THE KING’S BUSINESS
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pay heavy tribute to the Assyrian king (v. 21) and got no help for all his outlay. He had put his trust in an arm of flesh instead of in the mighty hand of God and brought upon himself the curse that always comes upon those who trust in men (Jer. 17:5, 6 ) and miss the blessing that always waits those who trust in Jehovah (Jer. 17:7, 8 ). vs. 22-25. “Arid in the time of his. dis tress did he trespass yet more against the LORD: (,) this is that ( this same) king Ahaz. For he sacrificed unto the gods of Damascus, which smote him: and he said, Because the gods of the kings of Israel helped them therefore will I sacrifice to them, that they may help me. . Bill they vjere the ruin of him, and of all Israel. And Ahaz gathered together the .vessels of the house of God, and cut in pieces the vessels of the house of God, and shut up the doors of the house of the LORD, (;) and he made him altars in every corner of Jeru salem. And in every several /city of Judah he made high places to burn incense unto other gods, and provoked tti anger the LORD God (, the God ) of his fathers.” The chastisement that Jehovah visited upon Ahaz instead of bringing him to repent ance, resulted in even greater defiance and sin. The wise man in the time of distress turns to the LORD, the fool “in the time of his distress,” “trespasses yet more against the LORD.” Instead of sacrificing to the God who had saved his fathers and'would save him, he sacrificed unto the gods “which smote him.” Instead of recognizing in his misfortune the hand of Jehovah in judg ment, he attributed them to the gods of the kings of Assyria *helping them and he turned to them, but they proved his ruin and the ruin of all Israel. And still he did not repent. He sought to defy God, his defiance knew no bounds, he went so far as to gather together the vessfcls of the house of God and cut them in pieces and to shut up the doors of the house of Jehovah alto gether, and in express disobedience to God’s commandments, made him altars in every corner of Jerusalem (v. 24). Other details of his departure from Jehovah are given
the king of Syria who smote him $and carried away a great multitude of captives; and the king of Israel who slew 120,000 in one day (v. 6 ) and carried away cap tive two hundred thousand,women, sons and daughters (v. 8 ). Ahaz himself was filled with terror at the great calamity that over took him, “his heart was moved, and the heart of his people, as the trees of the wood are moved with the wind (Isa. 7:2). vs. 20,-21. “And Tilgath-pilneser king of Assyria came upon him, and distressed Kim, but strengthened him not. For Aha'z took away a portion out of the house of the LORD, and out of the house of the king, (omit ,) |and of the princes, and gave it unto the king of Assyria; but he (if) helped him not.” In the general dismay and des pair that overtook Ahaz and his people in the face of the calamities that had resulted from his sin, Isaiah trusting God was .entirely undismayed, and set himself to the task of recalling Ahaz and the peo ple to the service of Jehovah who would save them if they only trusted Him. He did this by direct divine commandment (Isa. 7:3). He told them that there was no need of fear (Isa. 7:4-8), if they would only believe God’s words they would be delivered, but if they would not believe they would not be established (Isa. 7 :9). The young king, however, would not believe the old prophet and Isaiah'Went to him the second time with the offer of a sign (Isa. 1 0 : 11 ) but the king refused it on the hypo critical ground that he would not tempt Jehovah (Isa. 7:12, 13). Instead of seek ing help from Jehovah Ahaz Sought help from "Tilgath-pilneser king of Assyria (vs. 16-20). While he received temporary help (2 Kings 16:7-9) he received ultimate ruin from this source, “The king of Assyria distressed him, but strengthened him not.” Ahaz 'became a vassal of the king of Assyria and was summoned to Damascus to do homage to hirrwas recorded not only in the account in 2 Kings 16 :9, 10, but also in an Assyrian inscription. This visit resulted in another grievous, sin of Ahaz (2 Kings 16:10-16). , Ahaz was forced to
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