2 Chronicles 28:1-231Ahaz was twenty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem: but he did not that which was right in the sight of the Lord, like David his father: 2For he walked in the ways of the kings of Israel, and made also molten images for Baalim. 3Moreover he burnt incense in the valley of the son of Hinnom, and burnt his children in the fire, after the abominations of the heathen whom the Lord had cast out before the children of Israel. 4He sacrificed also and burnt incense in the high places, and on the hills, and under every green tree. 5Wherefore the Lord his God delivered him into the hand of the king of Syria; and they smote him, and carried away a great multitude of them captives, and brought them to Damascus. And he was also delivered into the hand of the king of Israel, who smote him with a great slaughter. 6For Pekah the son of Remaliah slew in Judah an hundred and twenty thousand in one day, which were all valiant men; because they had forsaken the Lord God of their fathers. 7And Zichri, a mighty man of Ephraim, slew Maaseiah the king's son, and Azrikam the governor of the house, and Elkanah that was next to the king. 8And the children of Israel carried away captive of their brethren two hundred thousand, women, sons, and daughters, and took also away much spoil from them, and brought the spoil to Samaria. 9But a prophet of the Lord was there, whose name was Oded: and he went out before the host that came to Samaria, and said unto them, Behold, because the Lord God of your fathers was wroth with Judah, he hath delivered them into your hand, and ye have slain them in a rage that reacheth up unto heaven. 10And now ye purpose to keep under the children of Judah and Jerusalem for bondmen and bondwomen unto you: but are there not with you, even with you, sins against the Lord your God? 11Now hear me therefore, and deliver the captives again, which ye have taken captive of your brethren: for the fierce wrath of the Lord is upon you. 12Then certain of the heads of the children of Ephraim, Azariah the son of Johanan, Berechiah the son of Meshillemoth, and Jehizkiah the son of Shallum, and Amasa the son of Hadlai, stood up against them that came from the war, 13And said unto them, Ye shall not bring in the captives hither: for whereas we have offended against the Lord already, ye intend to add more to our sins and to our trespass: for our trespass is great, and there is fierce wrath against Israel. 14So the armed men left the captives and the spoil before the princes and all the congregation. 15And the men which were expressed by name rose up, and took the captives, and with the spoil clothed all that were naked among them, and arrayed them, and shod them, and gave them to eat and to drink, and anointed them, and carried all the feeble of them upon asses, and brought them to Jericho, the city of palm trees, to their brethren: then they returned to Samaria. 16At that time did king Ahaz send unto the kings of Assyria to help him. 17For again the Edomites had come and smitten Judah, and carried away captives. 18The Philistines also had invaded the cities of the low country, and of the south of Judah, and had taken Beth-shemesh, 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. 19For the Lord brought Judah low because of Ahaz king of Israel; for he made Judah naked, and transgressed sore against the Lord. 20And Tilgath-pilneser king of Assyria came unto him, and distressed him, but strengthened him not. 21For 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. 22And in the time of his distress did he trespass yet more against the Lord: this is that king Ahaz. 23For 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. (2 Chronicles 28:1‑23).
In spite of Jotham's upright walk and faithfulness, which procured for him blessing and prosperity from the Lord, we read that "the people did yet corruptly." This shows that there was no real work of the Lord in their hearts. It is sad that some who have heard the Word of the Lord from their youth up have never heeded it.
In dealing with His people during this present time, God does not promise them blessings as a nation, as He did to Israel, because He is taking out a people for Himself out of all nations. His promises are heavenly blessings, though He may, and often does, grant temporal blessings. But the tendency of our hearts is to become lifted up and to credit ourselves with these mercies. Deuteronomy chapter 8 contains some very instructive verses in this connection and it would be well to read them often.
When Jotham died his son Ahaz became king. His age, when he came to the throne, and the length of his reign, were the same as those of his father. But how different in God's sight was his reign. "He did not that which was right in the sight of the Lord." He chose to follow the kings of Israel and gave himself up to open idolatry. He built images for Baalim and burned his own children in the fire, just as those nations did whom the Lord cast out of the land in the days of Joshua.
The Lord delivered Ahaz into the hand of Rezin, king of Syria, who smote Judah and carried away many captives. Also Pekah king of Israel invaded Judah and slew 120,000 men, "because they had forsaken the LORD God of their fathers." Furthermore, the children of Israel took 200,000 captives, women and children, to make them
slaves. But the Lord in mercy raised up a prophet Oded who rebuked the men of Israel for taking the captives; also four influential princes of Israel remonstrated with the men of War, saying, "Ye shall not bring in the captives hither: for whereas we have offended against the Lord already, ye intend to add more to our sins and to our trespass: for our trespass is great, and there is fierce wrath against Israel." v. 13. It would seem that "our trespass" was their great trespass in rebelling against the house of David under Rehoboam, to which they confessed. Apparently the men of Israel were more open to correction than Judah, for they treated the captives with the utmost kindness and returned them all to their brethren safely.
The goodness of God in the return of the captives seemed to have no effect on the hearts of Ahaz and the men of Judah, for next we hear of him seeking help from the king of Assyria, and purchasing it with the gold of the temple and of his palace. However, the king of Assyria helped him not, but distressed him more. Also the Edomites invaded Judah and took away captives, and the Philistines came and dwelt in many of the villages in the south. "For the Lord brought Judah low because of king Ahaz." Yet did he sin more, for he sacrificed unto the gods of Damascus that 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 his ruin. "As righteousness tendeth to life; so he that pursueth evil pursueth it to his own death." Prov. 11:1919As righteousness tendeth to life: so he that pursueth evil pursueth it to his own death. (Proverbs 11:19).
Messages of the Love of God 10/26/1958