Reading through 2 Kings 15 and 16 this morning, I realize that I was not previously aware of the role Judah played in the demise of Israel. Specifically, Ahaz, king of Judah, paid Tiglath-pileser, king of Assyria, for military help against Aram, and in the process, Assyria gained better access to siege Samaria, leading to Israel's downfall and elimination. Granted, their habitual and blatant idolatry made Assyria a tool in God's hand. Prophet after prophet, speaking for Him warned them, to no avail.
So here is Ahaz following Israel's lead; he greatly expands the idolatry in Judah, thinking he is safe from Assyria, and more importantly, assuming he is safe from God's eye. His affront to God is frightening to read, as he recklessly fueled God's anger.
We talked last evening in church about the stable Christian life, and how leadership is a vital tool regarding that stability. Ahaz is a great example of how poor leadership can upset the stability of a seemingly strong nation, Judah. A couple good kings follow him, but by the time you get to Josiah, who was rather good in God's eyes, the damage is done, and God's mind to judgment is already made up. Judah never did recover that stability they once enjoyed.
Our Christian lives can be easily filled with idolatry in our own ways. We might not build altars and burn incense to false gods, but we will place many, many things ahead of God in priority. We'd be fools to think that we don't. Let's take time today to consider how we can be strong and stable Christians, the dads and husbands we should be, the wives and moms we should be, the neighbors we should be, the friends we should be, the Christians who stand up for God's truth, just like we should be doing! Is there anything more important than devotedly following the Lord?
Ahaz thought so.
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