Roanoke Rapids herald. [volume] (Roanoke Rapids, N.C.) 1914-192?, 1917-07-06

impossible to please him-Heb. il:6.
, LESSON TEXT--lI Chron. 30i-i3
Ahaz reigned sixteen years from
about 739 to 723 b. c., over the king
dom of Judah, its capital being In Jeru
salem. The kingdom was nearing its
end, and was destroyed within n 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 a ma.
ton ean be successful and not be right.
eous or vlrtuous, that Is, outwardly
successful, and the application of these
questions to our present-day political
and commercial lives.
J.. Ahaz, the Ruler, wv. 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 B,
g., 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
The did not that which was right In the
sight of the Lord" This puts 1t 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 course of action
opposed to that of his father and
grandfather In that he initiated the
ways Of the kings of ISRAEL and caused
to be circulated throughout the land
the image of Baal. He was rich and
prosperous, outwardl., and his king.
dom was well organized. He had n
navy, and we are told that the condl-
ton of the kingdom was Of n prosper
ity not known since the days Of Solo
mon. His name was spread abroad, |
but what n significant verse Is II .
Chron. 26:lj.
II. Ahaz Ruined. The choice lay |
before him of following in the steps of .
his grandfather Uzziah and his father
Jaham Gil Chron. 10Y. He chose TO 1
defy God, openly dlsobeyed him and
was diSloyal to his God and his coun-
try, walking In the ways Of the kings
of Israel, ". 2). 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 Of the temples
treasury, and was dishonest as well as
profane. He trusted Baalim more than
he trusted God.
~. Ahaz Rebuked. God did not FL
low him to pursue his course OF action
without protest. When the children Of
good men 90 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 rs one agency for rebuk-
ng this mad young man. He carried
lway great multltudes captive, one
and twenty thousand In one
lay ". o., and "two hundred thou
'and women, sons and daughters"
". 81 at another date. Ahaz himself
vas filled with terror at the great ca
amity that overlook him. lisa. 7:2.)
While he received temporary help Gil
Kings 16 i: 8, 10Y, he received ultimately
'uin from the king OF Assyra, for he
,ecame q vassal and was summoned
o Damascus TO pay homage to that
ling, as appears from the account ii
Kings 10, and also from the Assy-
ian inscription, above referred to.
)ther enemies also attacked him.
from the southeast carried
way captives, and the Phllistines
rom the southwest invaded the cities
( the low plains, south of Judah, and
ook possession of them (vv 1919 and
he army of the Assyrian, which Ahaz
I'd TO rob and profane the temple and
s treasures in order to buy them of
v. 22-2D, completed the ruin of his
alton. Ahaz was forced to pay a
eaW tribute to the Assyrian king
v. 2D and got no help for his out
~. He put his trust In an arm Of
esh instead OF In the mighty arm of
cd, which brought upon him the
urse that always comes to those who
'ust In man (Jer. 1876, o.. There is
blessing which always awaits those
no trust In Jehovah (Jer. 17:7, 81.
he wise man turns to God not In the
me Of his distress but at all times.
lstead of sacrificing to the God who
wed his father and who would save
m, Ahaz sacrificed to the god (which
note him." His defiance knew no =
FUNDS ". 24). He seemed to have
lbbled In every known form of false
orshlp, thereby provoking to anger
e Lord God of his fathers" (II Kings 9,
I'll. 12). God is long-suffering to a,
ose who wander from him, but there =,
mes an end to his patience I'll Peter -
8, 10. ~
w. The Reverse Picture. There u
e several problems to be solved as ~
Q view this picture, for II is q story u
real life, not only of the early times
It rs being repeated even To-Day and IS
this country. ~ Men will reap 81
at which they SOW. One cannot sow ~
Id oats and reap the fruits of right
usness. (2) Jehovah places right
usness above security or prosperity. =.
} Gods purposes are for the upllft ~
d the making of the nation and the ~
1ividuol hssffar God navar doao o,,il NC