The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1917-07-06

: Ahaz reigned sixteen years fror
about 739 to 723 B. c., over the kim
dom of Judah, it's capital being in gerl
. salem. The kingdom was nearing it
, end, and was destroyed within fe'
years after the death of Ahaz. Hi
character presents many interestin
questions for discussion the characte
of his reign, the wealth and prosperit
of his father and grandfather, the de
velopment of his character from tn
ton can be successful and not be right
eous or virtuous, that is, outward.
successful, and the application of thes'
questions to our present-day politica
and commercial lives.
|. Ahaz, the Ruler, wv. I'D. Tht
character of Ahaz is not to be admired
He played a prominent and evil par
In the history of the Kingdom of Judah
We find his name recorded among. the
Syrian inscriptions of the year 732 &
c., the Hebrew historian having
dropped the prefix "Jeho" from his
| udlUe. Lie 1uil ufllut tlot
he had "grasped Jehovah" yet he was
untrue to his name The historian says
she 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. Ahax Ruined. The choice lay
before him of following in the steps of
his grandfather Uzziah and his father
lothian QI Chron. 10Y. He chose to
defy God, openly disobeyed him and
was disloyal to his God and his coun-
try, walking III the ways of the kings
of Israel, w. y, burnt his children in
the fire, after the denominations of the
heather, ". 81, made molten images
of Baal, ". p, and spread that wor-
ship into the high places on the hills
and under every green tree ". ~,
made sacrilegious use of the temples
treasury, and was dishonest as well as
profane. He.trusted Baalim more than
he trusted God.
ILL., 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 ". g., and 1.-TWO hundred thou
sand women. sons and daughters"
". 81 at another date. Ahaz himself |
was filled with terror at the great ca
1amity that overlook him. Elsa. 1922 |
While he received temporary help (II |
Kings Is: 8, 100, 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 1919, and also from the Assy-
rian inscription, above referred to.
Other enemies also attacked him
EdomiteS from the southeast carried
away captlveS, 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
he army of the Assyrian, which Ahaz
ed to rob and profane the temple and
is treasures in order to buy them off
". 22-24), completed the ruin of his
lation. Ahaz was forced to pay a
leavy tribute to the Assyrian king !
". 21), and got no help for his out
ay. He put his trust in an arm of
lesh instead of in the mighty arm of
Tod, which brought upon him the
curse that always comes to those who
rust in man Ger. 17:5, g.. There is
blessing which always awaits those
Who trust in Jehovah Ger. 1877, -.
The wise man turns to God not in the
ime of his distress but at all times.
instead of sacrificing to the God who
aved his father and who would save
i'm, Ahaz sacrificed to the god (which
mote him." His defiance knew no
ounds ". 24). He seemed to have
abbled in every known form of false Z
thereby provoking to anger
he Lord God of his fathers QI Kings
IL, 12). God is ong-suffering to
hose who wander from him, but there =
ONES an end to his patience (II Peter L
g, 10).
w. The Reverse Picture. There
re several problems to be solved as
e view this picture, for it is a story
real life, not only of the early times
ut is being repeated even today and :
/ this country. % Men will reap T.
lat which they SOW. One cannot sow
lid oats and reap the fruits of right
BUSINESS. (2) Jehovah places right =
BUSINESS above security or prosperity. =
b Gods purposes are for the uplift
I'd the making of the nation and the
dividual better. God never does evil :
lat good may come out Of it. A low
g father must exercise discipline, and
t us not be mistaken. IA