We were made to worship. And we all worship something. When we refuse to worship the One true God and acknowledge His authority, we simply create false religions that allow us to appease our consciences while we continue to live life our own way. But false religions never take us anywhere good. They simply take us farther and farther from God.
Ahaz was one of Judah’s wicked kings. Can you imagine a king so evil he would sacrifice his own children in the name of his false religion? Yet, instead of repenting when God brought judgment, he turned to other ungodly people for help.
And sadly, the people of Judah as a whole became increasingly unfaithful until God in His perfect judgment allowed their destruction.
Our nation, too, seems determined to go down the road of increasing unfaithfulness. We shouldn’t think that if God judged His own covenant people, He won’t judge us as a nation, as well. The question is, will we heed the voice of godly people or continue in our unfaithfulness and false religions.
Today’s Readings:
2 Chronicles 28 & 29
Psalm 84.8-12
Proverbs 21.6-8
Acts 19.21-41
Today’s False Religions
2 Chronicles 28 & 29:
Increasing Unfaithfulness
Here in chapter 28, we meet another of Judah’s ungodly kings:
1 Ahaz was twenty years old when he became king, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem; and he did not do what was right in the sight of the Lord, as his father David had done. 2 For he walked in the ways of the kings of Israel, and made molded images for the Baals.
Because of his sin, God allowed Judah to be defeated on every side. But sadly, instead of repenting, Ahaz went further into sin and idolatry.
22 Now in the time of his distress King Ahaz became increasingly unfaithful to the Lord. This is that King Ahaz. 23 For he sacrificed to the gods of Damascus which had defeated him, saying, “Because the gods of the kings of Syria help them, I will sacrifice to them that they may help me.” But they were the ruin of him and of all Israel.
When we read that phrase, “they were the ruin of him and all Israel,” we need to remember that although leaders have greater accountability, each of us is answerable before God for our own behavior. It wasn’t just Ahaz who worshiped idols. The people followed him.
But perhaps as an opportunity for people to repent, God allowed a reprieve before He brought complete judgment. He raised up another king by the name of Hezekiah who would do what was right in His eyes.
A New King
After the death of Ahaz, his son Hezekiah became king. Chapter 29:
1 Hezekiah became king when he was twenty-five years old, and he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Abijah the daughter of Zechariah. 2 And he did what was right in the sight of the Lord, according to all that his father David had done.
He ordered the cleansing of the temple and commanded the Priests and Levites to prepare their hearts to serve God once again (1 Chron. 29.1-11).
Then he re-instituted temple worship and held a great worship celebration.
27 Then Hezekiah commanded them to offer the burnt offering on the altar. And when the burnt offering began, the song of the Lord also began, with the trumpets and with the instruments of David king of Israel. 28 So all the assembly worshiped, the singers sang, and the trumpeters sounded; all this continued until the burnt offering was finished. 29 And when they had finished offering, the king and all who were present with him bowed and worshiped.
We’ll read more about Hezekiah and his reign tomorrow but before we move on to our other readings, I’d like to comment a little more on the description of Ahaz’s life.
Child Sacrifice & False Religions
2 Chronicles 28.3 says:
He burned incense in the Valley of the Son of Hinnom, and burned his children in the fire, according to the abominations of the nations whom the Lord had cast out before the children of Israel.
It’s hard for us to imagine a king so evil that he would sacrifice his own children to false gods. But Ahaz and those who followed him felt justified. After all, it was the sacrifice required by the god of their false religion.
What Is Religion?
According to Merriam-Webster, one definition of the word religion is “a cause, principle, or system of beliefs held to with ardor and faith.”
As I said in the introduction, we were made to worship. We can’t not worship. If we don’t worship the true God, we will worship something else. False religions provide us with a more palatable god. One we can appease with our sacrifices, yet, doesn’t really require much else from us.
We reject the God of the Bible because to admit that He is God is to admit that we must live under His authority. Instead, we choose to live our own way. We decide what is right and what is wrong. And our consciences are appeased by our claim of some great cause, the sacrifice of our time and energy, even our anger and outrage in defense of our god.
False Religions Abound
False religions abound today.
There are those who claim to pray and belong to certain churches while promoting their own version of child sacrifice, along with other anti-biblical, anti-God principles.
Just look at that definition of religion again, “a cause, principle, or system of beliefs held to with ardor and faith.” If you listen to the proponents of abortion and LGBTQ+ rights today, you can’t help but realize maintaining, even expanding, those rights is one of the major principles of their belief system.
Environmental activists believe it’s up to them to control the future of the planet. The true God is nowhere in the picture. They will never acknowledge His sovereignty because to do so would require them to acknowledge His authority. Instead, they pursue their radical agendas with missionary zeal.
Others simply worship at the altar of self. This false religion includes everything from looters who steal, kill, and destroy to politicians who disregard the true well-being of those they claim to represent for power and financial gain all under the influence of the god they worship (Jn. 10.10).
And there are many others.
With Whom Will You Stand?
When a relatively good king allied himself with a wicked, worshiper of false religion, God sent a prophet to him who said, “Should you help the wicked and love those who hate the Lord? Therefore the wrath of the Lord is upon you” (2 Chron. 19.2).
As I said, many of those who support abortion and other anti-biblical beliefs claim to be members of mainline churches. Where are their church leaders? Why have they not called for them to repent or be put out of the church (Matt. 18.15-17; 1 Cor. 5.2-5)?
And what about each of us? Do we “help the wicked and love those who hate the Lord?” Do we stand with them in the ballot box? And do we march with them in the streets?
Instead, may we be found standing with God no matter who He uses or what the cost is. May our churches call their members, great and small, known and unknown, to repentance and not look the other way. And may we stand with the truly mistreated in godly ways, especially by sharing the gospel. It’s our only hope.
Note:
If you have had an abortion in the past or been involved in some other sinful lifestyle, there is forgiveness available. But you must acknowledge it as sin (Rom. 3.23; 6.23), confess it to God and repent, turn away from any sinful lifestyle, and learn to go God’s way. God’s offer of forgiveness and salvation is the essence of the gospel, the good news of God’s grace. And there are people who will help you. If you need help because of an unwanted pregnancy, go to a Christian pregnancy help center or a Bible-teaching church. If you don’t know where to go, leave me a message and I’ll help you find a place. Comments are not automatically published. Leave me an email address and I’ll respond to you privately. And biblical counseling is available if you’re struggling with any issue. You can go here and find someone in your area, usually for free.
And you can read more about the gospel here and here.
Today’s Other Readings:
Psalm 84.8-12:
A Day in His Courts
Verse 10 in the NLT says:
A single day in your courts is better than a thousand anywhere else! I would rather be a gatekeeper in the house of my God than live the good life in the homes of the wicked.
What a powerful verse! What a challenge to you and me! Each of us must ask ourselves, would I rather be a lowly servant in the kingdom of God than well thought of among the wicked? And if so, how can I walk that out more faithfully?
Proverbs 21.6-8:
Does Crime Pay?
We have all heard it said that crime doesn’t pay and yet sometimes it seems like the wicked get away with things and even prosper as a result of their wickedness. But our Omniscient God knows everything and in His perfect timing will deal with all sin and unrighteousness as these three verses, especially verse 6, remind us:
6 Getting treasures by a lying tongue is the fleeting fantasy of those who seek death. 7 The violence of the wicked will destroy them, because they refuse to do justice. 8 The way of a guilty man is perverse; but as for the pure, his work is right.
Acts 19.21-41:
Suffering for Doing Right
These first-century believers were continually at risk for their preaching and their stand for God. But they were willing to risk it all for the cause of Christ. 1 Peter 3.14-17 says:
14 But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you are blessed. “And do not be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled.”15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear; 16 having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed. 17 For it is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.
Would you be willing to lay it all on the line for the cause of Christ? That day could be coming. We should all count the cost and be ready.
Coming Up:
In the coming days, we’ll talk about 10 secrets to finishing well, loving your enemies, and ask the question, “Could you be left behind?” We will also talk about what it means to fear God in our anti-Christian culture.
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Blessings as you grow in Christ,
Donna ♥
Note about this post:
I began blogging through the Bible in 2012 and have done so every year since then. These posts are the product of many edits and additions throughout those years. Some days I make major changes, other days fewer.
A while ago, I read Jen Wilkin’s book None Like Him about the attributes of God. One is His incomprehensibility. In it, she says, “God is incomprehensible. This does not mean that he is unknowable, but that he is unable to be fully known.”
I have found that to be true each year as I’ve gone back through the Bible. Sometimes I find myself feeling as if a passage just appeared there for the first time. I’m reminded that no matter how many times we read through the Bible, we have only scratched the surface. I hope you feel the same.
Indeed these are the mere edges of His ways,
And how small a whisper we hear of Him!
But the thunder of His power who can understand?” (Job 26.14)
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