Topical Bible: The Afflictions of the Wicked: Ahaz

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Ahaz, the twelfth king of Judah, reigned during a tumultuous period marked by spiritual decline and political instability. His reign is chronicled in 2 Kings 16, 2 Chronicles 28, and Isaiah 7-8. Ahaz is often remembered for his idolatry and the subsequent afflictions that befell him and his kingdom as a result of his unfaithfulness to the LORD.

Idolatry and Apostasy

Ahaz ascended to the throne at the age of twenty and reigned for sixteen years in Jerusalem. Unlike his forefather David, Ahaz did not do what was right in the eyes of the LORD. Instead, he followed the detestable practices of the surrounding nations, even sacrificing his own son in the fire, a practice condemned by God (2 Kings 16:3-4). He made offerings on the high places, on the hills, and under every green tree, leading Judah into deep apostasy.

Political Alliances and Consequences

In the face of threats from Rezin, king of Aram, and Pekah, son of Remaliah, king of Israel, Ahaz sought assistance from Tiglath-Pileser III, king of Assyria, rather than relying on the LORD. He sent silver and gold from the temple and royal treasury as tribute to Assyria, effectively making Judah a vassal state (2 Kings 16:7-8). This political maneuvering brought temporary relief but ultimately led to greater affliction, as Assyria would later become a significant threat to Judah.

Religious Corruption

Ahaz's spiritual infidelity extended to the desecration of the temple. Upon visiting Damascus, he saw an altar that impressed him, and he sent a model of it to Uriah the priest, commanding him to build a similar altar in Jerusalem. Ahaz then offered sacrifices on this new altar, further corrupting the worship of the LORD (2 Kings 16:10-16). He also removed the bronze altar from its place and made other alterations to the temple furnishings, demonstrating his disregard for the sacred traditions of Israel.

Divine Judgment and Afflictions

The LORD's judgment on Ahaz and Judah was swift and severe. The nation suffered military defeats and incursions from multiple fronts. The Arameans defeated Ahaz and took many captives to Damascus. The Israelites, led by Pekah, inflicted a great slaughter on Judah, killing 120,000 in one day and taking 200,000 captives, though these were later returned due to the intervention of the prophet Oded (2 Chronicles 28:5-15). The Edomites and Philistines also took advantage of Judah's weakened state, capturing towns and plundering the land (2 Chronicles 28:17-18).

Legacy of Ahaz

Ahaz's reign is a sobering example of the consequences of turning away from God. His idolatry and political alliances brought affliction not only upon himself but also upon his people. Despite the warnings and opportunities for repentance, Ahaz persisted in his wickedness, leaving a legacy of spiritual and national decline. His son, Hezekiah, would later seek to restore the worship of the LORD and bring about reform, but the scars of Ahaz's reign were deeply felt in Judah's history.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

2 Chronicles 28:5-8,22
Why 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.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

The Antiquities of the Jews
... Laws Of Their Country, And Experienced Great Afflictions; And When ... What He Did For
The Punishment Of The Wicked. ... How Upon The Death Of Jotham, Ahaz Reigned In ...
//christianbookshelf.org/josephus/the antiquities of the jews/

Questions.
... Who was the successor of Ahaz? 12. ... What of the dying among the wicked and the
burial?"Psalm 88:3, 4 ... 2. How had they been told to meet their afflictions?"Matt ...
//christianbookshelf.org/yonge/the chosen people/questions.htm

Heavenly Contemplation Assisted by Sensible Objects, and Guarded ...
... in the firmament, or "the dial of Ahaz go back ... as a garden; the keeping in order
a wicked, confused world ... be thinking of thy calling, or thy afflictions, or of ...
/.../the saints everlasting rest/chapter xv heavenly contemplation assisted.htm

Appendix ix. List of Old Testament Passages Messianically Applied ...
... observation, that in all Israel's afflictions they were ... it was said Ask of Me' -
Solomon, Ahaz, [6429] and ... shall fall before Him the wicked idolaters referred ...
/.../edersheim/the life and times of jesus the messiah/appendix ix list of old.htm

The Desire of the Righteous Granted;
... 'The fear of the wicked, it shall come upon him; but the desite of the righteous
shall be granted.'"Proverbs 10:24. ... The wicked has his fears. ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/the desire of the righteous.htm