2 Chronicles 28:22-23 - In his time of trouble King Ahaz became even
more unfaithful to the LORD. He offered sacrifices to the gods
of Damascus, who had defeated him; for he thought, "Since the gods of the
kings of Aram have helped them, I will sacrifice to them so they will help
me." But they were his downfall and the downfall of all
Israel.
King Ahaz followed his father Jotham as king of Judah. He was an evil king…worshiping idols …building
altars to baal…even sacrificing his own children to the many gods he prayed to
for help. His rein was one of defeat and
trouble…God allowing misfortune to bring many defeats to his life.
King Ahaz never understood that God was just a prayer away….he
always turned to the foreign gods of Israel and Samaria. Ahaz turned to every
heathen idol within his reach…and let his spiritual life crumble into
nothingness…leading his people completely away from the one God who could help
and save them.
I can’t hardly understand how one person could try praying
to all these gods….and never discover the power of Yahweh. The temple and priests were just a stone’s
throw away from his palace…but his heart never thought to go and look for help
there. He seemed to run the opposite direction …on purpose. The more he looked for answers outside the
laws of God…the more disaster seemed to plague his life.
Oh how he needed someone to turn him around and show him the
power God can give when you run to him instead of away from him. He needed the
words of David read to him from Psalms 46:1… “God
is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” He needed someone
to testify of the great things God has done for them…so he would start looking
for his help in the right places.
We all know
someone who is just like Ahaz…so maybe today’s message for me is a reminder to
keep sharing the greatness of God in my life with the Ahaz’s I know around me. They
will keep running away from God if we don’t take the time to show them the
right way to run.
Father…thank
you for the reminder that I am always being watched by others. Help me to model for them the love you have
shown me and always take time to share the wonderful things you have done in my
life. Never allow my heart to think that I can find success and happiness
anywhere other than at your feet. Keep holding my hand and help me to draw even
closer to you. Amen.
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