II Kings 16:7-20
“At that time did king Ahaz send unto the kings of Assyria to help him. For again the Edomites had come and smitten Judah, and carried away captives. The Philistines also had invaded the cities of the low country, and of the south of Judah, and had taken Bethshemesh, and Ajalon, and Gederoth, and Shocho with the villages thereof, and Timnah with the villages thereof, Gimzo also and the villages thereof: and they dwelt there. For the LORD brought Judah low because of Ahaz king of Israel; for he made Judah naked, and transgressed sore against the LORD.” (II Chronicles 28:16-19)
Although they had not conquered Jerusalem. Pekah and Rezin had inflicted a great deal of harm to Judah. At the same time the Edomites had invaded the land from the southeast and the Philistines had seized and occupied several cities in th south and west. Ahaz’ sin had caused God to withdraw his protection, leaving Judah exposed to her enemies. Ahaz realized he couldn’t fight all of them.
“So Ahaz sent messengers to Tiglathpileser king of Assyria, saying, I am thy servant and thy son: come up, and save me out of the hand of the king of Syria, and out of the hand of the king of Israel, which rise up against me.
“And Ahaz took the silver and gold that was found in the house of the LORD, and in the treasures of the king's house, and sent it for a present to the king of Assyria.” (II Kings 16:7-8)
The Assyrian empire had been dominated by the Aramaens for about a hundred and fifty years, but by about 750 BC, had embarked on a major expansion that would eventually result in their controlling present day Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Israel, Cypress, and parts of Turkey, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Saudi Arabia before being conquered by Babylon.
Seeing their increasing power and desperate for help, Ahaz contacted Tiglathpileser III, asking for a treaty in an effort to enlist their assistance. He raided the temple of God for gold to send as an inducement to ensure their cooperation, mush as the United States sends foreign aid.
“And the king of Assyria hearkened unto him: for the king of Assyria went up against Damascus, and took it, and carried the people of it captive to Kir, and slew Rezin.” (II Kings 16:9)
“And Tilgathpilneser king of Assyria came unto him, and distressed him, but strengthened him not. For Ahaz took away a portion out of the house of the LORD, and out of the house of the king, and of the princes, and gave it unto the king of Assyria: but he helped him not.” (II Chronicles 28:20-21)
The Assyrians were already planning to invade Syria, and Ahaz’s offer presented an extra incentive. They moved in and conquered Syria taking Damascus and the parts of Israel the Syrians had controlled. At first it seemed that Ahaz had accomplished his goal but it wasn’t long before he discovered that the Assyrians had their own agenda in coming to his aid, and before long he was regretting getting them involved. People who are allies solely because of gifts really are not to be trusted, as the American foreign aid policy has demonstrated repeatedly.
“And king Ahaz went to Damascus to meet Tiglathpileser king of Assyria, and saw an altar that was at Damascus: and king Ahaz sent to Urijah the priest the fashion of the altar, and the pattern of it, according to all the workmanship thereof. And Urijah the priest built an altar according to all that king Ahaz had sent from Damascus: so Urijah the priest made it against king Ahaz came from Damascus.” (II Kings 16:10-11)
When Syria was defeated, Ahaz and Tiglathpileser III met in Damascus to sign the treaty, much like the Yalta conference after World War II, not realizing that before long they would be enemies.
While he was in Damascus, Ahaz was impressed by the religious temples of Damascus and sent sets of plans of the altar to Jerusalem, ordering Urijah the high priest to copy them, which he did.
“And when the king was come from Damascus, the king saw the altar: and the king approached to the altar, and offered thereon. And he burnt his burnt offering and his meat offering, and poured his drink offering, and sprinkled the blood of his peace offerings, upon the altar.” (II Kings 16:12-13)
“And in the time of his distress did he trespass yet more against the LORD: this is that king Ahaz. For he sacrificed unto the gods of Damascus, which smote him: and he said, Because the gods of the kings of Syria help them, therefore will I sacrifice to them, that they may help me. But they were the ruin of him, and of all Israel.” (II Chronicles 28:22-23)
Deciding that the Syrian gods must be pretty strong since the Syrians had been able to defeat Judah, he decided to incorporate them into Judaism. After all, Judaism was pretty old fashioned. He didn’t realize that Syria had been able to defeat Judah because God had turned against them as a result of their sin. That decision would ultimately destroy Ahaz and all of Israel. Remember that Ahaz was king of Judah, not Israel, but his decision would remove Judah’s godly influence on Israel.
Sadly, many churches today have, like Ahaz, having neglected their spiritual roots, have looked at the seeming successes of other groups and adopted their doctrines and practices in an effort to emulate their success. In doing so, they lose their testimony to the unsaved world, and eventually destroy the church. In general they follow the same steps Ahaz followed.
“And he brought also the brazen altar, which was before the LORD, from the forefront of the house, from between the altar and the house of the LORD, and put it on the north side of the altar.
And king Ahaz commanded Urijah the priest, saying, Upon the great altar burn the morning burnt offering, and the evening meat offering, and the king's burnt sacrifice, and his meat offering, with the burnt offering of all the people of the land, and their meat offering, and their drink offerings; and sprinkle upon it all the blood of the burnt offering, and all the blood of the sacrifice: and the brazen altar shall be for me to inquire by. Thus did Urijah the priest, according to all that king Ahaz commanded.
And king Ahaz cut off the borders of the bases, and removed the laver from off them; and took down the sea from off the brazen oxen that were under it, and put it upon a pavement of stones.” (II Kings 16:14-17)
“And Ahaz gathered together the vessels of the house of God, and cut in pieces the vessels of the house of God, and shut up the doors of the house of the LORD, and he made him altars in every corner of Jerusalem.” (II Chronicles 28:24)
The old brazen altar for sacrificing for sin and worshiping God was moved over to the side and the new altar for the Syrian gods in much the same way many modern churches have changed the focus from the word of God and his offering to the music and excitement of the new worship. The old altar was retained for the priests and the king to talk to God but the people were encouraged to focus on the new doctrine and practice.
The importance of a clean life and separation from the world was downplayed by removing the bases that held the furniture off the ground, and the various vessels for were eliminated as irrelevant, much like modern churches have done with various doctrines. The holy place and Holy of Holies were completely closed up, changing the emphasis totally to the public demonstration rather than the personal and private heart secrets.
“And the covert for the sabbath that they had built in the house, and the king's entry without, turned he from the house of the LORD for the king of Assyria.” (II Kings 16:18)
The porch or portico they had built for the people to assemble on the Sabbath was used for political meetings and other events just as many churches today are trending toward more multipurpose buildings so they can sponsor sporting events, concerts and political rallies.
“And in every several city of Judah he made high places to burn incense unto other gods, and provoked to anger the LORD God of his fathers.” (II Chroniclkes 28:25)
Finally they began to set up local worship centers to teach their false doctrine, much as some groups have set up satellite groups and others have established television outreaches so people no longer need to go to the house of God to worship.
“Now the rest of the acts of Ahaz which he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? And Ahaz slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David: and Hezekiah his son reigned in his stead.” (II Kings 16:19-20)
“And Ahaz slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city, even in Jerusalem: but they brought him not into the sepulchres of the kings of Israel: and Hezekiah his son reigned in his stead.” (II Chronicles 28:27)
Though the people followed his leadership, and practiced the religion he set up, the people recognized he was not like the godly kings of the past and would not allow him to be buried with them.
“At that time did king Ahaz send unto the kings of Assyria to help him. For again the Edomites had come and smitten Judah, and carried away captives. The Philistines also had invaded the cities of the low country, and of the south of Judah, and had taken Bethshemesh, and Ajalon, and Gederoth, and Shocho with the villages thereof, and Timnah with the villages thereof, Gimzo also and the villages thereof: and they dwelt there. For the LORD brought Judah low because of Ahaz king of Israel; for he made Judah naked, and transgressed sore against the LORD.” (II Chronicles 28:16-19)
Although they had not conquered Jerusalem. Pekah and Rezin had inflicted a great deal of harm to Judah. At the same time the Edomites had invaded the land from the southeast and the Philistines had seized and occupied several cities in th south and west. Ahaz’ sin had caused God to withdraw his protection, leaving Judah exposed to her enemies. Ahaz realized he couldn’t fight all of them.
“So Ahaz sent messengers to Tiglathpileser king of Assyria, saying, I am thy servant and thy son: come up, and save me out of the hand of the king of Syria, and out of the hand of the king of Israel, which rise up against me.
“And Ahaz took the silver and gold that was found in the house of the LORD, and in the treasures of the king's house, and sent it for a present to the king of Assyria.” (II Kings 16:7-8)
The Assyrian empire had been dominated by the Aramaens for about a hundred and fifty years, but by about 750 BC, had embarked on a major expansion that would eventually result in their controlling present day Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Israel, Cypress, and parts of Turkey, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Saudi Arabia before being conquered by Babylon.
Seeing their increasing power and desperate for help, Ahaz contacted Tiglathpileser III, asking for a treaty in an effort to enlist their assistance. He raided the temple of God for gold to send as an inducement to ensure their cooperation, mush as the United States sends foreign aid.
“And the king of Assyria hearkened unto him: for the king of Assyria went up against Damascus, and took it, and carried the people of it captive to Kir, and slew Rezin.” (II Kings 16:9)
“And Tilgathpilneser king of Assyria came unto him, and distressed him, but strengthened him not. For Ahaz took away a portion out of the house of the LORD, and out of the house of the king, and of the princes, and gave it unto the king of Assyria: but he helped him not.” (II Chronicles 28:20-21)
The Assyrians were already planning to invade Syria, and Ahaz’s offer presented an extra incentive. They moved in and conquered Syria taking Damascus and the parts of Israel the Syrians had controlled. At first it seemed that Ahaz had accomplished his goal but it wasn’t long before he discovered that the Assyrians had their own agenda in coming to his aid, and before long he was regretting getting them involved. People who are allies solely because of gifts really are not to be trusted, as the American foreign aid policy has demonstrated repeatedly.
“And king Ahaz went to Damascus to meet Tiglathpileser king of Assyria, and saw an altar that was at Damascus: and king Ahaz sent to Urijah the priest the fashion of the altar, and the pattern of it, according to all the workmanship thereof. And Urijah the priest built an altar according to all that king Ahaz had sent from Damascus: so Urijah the priest made it against king Ahaz came from Damascus.” (II Kings 16:10-11)
When Syria was defeated, Ahaz and Tiglathpileser III met in Damascus to sign the treaty, much like the Yalta conference after World War II, not realizing that before long they would be enemies.
While he was in Damascus, Ahaz was impressed by the religious temples of Damascus and sent sets of plans of the altar to Jerusalem, ordering Urijah the high priest to copy them, which he did.
“And when the king was come from Damascus, the king saw the altar: and the king approached to the altar, and offered thereon. And he burnt his burnt offering and his meat offering, and poured his drink offering, and sprinkled the blood of his peace offerings, upon the altar.” (II Kings 16:12-13)
“And in the time of his distress did he trespass yet more against the LORD: this is that king Ahaz. For he sacrificed unto the gods of Damascus, which smote him: and he said, Because the gods of the kings of Syria help them, therefore will I sacrifice to them, that they may help me. But they were the ruin of him, and of all Israel.” (II Chronicles 28:22-23)
Deciding that the Syrian gods must be pretty strong since the Syrians had been able to defeat Judah, he decided to incorporate them into Judaism. After all, Judaism was pretty old fashioned. He didn’t realize that Syria had been able to defeat Judah because God had turned against them as a result of their sin. That decision would ultimately destroy Ahaz and all of Israel. Remember that Ahaz was king of Judah, not Israel, but his decision would remove Judah’s godly influence on Israel.
Sadly, many churches today have, like Ahaz, having neglected their spiritual roots, have looked at the seeming successes of other groups and adopted their doctrines and practices in an effort to emulate their success. In doing so, they lose their testimony to the unsaved world, and eventually destroy the church. In general they follow the same steps Ahaz followed.
“And he brought also the brazen altar, which was before the LORD, from the forefront of the house, from between the altar and the house of the LORD, and put it on the north side of the altar.
And king Ahaz commanded Urijah the priest, saying, Upon the great altar burn the morning burnt offering, and the evening meat offering, and the king's burnt sacrifice, and his meat offering, with the burnt offering of all the people of the land, and their meat offering, and their drink offerings; and sprinkle upon it all the blood of the burnt offering, and all the blood of the sacrifice: and the brazen altar shall be for me to inquire by. Thus did Urijah the priest, according to all that king Ahaz commanded.
And king Ahaz cut off the borders of the bases, and removed the laver from off them; and took down the sea from off the brazen oxen that were under it, and put it upon a pavement of stones.” (II Kings 16:14-17)
“And Ahaz gathered together the vessels of the house of God, and cut in pieces the vessels of the house of God, and shut up the doors of the house of the LORD, and he made him altars in every corner of Jerusalem.” (II Chronicles 28:24)
The old brazen altar for sacrificing for sin and worshiping God was moved over to the side and the new altar for the Syrian gods in much the same way many modern churches have changed the focus from the word of God and his offering to the music and excitement of the new worship. The old altar was retained for the priests and the king to talk to God but the people were encouraged to focus on the new doctrine and practice.
The importance of a clean life and separation from the world was downplayed by removing the bases that held the furniture off the ground, and the various vessels for were eliminated as irrelevant, much like modern churches have done with various doctrines. The holy place and Holy of Holies were completely closed up, changing the emphasis totally to the public demonstration rather than the personal and private heart secrets.
“And the covert for the sabbath that they had built in the house, and the king's entry without, turned he from the house of the LORD for the king of Assyria.” (II Kings 16:18)
The porch or portico they had built for the people to assemble on the Sabbath was used for political meetings and other events just as many churches today are trending toward more multipurpose buildings so they can sponsor sporting events, concerts and political rallies.
“And in every several city of Judah he made high places to burn incense unto other gods, and provoked to anger the LORD God of his fathers.” (II Chroniclkes 28:25)
Finally they began to set up local worship centers to teach their false doctrine, much as some groups have set up satellite groups and others have established television outreaches so people no longer need to go to the house of God to worship.
“Now the rest of the acts of Ahaz which he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? And Ahaz slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David: and Hezekiah his son reigned in his stead.” (II Kings 16:19-20)
“And Ahaz slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city, even in Jerusalem: but they brought him not into the sepulchres of the kings of Israel: and Hezekiah his son reigned in his stead.” (II Chronicles 28:27)
Though the people followed his leadership, and practiced the religion he set up, the people recognized he was not like the godly kings of the past and would not allow him to be buried with them.
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