“Ahaz-This Dude Was Messed Up”


BIBLE READING: 2 Kings 15-17

                As we continue in our study of the kings of Israel and Judah, we have been pretty much disappointed.  Although there were a few bright spots in the leadership, it seems to have been a who’s who of failures.  All typically fit into the characterization of “they did what was right in the sight of God” or “They did not do what was right in the sight of God”.  During the time of our reading Jotham had been king over Judah and he” did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, according to all that his father Uzziah had done.  “Nevertheless, the high places were not removed” (2Kings 15.34-35).  Sadly, in Jotham’s lack of removing the high places where idolatry took place, opened the door so the next king would be all messed up.  Jotham’s son Ahaz becomes king over Judah after his father and the Bible says, “he did not do what was right in the eyes of the LORD” (2 Kings 16.2).  As a matter of fact, Ahaz burned his own son in an act of pagan worship.  He then continued to do all the “despicable practices” of the pagan nations that God told them to drive out.  He then sought out help from Tiglath-pileser, king of Assryia, for deliverance.  If you hadn’t noticed yet, Assyria is the enemy. Why would the people of God turn and ask for help from one of their enemies?  Sadly, Ahaz’s actions continued by doing what he Bible calls “despicable practices” from the nations around them.  Who would have ever thought that things like this would come from God’s people?  The same people He promised Abram about, the same people He delivered from the bondage of Egypt, the same people he gave the Promise Land too in Joshua?  When they fell from God, they fell hard and it was all due to them not getting rid of some specific things that they had been told to destroy.   Church, we must make sure we rid ourselves of the sins that we continue to allow to lurk around in the corners of our lives.   Not only are they slowly eating away at our faith, they just may totally devour the faith of the generation after.


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