Wednesday, November 27 – 2 Chronicles 28, 2 Kings 16 – Additional Reading, Prophets and Kings, Chapter 27, “Ahaz”
1. What sins did Ahaz, king of Judah, commit? (2 Chronicles 28:2-4)
2. To whom did Ahaz turn for help against the kings of Israel and Syria? (2 Kings 16:7)
3. What did Ahaz see in Damascus that greatly appealed to him? (2 Kings 16:10-11)
Commentary and Reflection:
Today’s reading in 2 Chronicles and 2 Kings recounts the story of Ahaz, king of Judah. Under his reign, apostasy flourished; he was a king who did not walk in the ways of the LORD but instead adopted the evil practices of the nations that the LORD had driven out due to their wickedness. As a result, Judah suffered defeat, lost territory, and saw its influence wane under the attacks of its neighbors, including Israel, Syria, Assyria, Edom, and the Philistines. During these attacks, one of the king’s sons, his steward, and his prime minister were killed.
The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary offers context, saying, “The majority of the rulers of Judah had been relatively upright kings; from now on many were evil. The reign of Ahaz marked the beginning of the nation’s final decline. Efforts were made by Hezekiah and Josiah made efforts to stay the tide of iniquity, but the effects were only temporary. A nation cannot long endure without righteousness and without good leadership. Evil men automatically bring about their own ruin.” (Bible Commentary, 2 Kings 16:2)
Some of Ahaz’s evil practices are worth noting:
He made images of the Baals: The worship of Baal was marked by immorality and obscenity, and it was enough to warrant God’s judgment.
He burned incense in the Valley of the Son of Hinnom: This valley, southwest of Jerusalem, was a place where cruel and repulsive rituals, including child sacrifices, were performed. The name is believed to come from a word meaning “lament” due to the cries over the sacrifices of innocent children. After Josiah destroyed these altars, this valley became a garbage dump with continuous fires.
He made his children pass through the fire: “Human sacrifice was one of the most terrible abominations of Palestine, and in the period of Judah it became a not uncommon feature of religious worship (Jer. 7:31; 19:2–6; 32:35; Eze. 16:20, 21).” (Bible Commentary, 2 Chronicles 28:3)
In 2 Kings 16, we read that when Ahaz visited the king of Assyria in Damascus, the capital of Syria, he was greatly impressed by an altar he saw there. He took the trouble to make a detailed drawing and description of the altar and sent it to Uriah the priest, instructing him to build a replica in Jerusalem. Upon returning, Ahaz offered sacrifices on this altar. His reasoning was: “Because the gods of the kings of Syria help them, I will also sacrifice to them that they may help me” (2 Chronicles 28:23, NKJV).
What a lack of spiritual conviction for anyone, especially a king of Judah! The political and cultural pressures of the time were intense, and while Ahaz bears much of the responsibility, he was not alone—these practices were also common among the people. For us today, these pressures may be economic or cultural influences. We must be careful not to fall into the sin of Ahaz by adopting worship practices or values that are foreign to God.
Two other events in this account are worth noting:
- The LORD allows His people to be punished for their sins, but those who carry out the aggression are not innocent in His eyes. One wrongdoing does not justify another. This is a thought-provoking concept:
“The LORD God of your fathers was angry with Judah and delivered them into your hand; but you have killed them in a rage that reaches up to heaven. And now you propose to make the children of Judah and Jerusalem your male and female slaves; but are you not also guilty before the LORD your God? Now hear me, therefore, and return the captives, whom you have taken captive from your brethren, for the fierce wrath of the LORD is upon you.” (2 Chronicles 28:9-11, NKJV)
- Imagine a prophet standing up to confront a victorious army. That is exactly what the prophet Obed did when Israel returned from their conquest. I greatly admire the courage of these men of God.
Judah’s national and personal defeats and tragedies came because of abandoning the LORD.
When they persisted in disobedience, the LORD withdrew His protection which led to national and personal calamities. This was a period of suffering and decline. Even the just governments of Hezekiah and Josiah that followed could not halt the march toward captivity. Sooner or later, such are the natural consequences of disobeying God. The best decision we can make is to remain faithful to the LORD, regardless of the economic or cultural pressures around us.