Hope for Families – Part 4 The Darkest Night Matthew 1:12-17

What is unique about these three seasons? The first season – Abraham to King David; Jesus is the promise fulfilled. (Gen 12:1-3).

What is unique about these three seasons? The second season – David to the exile; Jesus is the future hope. 2 Samuel 7:12- 16

What is unique about these three seasons? The third season – exile to Messiah; He is faithfulness displayed.

The Genealogy… This genealogy is not just a list of names. It is record of God’s grace.

Matthew 1:12-17 After the exile to Babylon: Jeconiah was the father of Shealtiel, Shealtiel the father of Zerubbabel, Zerubbabel the father of Abiud, Abiud the father of Eliakim, Eliakim the father of Azor, Azor the father of Zadok,

Matthew 1:12-17 Zadok the father of Akim, Akim the father of Eliud, Eliud the father of Eleazar, Eleazar the father of Matthan, Matthan the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ.

Matthew 1:12-17 Thus there were fourteen generations in all from Abraham to David, fourteen from David to the exile to Babylon, and fourteen from the exile to the Christ.

Jeconiah was a king who did evil in the sight of God! Jehoiachin was eighteen years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem three months. His mother's name was Nehushta daughter of Elnathan; she was from Jerusalem. He did evil in the eyes of the LORD, just as his father had done. - 2 Kings 24:8-9

Jeconiah was a king who did evil in the sight of God! Building a life on God’s Word is right in God’s sight. Hilkiah the high priest said to Shaphan the secretary, "I have found the Book of the Law in the temple of the LORD." He gave it to Shaphan, who read it. Then Shaphan the secretary went to the king and reported to him:

Jeconiah was a king who did evil in the sight of God! Building a life on God’s Word is right in God’s sight. "Your officials have paid out the money that was in the temple of the LORD and have entrusted it to the workers and supervisors at the temple."

Jeconiah was a king who did evil in the sight of God! Building a life on God’s Word is right in God’s sight. Then Shaphan the secretary informed the king, "Hilkiah the priest has given me a book." And Shaphan read from it in the presence of the king. - (2 Kings 22:8-10)

Jeconiah was a king who did evil in the sight of God! Building a life on God’s Word is right in God’s sight. Then the king called together all the elders of Judah and Jerusalem. He went up to the temple of the LORD with the men of Judah, the people of Jerusalem, the priests and the prophets—all the people from the least to the greatest.

Jeconiah was a king who did evil in the sight of God! Building a life on God’s Word is right in God’s sight. He read in their hearing all the words of the Book of the Covenant, which had been found in the temple of the LORD. The king stood by the pillar and renewed the covenant in the presence of the LORD -

Jeconiah was a king who did evil in the sight of God! Building a life on God’s Word is right in God’s sight. to follow the LORD and keep his commands, regulations and decrees with all his heart and all his soul, thus confirming the words of the covenant written in this book.

Jeconiah was a king who did evil in the sight of God! Building a life on God’s Word is right in God’s sight. Then all the people pledged themselves to the covenant. - (2 Kings 23:1-3)

Jeconiah was a king who did evil in the sight of God! Building spiritual intimacy with God alone is right in God’s sight. She said to them, "This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: Tell the man who sent you to me, 'This is what the LORD says:

Jeconiah was a king who did evil in the sight of God! Building spiritual intimacy with God alone is right in God’s sight. I am going to bring disaster on this place and its people, according to everything written in the book the king of Judah has read.

Jeconiah was a king who did evil in the sight of God! Building spiritual intimacy with God alone is right in God’s sight. Because they have forsaken me and burned incense to other gods and provoked me to anger by all the idols their hands have made, my anger will burn against this place and will not be quenched.' (2 Kings 22:15-17)

Jeconiah was a king who did evil in the sight of God! Trusting our own resources instead of God’s resources is evil in God’s sight. During Jehoiakim's reign, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon invaded the land, and Jehoiakim became his vassal for three years. But then he changed his mind and rebelled against Nebuchadnezzar. - 2 Kings 24:1

Jeconiah was a king who did evil in the sight of God! Shedding innocent blood is evil in God’s sight. including the shedding of innocent blood. For he had filled Jerusalem with innocent blood, and the LORD was not willing to forgive. - (2 Kings 24:4)

Jeconiah was a king who did evil in the sight of God! The LORD, the God of their fathers, sent word to them through his messengers again and again, because he had pity on his people and on his dwelling place.

Jeconiah was a king who did evil in the sight of God! But they mocked God's messengers, despised his words and scoffed at his prophets until the wrath of the LORD was aroused against his people and there was no remedy. - 2 Chronicles 36:15-16

Jeconiah was a king who did evil in the sight of God! Summary: treating what is sacred as common and what is common as sacred is offensive to God. That practice is called sin!

Jeconiah heard some hard words "As surely as I live," declares the LORD, "even if you, Jehoiachin son of Jehoiakim king of Judah, were a signet ring on my right hand, I would still pull you off. I will hand you over to those who seek your life, those you fear—to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and to the Babylonians.

Jeconiah heard some hard words I will hurl you and the mother who gave you birth into another country, where neither of you was born, and there you both will die. You will never come back to the land you long to return to." - Jeremiah 22:24-27

Jeconiah heard some hard words You will not prosper nor will you see your children prosper in your lifetime.

Jeconiah sees the prophecy come true At that time the officers of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon advanced on Jerusalem and laid siege to it, and Nebuchadnezzar himself came up to the city while his officers were besieging it. Jehoiachin king of Judah, his mother, his attendants, his nobles and his officials all surrendered to him.

Jeconiah sees the prophecy come true In the eighth year of the reign of the king of Babylon, he took Jehoiachin prisoner. As the LORD had declared, Nebuchadnezzar removed all the treasures from the temple of the LORD and from the royal palace, and took away all the gold articles that Solomon king of Israel had made for the temple of the LORD.

Jeconiah sees the prophecy come true He carried into exile all Jerusalem: all the officers and fighting men, and all the craftsmen and artisans—a total of ten thousand. Only the poorest people of the land were left. – (2 Kings 24:10- 14)

Jeconiah sees the prophecy come true Jehoiachin was eighteen years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem three months and ten days. He did evil in the eyes of the LORD.

Jeconiah sees the prophecy come true In the spring, King Nebuchadnezzar sent for him and brought him to Babylon, together with articles of value from the temple of the LORD, and he made Jehoiachin's uncle, Zedekiah, king over Judah and Jerusalem. – (2 Chronicles 36:9-10)

Jeconiah is included in Jesus genealogy "The days are coming," declares the LORD, "when I will raise up to David a righteous Branch, a King who will reign wisely and do what is just and right in the land. In his days Judah will be saved and Israel will live in safety.

Jeconiah is included in Jesus genealogy This is the name by which he will be called: The LORD Our Righteousness. - Jeremiah 23:5-6

Jeconiah is included in Jesus genealogy The word of the LORD came to Haggai a second time on the twenty-fourth day of the month: "Tell Zerubbabel governor of Judah that I will shake the heavens and the earth. I will overturn royal thrones and shatter the power of the foreign kingdoms.

Jeconiah is included in Jesus genealogy I will overthrow chariots and their drivers; horses and their riders will fall, each by the sword of his brother. - Haggai 2:20-22

Jeconiah is included in Jesus genealogy There were only two people who come together to parent Jesus and fulfill the prophecies – Mary and Joseph!

Bottom Line: This genealogy is so much more than a list of names. It is a record of God’s faithfulness to his people, and it all centers on Jesus – He’s the One. God keeps his word. God has not forgotten us.

A warning! T = Torah (Pentateuch - first five books of the O.T.) N = Nevi’im (prophets) K = Kethuvim (writings – poetry / history)

2 Chronicles 36:23 "This is what Cyrus king of Persia says: " 'The LORD, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth and he has appointed me to build a temple for him at Jerusalem in Judah. Anyone of his people among you—may the LORD his God be with him, and let him go up.' "

Revelation 22:12-21 "Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.

Revelation 22:12-21 "Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city. Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.

Revelation 22:12-21 "I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star."

Revelation 22:12-21 The Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" And let him who hears say, "Come!" Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life.

Revelation 22:12-21 I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book. And if anyone takes words away from this book of prophecy, God will take away from him his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book.

Revelation 22:12-21 He who testifies to these things says, "Yes, I am coming soon." Amen. Come, Lord Jesus. The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God's people. Amen.

Here is the warning: It is possible to become so sure about our expectations of how God will perform that when God does not meet our expectations we discount God!