Ahaz's "Improvement" Over the Things of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in 2 Kings 16:15-16,

"King Ahaz then gave these orders to Uriah the priest: 'On the large new altar, offer the morning burnt offering and the evening grain offering, the king's burnt offering and his grain offering, and the burnt offering of all the people of the land, and their grain offering and their drink offering. Splash against this altar the blood of all the burnt offerings and sacrifices. But I will use the bronze altar for seeking guidance.' And Uriah the priest did just as King Ahaz had ordered."

Ahaz, the twelfth monarch to reign in Judah following the death of Solomon did it his own way. Rather than immersing himself in the Scriptures provided through Moses, with the directions and design provided for the temple and its worship, this evil king "evolved" and had things done up his way.

Enamored with an altar he had seen in pagan Assyria, he had the priest Uriah build one and then rearranged the layout of the temple furnishings to suit himself. Apparently, the God of Abraham, Issac and Jacob held little interest for him as he revamped the things of the Lord in a manner he desired.

I can't help but think of the many today who hold the Lord in their hearts with so little importance. Rather than seeking him, folks follow their own desires and their own direction. They "evolve" on gay-marriage. They discard the notion of the sanctity of human life, something that rightfully belongs in the hands of the Lord. Rather than living, working and pursuing their lives in the nations the Lord has provided us, so many have a better idea - a global community. 

King Ahaz of Judah is not much different than so many today. The things of the Lord are unimportant to them and in arrogance and rebellion, they rearrange life to suit their own limited ideas.

What will they do on the day the Lord Jesus Christ returns and brings his justice as a massive freight train to run through all of the fantasies of mankind? How far will their "better" ideas get them? King Ahaz was a fool, and we have so many just like him today. I counted myself among that number... until I had my "come to Jesus" moment.

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

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Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com