Who Did Ahaz Choose to Trust?

Good morning. Today we are going to actually be in 2 Kings 16, the whole chapter.

Because when I got to the next part of Isaiah 7, I stopped and I was like, "It really feels like there is important information that I do not know in regards to what Isaiah is saying and revealing in his book versus what was going on historically around that time."

And as I was praying over it, the thought came to me that there might be Scripture that supports and helps broaden our understanding.

And that's actually one of the things that I love about Scripture, is that Scripture supports Scripture, and Scripture will clarify and help interpret other Scripture.

I think it's really important for us to pause and go back to 2 Kings 16 and read about the reign of King Ahaz, and then take that forward into Isaiah 7 and all that we read about and learned there.

The other thing that I am learning from Isaiah is that it feels a lot less like Isaiah sat down on a Tuesday to write X amount of words of a chapter and then just kept writing.

It feels—and I do believe it's supported—that these are more like snippets of things that he had written and shared and done over his life of serving God.

And so I think that this is going to start an important new process for us, and that as we go through Isaiah, we may be pausing and going and reading other parts of the Bible that are going to give us more context and deeper understanding of what God's revealing to us.

And I think that's important to do, to understand.

And I think that this really helps me understand the Scripture that stood out to me yesterday, where God asks Ahaz to ask Him for a sign, and Ahaz is like, "No, no, I don't want to ask for one. I don't want to bother God."

And then Isaiah rebukes, "Not only are you going to exasperate men, but are you also going to do this to God as well?"

And I know that those are my words and not exactly Scripture.

But that's what has sat with me, is again where our heart is, and asking for clarity from God—or why we choose not to. Why we choose to not ask God.

I wonder if we are concerned or maybe afraid about what God might reveal or ask us to do.

So instead, we ask not.

And yes, those are all my ramblings and wanderings of things that have come up and thoughts that I have been working through.

And then reading 2 Kings 16 just really made me appreciate the fact that, one, Ahaz is a terrible man, does so many awful things, but we also see that he refuses to trust in God like Isaiah exhorts him to in 7, refuses to turn to Him, and instead turns to the king of Assyria and says, "Man, I have all these foes coming against me."

And so that's sort of what I wanted to pick up on today.

So that's 2 Kings 16:7–9.

"So Ahaz sent messengers to Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria, saying, 'I am your servant and your son.'"

Excuse you?

Are you sure you're his servant and his son?

But then he goes on to say:

"Come up and save me from the hand of the king of Aram and from the hand of the king of Israel, who are rising up against me."

And then we have verse 8:

"And Ahaz took the silver and gold that was found in the house of the Lord and in the treasuries of the king's house, and sent a gift to the king of Assyria."

So Isaiah is telling Ahaz, "Hey, come to the Lord. Trust in Him. He will save you, because the people you're worried about are like smoldering logs."

And instead, Ahaz turns to the king of Assyria, pledges allegiance to the man, and then gives him however much gold and silver from the Lord and from his own treasury.

And then the king of Assyria is like, "Yeah, sure. I'll listen."

So verse 9:

"So the king of Assyria listened to him; and the king of Assyria went up against Damascus and captured it, and led the people of it into exile to Kir, and put Rezin to death."

The things we do to avoid coming into alignment with God.

The people we trust.

Because I tell you what, this whole alliance between Assyria and King Ahaz is not going to go well for Judah.

Not—not in the slightest.

Jeez.

That's—it's a lot to sit with.

And there's a lot more in 2 Kings 16 to think about, and there's really interesting connections between 2 Kings 16 and then Isaiah 7, and what is said there, what is done there, what the reactions are.

I'd love to hear what kind of connections you made, what stuck out to you, and all of that.

Oh, Heavenly Father, Lord, I thank You.

Thank You that You show us and reveal to us who You are and what's in Your Word and what You have already provided for us as a way to understand Your Scriptures, to grasp the meanings that You have for us.

And that, again, one of my favorite promises that You have is, "If we seek You wholeheartedly, then we will find You," and we will gain understanding and wisdom and knowledge.

And thank You for that, Lord.

Thank You for Your sovereignty.

Thank You for Your holiness.

Lord, I don't want to test the patience of man or of God—specifically of You. I do not want to test Your patience, Lord.

Help me have ears that hear and eyes that see.

Lord, as we go out today doing the jobs and the tasks that are laid out in front of us, may we do so with a heart and actions and words that honor You.

Help me see and be present for the people You've placed in front of me today, Lord, to honor and serve You.

It is in the precious name of Jesus we pray. Amen.

Thank you for joining me today as we wander through God's Word with wonder.