Please read 2 Kings 16.
www.blueletterbible.org/nasb/2ki/16/1/s_329001
Meditate on verse 3.
But he (Ahaz) walked in the way of the kings of Israel,
and even made his son pass through the fire,
according to the abominations of the nations
whom the LORD had driven out from before the sons of Israel.
These 20 brief verses of 2 Kings 16 describe the evil reign of King Ahaz, possibly the worst king to rule over the southern kingdom of Judah. Instead of modeling his reign after his predecessor, King David, he walked in the way of the wicked kings of Israel, even committing the abominable act of sacrificing his child to the Canaanite god, Molech (v. 3, Leviticus 18:21; Deuteronomy 12:29-31).
Ahaz submitted himself and his people to the Assyrians and acquiesced to their heathenism by removing holy objects from the temple of the LORD and replacing them with a pagan altar patterned after one he saw in Syria. Sadly, Urijah, the priest, did not stop King Ahaz from defiling the temple, but instead, gave in to his demands. Such spiritually spineless behavior left Urijah with the epitaph of: “He did according to all that King Ahaz commanded” (v. 16).
As you read the story of King Ahaz, let God’s Word convict you of areas in your life where you might be sacrificing your loved ones to the ways of the world. Ask the LORD to remove spiritual spinelessness and make you strong by His Spirit (Zechariah 4:6).
Pray to do the opposite of 2 Kings 16:16 over yourself and those for whom you stand guard as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).
“LORD, make ________ and me Your priests
who do according to all You command.
For the sake of Your name, Jesus~”
The WATCHMAN on the WALL, 3 – Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell
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