Ahaz

THEME: The destructive power of sin.

LESSON: Wickedness against God can have tragic effects on those around us.

KEY VERSE: "Ahaz… did not that which was right in the sight of the Lord, like David his father: For he walked in the ways of the kings of Israel, and made also molten images for Baalim" (2 Chr. 28:1-2)

VERSE TO REMEMBER: "…sin lieth on the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him (Gen. 4:7).

TRACK RECORD: For 16 years Ahaz was the epitome of evil. Among his many misdeeds, Ahaz not only sacrificed to idols; he also sacrificed his own son - perhaps the height of pagan abominations. As a result, Ahaz was handed over to the Syrians, and many of his subjects were taken captive to Damascus. Despite this Ahaz still did not repent. As he continued to sin, his people continued to suffer. In on day 120,000 of his soldiers were slaughtered by Pekah, king of Israel. Following the carnage, Pekah gathered 2000,000 people from Judah and was intent on enslaving them before a prophet stepped in and stopped him. Despite the intervention and his own inability to lead and protect his people, Ahaz still refused to repent. Eventually, Ahaz aligned himself with Assyria and began to worship their gods. He also profaned the Temple of the Lord by bringing in pagan altars and removed the altars of God, provoking the Lord to anger. His unabashed sin nearly destroyed his people, and he did nothing to stop it.

For Christians, Ahaz is hardly an example to learn from, but one principle can be salvaged from this wicked king's reign and that is sin's effect on those around us. Ahaz's sin spread like cancer to his people.

APPLICATION: When we as Christians sin, often that sin can have ill effects on our families, those we fellowship with, and those we work with. Sometimes it takes hard work to curb the sin in our lives, but it is a work well worth doing.

SPIRITUAL EPITAPH: "And in the time of his distress did he trespass yet more against the Lord" (2 Chr. 28:22).