Sunday: Danger From the North
Isaiah 7.1-9
What terrifying crisis did King Ahaz face early in his reign? 2 Kings 15.37-38; 2 Kings 16.5-6; Isaiah 7.1-2.
The kingdoms of northern Israel (Ephraim) and Syria (Aram) ganged up on the smaller country of Judah, to the south. This happened when Judah was weakened by attacks from the Edomites and Philistines.
Image © Lars Justinen at Goodsalt.com
In the past, Judah had fought against Israel, but an alliance between Israel and Syria presented an overwhelming peril. It appears Israel and Syria wanted to force Judah to participate with them in a coalition against the mighty power of Tiglath-pileser III, of Assyria (called “Pul” in 2 Kings 15:19), who continued to threaten them with his expanding empire. Israel and Syria had put aside their longstanding struggle against each other in view of a greater danger. If they could conquer Judah and install a puppet ruler there ( Isaiah 7.5-6), they could use its resources and manpower.
What was Ahaz’s solution when his world was falling apart? 2 Kings 16:7-9, 2 Chron: 28:16.
Rather than recognizing that God was the only friend who could rescue him and his country, Ahaz tried to make a friend out of Tiglath-pileser III, the enemy of his enemies. The Assyrian king happily complied with his request for aid against Syria and Israel. Not only did Tiglath-pileser receive a rich bribe from Ahaz, he also gained a good excuse to take Syria, which he promptly did (2 Kings 16:9). The power of the Syrian-Israelite alliance was broken. In the short run, it appeared that Ahaz had saved Judah.
This action on Ahaz’s part, however, should not come as a surprise. He had been one of the worst kings ever to rule Judah up to that point. (See 2 Kings 16.3-4; 2 Chron: 28:2-4.)
| When we read about what Ahaz was like, it is understandable why he reacted to danger as he did. What lesson is here for us on a personal level? If we’re not obeying the Lord now, what makes us think we’ll have the faith to trust Him when real trials come? (See James 2:22, Jer: 12:5.) |
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Political chaos is not something limited to the 21st century. The territory of Palestine/Caanan was at the political crossroads of the eastern Mediterranian. To north and east were the Euphrates based Kingdoms and to the south was Egypt and when push came to shove between these kingdoms, Judah/Israel felt the pressure. Not only that, the local kingdoms were always squabbling among themselves and the Kingdom of Judah was inevitably drawn into these fights. Even back in David's time, strategic alliances with others were pretty much standard practice. And to be honest little has changed in the 21st century. My earliest recollections as a child include memories of news items about the conflict in the eastern Mediterranean.
We can read all this and moralise about what the Ahaz should have done in the circumstances but the fact remains that for us at a personal level we still have to navigate the conflicts of life. We do not live in isolation and have to interact with atheists, secularists, other Christians, and increasingly people of other religions. We may have to work with them, live alongside them, negotiate with them, and disagree with them. Are we any better at navigating our modern world than Ahaz was at navigating his? How does out Christian knowledge and understanding help us in our complex modern society?
Jesus prayer for us, quoted in John 17 is encouraging and challenging. I am only quoting part of it here but the whole prayer is worth considering in this context:
Isn't it comforting to know that we were on His mind & continue to be.
Burning incense! Uzziah and Ahaz did wrong in respect of when, what, how and to whom they burned incense, they contravened the rules the LORD had set out in respect of burning incense. A quick internet search reveals that many religions believe there is spiritual value in burning incense or sage, even certain Christian denominations still burn incense in their services.
We note that many of the Kings of Israel and Judah followed the abominations and practices of the other nations in worshipping their gods, including their burning of incense.
Should we also be careful not to follow others in things like burning incense? Can a simple act or ritual lead us astray or is it harmless?
I do not have the answer to your question except to say that perhaps it lies in a complex web concerning worship.
I recall the varied reactions of the members when our first Candlelight Communion service was scheduled in my home church. There was fear, acceptance, resignation, determination etc.
Perhaps such steps may lead to other types of worship, especially when the cultural background is there beckoning the worshiper. I wonder if anything can truly be... harmless. I'm thinking of the history of Gideon's ephod, which ended in a situation he never would have imagined.
Jeremiah 17:5 Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD.
Sometimes we’re not fully aware of what we really believe or trust until we’re tested. It becomes clear when things go bad. King Ahaz is a clear example of misplaced trust.
If we’re depending on what we see or can understand in times of trouble, rather trusting the Lord, we’ll miss out on experiencing God’s wonderful interventions.
I don't know how people survive without believing in God. These times are very very hard. I'm just coming home from a job that was very difficult tonight. I prayed so much. In some types of emergencies we have 9-1-1. In emotional and spiritual hardships we have God's promises. I was reminded of another 9-1-1...
Psalm 91:1 "He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty"
So many situations can't really be remedied by human rescuers. We can share with friends and family and yet they're dealing with things too. Instead of trying to survive on our own, we have God's comforting presence available for the asking. Please, Lord, keep us safely abiding under Your wings.
In my opinion, the lowest point in the process of dissolution of the tribes of Israel, the chosen by God to portray His Image to others, came when they started to strengthen themselves by looking for alliances to neighboring kingdoms, choosing to war against their own tribal brothers. They showed they had forsaken the God of their Fathers when they started to think and act like their pagan neighbors, seeking help through alliances with them instead of their God. There are powerful spiritual forces in this world that do not want man to worship and trust his Maker.
Mica 6:6-8KJV ”Wherewith shall I come before the LORD, and bow myself before the high God? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves of a year old? Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, or with then thousand of rivers of oil? Shall I give my firstborn for my body for the sin of my soul? He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to act justly, and to love mercy, and to walk(or, humble thyself to walk) humbly with thy God.
The lesson writer asks: “what lesson is here for us on a personal level? We face the same temptations as all the kings of Israel and its people – wanting to go our own way instead of trusting in God’s protection by choosing to live His Way and Light.
This self-serving/centered/focused will lead to the original sin which caused us to be separated from resting in the Father’s Rest - His perfect Will. To establish our self-empowerment and know good and evil for ourselves was thought to be our benefit; instead, it was the curse and attached us to another spirit – the spirit of rebellion, the spirit of the enemy, usurper and adversary of God.
There is no middle ground – we have to choose which master we will serve! Joshua 24:13-15KJV.
"For God has not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind." 2 Timothy 1:7
King Ahaz responded to the threat from Rezin of Syria and Pekah with a state of fear. When we truly have a relationship with and knowledge of God we have no need to live a life of fear . We can be sure that with God on our side we can get through any situation that may come upon us. Ahaz shows a lack of trust and faith in his reaction to what was expected to come upon the nation. Though God had showed himself to be their protector in time past King Ahaz allows Satan to instil into him a spirit of fear of his adversaries. Because of our daily walk with God we no longer have to fear even our fiercest adversaries.
Not only did Ahaz turn to his enemies for help, he demonstrated that he was committed to the union by sacrificing his own children to their god, Baal. This act is the pinnacle of apostasy to Yahweh, the Deliverer.
Why do we study this account? Ahaz has turned away from God, and God knew what the result would be. Now we are given the solemn lesson to learn from lest we commit the same folly, and find ourselves turning away from the mercy of God who is seeking to save us(1 Cor 10:11).
This turning away is gradual, and begins with little things, until we eventually believe lies(2 Thess 2:10-12).
We also learn that we are to make God's offer of salvation known to all, including those who appear to be determined against the truth.