December 29, 2024 - Isaiah

When people are faced with problems it is usually accompanied by certain reactions. The first is usually worry. The second is usually questioning and complaining. The third is usually anger. This usually leads to the same concern that God warned Cain about. Genesis 4:7 says, “If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is for you, but you must rule over it." The fourth is taking matters into their own hands and most of the time leading to evil decisions.
Very few people react in biblical ways. Very few people trust in the Lord with all their heart. Very few people acknowledge the LORD. Very few people fear the LORD. Very few people receive the healing to their flesh and refreshment to their bones.
Ahaz is a great example of this. Ahaz was an evil king of Judah who became king at the age of 20 and reigned for 4 years with his father, Jotham. Jotham was one of the good kings of Judah. Ahaz reigned 16 years on his own. King Ahaz’s destructive practices were idol worship. After meeting with King of Assyria, he set up a pagan altar in Jerusalem that was the same as the king of Assyria. King Ahaz removed the royal entryway of the temple, the Sabbath canopy, and cut the temple furnishings into pieces (2 Kings 16:17-18; 2 Chronicles 28:24).
After shutting the doors to the temple, he placed altars at all the street corners in Jerusalem and high places for worshiping false gods in every city in Judah (2 Chronicles 28:24-25). Sacrificing his own children. Desecrated the temple of the Lord. Isaiah 7-10 speaks of the results and consequences of King Ahaz’s wicked ways, but we see a gracious and merciful God! May the Lord bless you with your message.