Assyrian Captivity - Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria (1 Chronicles 5:26)
• 722 BC Samaria was conquered by Shalmaneser V (2 Kings 17:5-6)
• 701 BC Sennacherib marches south to take Jerusalem but the Lord intervened (2 Chronicles 32:22), the temple is stripped
• 607 BC Babylonian Captivity - Nebuchadnezzar, 20 years of battles and final siege that would destroy the temple and leave Jerusalem in ruins
The Second Temple Period (516BC-70AD)
• Alexander’s conquest of the Mediterranean world brought an end to Persian control of Jerusalem (539–334/333 BCE) and ushered in the Hellenistic period.
• 323 BC Alexander dies - Ptolemy & Seleucid
• Between the 4th and 1st centuries BC you have fighting between Ptolemic and Seleucid Empires
• 247 BC Parthian Empire is established to the east, they battle the Seleucids for control of the area of • Israel, Judah, Palestine and Syria
• 200 BC the Ptolemic army was defeated by Seleucid army and the Seleucids took control of Jerusalem and the Temple,
• 168 BC Antiochus Epiphanes
• 167 BC Maccabean revolt
• 141 BC Simon Thassi establishes Hasmonean dynasty
• 63 BC Pompey the Great lays siege to Jerusalem, becomes a client kingdom of the Roman Republic.
• 40 BC Parthians gain control of Levant (Judah), counterattack led by Mark Anthony (Romans)
• 37 BC Herod the Great is installed as a leader by Mark Anthony
A land of fighting, and darkness; anything BUT peace.
Isaiah 9:1-7
II. A KING IS BORN
Matthew 2:1-2 – The Wise Men and the Star
• Daniel 9:24-27
• Numbers 24:17
Matthew 2:3-4
• Herod and all of Jerusalem are troubled
Matthew 2:5-6
• Micah 5:2
Matthew 2:7-8
• Herod’s true intentions revealed (v. 16)
Matthew 2:9-11
• The star reappears
• They enter the house and worship
III. JESUS IS OUR PEACE
- Jesus was born so we might be born again
- Jesus lived so that we might have eternal life
- Jesus died so that we might die to sin
- Jesus rose so that we might have peace with God
Colossians 1:19-20
Romans 5:1-2
Ephesians 14-17
Application:
1. We can have eternal peace with God
2. Jesus’ presence offers daily peace with God
3. Jesus himself is our complete peace (shalom)
CG Questions:
• What common misconceptions exist about the wise men? Did you learn anything new about them?
• Read through Isaiah 9:1-7. What were the promises in this prophecy? What promises have we seen fulfilled?
• How does Jesus provide peace between you and God?
• How does Jesus bring peace through his presence?
• Discuss your favorite moments of this Advent season with one another.