The Carlisle independent., 1917-07-05

GOLDEN TEXT-Without faith it is impossible tc please him.-Heb. 11:6.
 LESSON TEXT-II Chron. 30:1-13.
 Ahaz reigned sixteen years from about 739 to 723 B. G. over the king dom of Judah, it's capital being in Jeru- salem. The kingdom was nearing it's end, and was destroyed within a few years after the death of Ahaz. His character presents many interesting questions for discussion; the character of his reign, the wealth and prosperity of his father and grandfather, the de- velopment of his character from the home wherein he originated, why na- tion can be successful and not be right eous or virtuous, that is, outwardly successful, and the application of these questions to our present.day political and commercial lives.
 l. Ahaz, the Ruler, (vv. 1-5). The character of Ahaz is not to be admired. He played prominent and evil part in the history of the Kingdom of Judah. We find his name recorded among the Syrian inscriptions of the year 732' E. C., the Hebrew historian having dropped the prefix "Jeho" from his name. The full name indicates that he had "grasped Jehovah" yet he was untrue to his name. The historian says "he did not that which was right in the sight of the Lord" This puts it mildly, but indeed few of the kings of Judah did otherwise, and he patterned his conduct not after the good model of his father, but the thoroughly bad conduct of the kings of the northern nation, Israel. He was but twenty years of age when he took the throne but had already entered upon a course of action opposed to that of his father.
 II. Ahaz Ruined. The choice lay before him of following in the steps of his grandfather Uzziah and his father Jotham QI Chron. 1 :10). He chose to defy God, openly disobeyed him and was disloyal to his God and his coun- try, walking in the ways of the kings of Israel, (v. p, burnt his children in the fire, after the abominations of the heather, (v. 3, made. molten images of Baal, (v. 9, and spread that wor- ship into the high places on the hills and under every green tree (v. 4, made sacrilegious use of the temples treasury, and was dishonest as well as profane He trusted Baalim more than he trusted God.
 III. Ahaz Rebuked. God did not al low him to pursue his course of action without protest. When the children of good men go wrong, there is no meas uring the extent of depravity to which they will sink Nevertheless, God was opposed and tried to save the young man and the nation. God used the king of Syria as one agency for rebuk- ing this mad young man. He carried away great multitudes captive, one hundred and twenty thousand in one day (v. 6), and two hundred thou sand women, sons and daughters" (v. 8 at another date. Ahaz himself was filled with terror at the great ca lamity that overlook him. (Isa. 7:2) While he received temporary help II Kings 16: 9, 10), he received ultimately ruin from the king of Assyria, for he became a vasSal and was summoned to Damascus to pay homage to that king, as appears from the account II Kings 16 :7-9, and also from the Assy- rian inscription, above referred to. Other enemies also attacked him Edomites from the southeast carried away captives, and the Philistlnes from the southwest invaded the cities of the low plains, south of Judah, and took possession of them (vv. 17-19) and the army of the Assyrian, which Ahaz led to rob and profane the temple and its treasures in order to buy them off (v. 22-24), completed the ruin of his nation. AhaZ was forced to pay heavy tribute to the Assyrian king (v. 21), and got no help for his out lay. He put his trust in an arm of flesh instead of in the mighty arm of God, which brought upon him the curse that always comes to those who trust in man Ger. + D, 6). There is a blessing which always awaits those who trust in Jehovah Ger. 17:7, 8. The wise man turns to God not in the time of his distress but at all times. Instead of sacrificing to the God who saved his father and who would save him, Ahaz sacrificed to the god (which smote him." His defiance knew no bounds (v. 24). He seemed to have dabbled in every known form of false worship. thereby provoking to anger the Lord God of his fathers" (II Kings 23 III, 12). God is long-suffering to those who wander from him, but there comes an end to his patience (H Peter 3:9, 10).
 w. The Reverse Picture. There are several problems to be solved as we view this picture, for it is story of real life, not only of the early times but is being repeated even today and in this country. CD Men will reap that which they SOW. One cannot SOW wild OatS and rpap the fruitS of right