King Ahaz - Spoiler Of God's House

by D Smith, Lerwick | Category: General | Jun 1973

Jotham, who at the age of twenty-five came to the throne of Judah in succession to his father Uzziah, proved to be a good king who did that which was right in the eyes of the LORD, and became mighty because "he ordered his ways before the LORD his God" (2 Chron. 27:6). But he failed on one point, and the effect of this on his people and on his posterity perhaps more than outweighed his virtues, for "the high places were not taken away, the people still sacrificed and burned incense in the high places" (2 Kings 15:35). The Preacher said there was "a time to break down, and a time to build up" (Eccles. 3:3) and the needed truth for Jotham's day was to break down the high places in order that the people of God might come to worship in the house of God.

It was in these decadent conditions that Ahaz his son ascended the throne at the age of twenty. It is not by' years that men are measured, but by character and achievement, for "better is a poor and wise youth than an old and foolish king". "Let no man despise thy youth" wrote Paul, to Timothy, "but be thou an ensample to them that believe, in word, in manner of life, in love, in faith, in purity" (1 Tim. 4:12). Some of the greatest works of God and movements of revival, in different ages, have been wrought by young men filled with the Spirit of God, and devoted to His glory.

It was not because of his youth that Ahaz "did not that which was right in the eyes of the LORD", but because he foolishly choose to walk in the ways of the kings of Israel. These, since the division of the kingdom, had, without exception, followed in the footsteps of Jeroboam, Israel's first king, who had set the ten tribes on a course of subversion by erecting two golden calves, one in Bethel and the other in Dan, which thing became a sin (1 Kings 12:29-30). God repeatedly spoke with abhorrence of the "way of Jeroboam" wherewith he made Israel to sin and drew away the people from following the LORD' (2 Kings 17:21).

In the past God had one way for His people. During the present age also He has appointed one way in which His people should be found serving Him, as they did at the beginning (Acts 9:2; 19:9). The apostle Paul was neither arrogant nor ashamed when he stated before Felix, "After the Way which they call a sect, so serve the God of our fathers" (Acts 24:14). The testimony borne by those together in the churches of God was given various names derogatory to their true character by those who opposed the divine movement and held down the truth in unrighteousness. Yet these early disciples, having a conscience void of offence towards God and men, recognized the one Way and were found in it.

Unfortunately it was in "the way of Jeroboam" that Ahaz chose to walk, despite the clear warnings of his wise forefather Solomon who said, "Enter not into the path of the wicked, and walk not in the way of evil men" (Prov. 4:14). He stooped low when he conformed to the abominations of the heathen and made his son to pass through the fire. Sad it is when a man resorts to sin, but sadder still when he carries his family into the ways of iniquity and induces his children to wickedness.

By burning incense in the high places, on the hills and under the green trees, he incurred God's wrath. Therefore the Lord delivered him into the hand of the king of Syria, and instead of turning to the Lord in his distress, as men often have done, Ahaz sent messengers to the king of Assyria appealing for assistance against his enemy. In order to obtain this necessary help he was prepared to dedicate himself to the service of Tiglath-pileser. "I am thy servant and thy son: come up, and save me", was the commitment of a man who had lost sight of God's purpose for His people. Ahaz overlooked the precious statement, "For unto Me the children of Israel are servants; they are My servants whom I brought forth out of the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God" (Lev. 25:55). Dear fellowdisciples, "Ye were bought with a price; become not bondservants of men" (1 Cor. 7:23), but present yourselves unto God and your members as instruments of righteousness. As a pledge of his sincerity Ahaz took the silver' and gold that were found in the house of the Lord and in the treasures of the king's house and sent them as a present to the king of Assyria. This was the precious material that David had spent his life gathering for God's dwelling and of which he could say before his death, "I have prepared with all my might for the house of my God the gold for the things of gold, and the silver for the things of silver because I have set my affection to the house of my God" (1 Chron.29:2,3).

How dreadful if a generation should arise who treat with indifference the precious heritage of truth regarding the present house of God, and foolishly cast away what godly men of the past have recovered at so great a cost!

It was not without significance that Ahaz chose Damascus as his rendezvous with Tiglath-pileser. During his conference with the king of Assyria he was captivated by the grand architecture found there. When he saw the heathen altar that was at Damascus he had the pattern of it sent to Urijah the priest in Jerusalem, and commissioned him to have a similar altar built and set up before Ahaz returned home. Urijah, unlike his valiant predecessors who withstood Uzziah when he went into the temple to burn incense, readily conformed to the king's command and had it built in time for his arrival (2 Kings 16:10-12).

The position of the new altar did not suit the rebellious king, so he had the brazen altar which was before the Lord in the house of God removed to the north side of his own altar. The removal of the brazen altar, which so beautifully prefigured the Lord Jesus Christ in the forefront of God's dwelling place, was a strategic move in Satan's age-old design to supplant God's anointed One and to substitute something of this world. The adversary pursues the same policy today, diligently seeking to introduce any object to dethrone the Son of God in the hearts of His own. Beloved, "sanctify in your hearts Christ as Lord" (1 Pet. 3:15), for to Him God has given all authority in heaven and on earth, and that authority must be acknowledged within the kingdom of God. As Son over God's house His rule must prevail and all within God's house must be subject to Him.

For 16 years Ahaz held the exalted office of king over Judah, but sad to relate he did not use this privilege for the glory of God, nor for the blessing of his people. How have we used the years and the place that God has given us? The record of Ahaz stands for ever, so will ours.

D Smith, Lerwick | Jun 1973
General