The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1917-07-05

.EcooAN I'll tuTOu. VILLA.
Ahaz reigned sixteen years from
about 739 to 723 II. c.. over the king.
dom Of judah, Its capital being in Jeru.
salem. The kingdom was nearing Its
end. and was destroyed within a few
years after the death Of Ahaz. His
character presents many interesting
questions for discussion; the charac ter
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 a ma
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.
!. Ahas. the Ruler, (vv. 1-5). The
character Of Ahaz is not to be admired.
He played a 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 Is.
O.. 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 IL 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 n course Of action
opposed to that Of his father.
u. Ahax Ruined. The choice lay
before him Of following In the steps Of
his grandfather Uzzlah and his father
lothian I'll Chron. :l0). He chose TO
defy God. openly disobeyed him and
was dlsloyal TO his God and his coun-
try. walking In the ways Of the kings
Of Israel, ". -, burnt his children In
the fire. after the denominations OF the
heather, ". 81. made molten images
Of Baal. ". y, and spread that wor-
ship into the high places on the hills
and under every green tree ". ~,
made sacrileglous use nf the temples
treasury. and was dishonest as well as
profane. He trusted Baalim more than
he trusted God.
~. Ahax Rebuked. God did not al
low him TO pursue his course Of action
without protest. When the children Of
good men 20 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 mulutudes captive, one
hundred and twenty thousand In one
day ". %. and "two hundred thou !
sand women. sons and daughters"
". 81 at another date. Ahaz himself
was filed with terror ut the great Gu |
lamity that overlook him. lisa. 7:2.) |
While he received temporary help uI |
Kings 10: o. 10Y, he received ultimately
ruin from the king OF Assyria. for he !
TO Damascus to pay homage to that
king. as appears from the account ii
Kings 1919. and also from the Assy-
rian Inscription, above referred to.
Other enemies also attacked him
Edomltes from the southeast carried
away captives, and the Philistines
from the southwest invaded the cities
of the low plains. south Of Judah, and
took possession of them wv. 17-19) and
the army OF the Assyrian, which Ahaz
led to rob and profane the temple and
It's treasures In order to buy them on
". 22-24), completed the ruin OF his
nation. Ahaz was forced to pay a
heavy tribute to the Assyrian king
". 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 (Jer. II: %. o.. There is
a blessing which always awaits those
who trust In Jehovah (Jer. 17:7, 81.
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 ". 2D. He seemed to have
dabbled In every known form Of false
worship. thereby provoking to anger
the Lord God Of his fathers (II Kings
% III, 12). God Is long-suffering to
those who wander from him. but there
comes an end to his patience (II Peter
%. 10Y.
w. The Reverse Picture. There
are several problems to be solved as
we view this picture. for II Is a story
Of real life, not only Of the early times
but IL being repeated even today and
In this country. QD Men will reap
that which they sow. One cannot SOW :
wild oats and reap the fruits Of right
eousness. (2) Jehovah places right
eousness above security or prosperity.
(3) Gods purposes are for the uplift
and the making OF the nation and the ,,
better. God never does evil
hat good may come out Of II. A low
ng father must exercise discipline. and
let US not be mistaken.