Bible Studies
Ahaz, Not Like David; Hezekiah, Like David (2 Kings 16:1-4)
Series: Studies in Second KingsIntroduction:
1. The nation of Judah has fallen upon hard times. 2. Multiple kings have been assassinated. Uzziah had been stricken with leprosy after usurping the authority of the priests. TheEdomites, the Philistines, the Arameans and the Assyrians continue to be thorns in their sides. 3. Conditions took a turn for the worse when Ahaz became king, and we wonder, “Will this be the end of God’s patience with Judah?” Then Hezekiah comes to the throne and we are allowed a breath of fresh air. Perhaps things are headed in a positive direction. We are left sitting on the edge of our seats wondering what will happen next. 4. The reigns of Ahaz and Hezekiah provide a study of contrasts. It is to this contrast that we give our attention in this lesson.Discussion:
I. Ahaz did not do right as his father David had done (2 Kings 16:1ff).A. David is repeatedly identified as the high water mark in doing what was right in the sight of God.
1. Yet we know that David sinned, and sinned severely. He had murdered Uriah after having committed adultery with Uriah’s wife.
2. How can David be considered the high water mark?
3. Even of some of the kings it is said that they did right in the sight of the Lord, but not as David had done.
4. It will be said of Hezekiah that he did right “according to all that his father David had done.” What sets David apart?
5. The answer may be found in another repeated phrase in the texts of Kings and Chronicles.
a. Of Amaziah, the grandfather of Ahaz, it is said, “He did right in the sight of the Lord, yet not with a whole heart” (2 Chron. 25:2).
b. The phrase “not with a whole heart” acts as a parallel with “not as David had done.” Was serving God with a whole heart the distinctive feature of David’s reign?
c. It would appear so.
1) At the dedication of the temple Solomon had prayed that God kept covenant and showed lovingkindness to His servants who walked before Him “with all their heart” (1 Kings 8:23).
2) Recognizing that they would sin and be taken into captivity he prayed for God toforgive them “if they returned to Him with all their heart and with all their soul” (1 Kings 8:48).
3) He admonished the people, “Let your heart therefore be wholly devoted to the Lord our God” (1 Kings 8:61).
6. It was not sinlessness that commended David, but a whole hearted devotion to God that sought forgiveness.
B. Ahaz was a long way from this kind of attitude. His actions were in the opposite direction.
1. “He walked in the way of the kings of Israel, and even made his sons pass through the fire, according to the abominations of the nations whom the Lord had driven out from before the sons of Israel. He sacrificed and burned incense on the high places and on the hills and under every green tree.” 2 Chron. 28:2 adds that he made molten images for the Baals.
2. The high places are now places of devotion, not to the Lord, but to idolatry.
3. 1 Kings 14:23-24 identifies these places with the fertility cults associated with the Canaanites and the practice of male (and female, says Keil on 1 K. 14:23) cult prostitution.
4. Making his sons pass through the fire is a reference to Molech worship that involved offering children as burnt offerings to the god.
C. The consequences were severe (2Chron. 28:5-15). Judah was invaded by four enemies.
1. The Arameans and the Israelites invaded (5-7).
a. They were defeated by the Arameans and a great number were taken captive to Damascus.
b. Pekah of Israel captured 200,000 of Judah and brought them to Samaria.
2. The Edomites invaded and carried away captives.
a. Ahaz sent to Assyria for help.
3. The Philistines invaded the cities of the lowland and settled in them.
4. The Assyrians instead of helping invaded.
a. Ahaz had tried to buy them off with riches from the temple and from his palace and from the princes.
b. It did not help.
D. You might think he would repent. Instead he became even more unfaithful.
1. He sacrificed to the gods of Damascus (Aram).
2. He closed the doors of the house of the Lord.
3. He built foreign altars throughout Jerusalem.
4. And throughout Judah he built high places to burn incense to other gods.
E. Ahaz’s response is not untypical.
1. Some people respond to the judgment of God for rebellion with greater rebellion.
2. Some experience adversity and are angry with the Lord.
3. They intensify their rebellion.
II. Hezekiah “did right in the sight of the Lord, according to all that his father David had done” (2 Kings 18:3).A. Hezekiah took a different direction that his father Ahaz.
1. “He removed the high places and broke down the sacred pillars and cut down the Asherah” (2 Kings 18:4a).
2. “He broke in pieces the bronze serpent that Moses had made, for until then the sons of Israel burned incense to it; and it was called Nehushtan” (2 Kings 18:4b; cf. Num. 21:8-9).
3. “He trusted in the Lord.”“He clung to the Lord.”“He kept His commandments” (2 Kings 18:5-6).
B. In the first month of his reign he opened the doors of the house of the Lord and repaired them (2 Chron. 29:3).
C. He brought the priests and Levites and gathered them.
D. He instituted a policy of reform.
1. He appealed to the Levites confessing the unfaithfulness of his fathers (2 Chron. 29:5-11).
2. The priests cleansed the temple (2 Chron. 29:16-19).
3. Hezekiah restored temple worship (2 Chron. 29:20ff).
a. First, they sacrificed for their sins (20-24).
b. He stationed the Levites with musical instruments. They offered the burnt offering. The song of the Lord was sung as the Levites played the instruments for the command was from the Lord through the prophets: David, Gad and Nathan (2 Chron. 29:25-28). And thus, everyone worshiped (2 Chron. 29-30).
c. Offerings were made (31-36).
d. An invitation was sent out throughout Israel and Judah to come celebrate the Passover (2 Chron. 30:1ff).
1) The invitation involved a call to repentance. (6-9).
2) “They laughed them to scorn.”
3) But some came from Asher, Manasseh and Zebulon and humbled themselves.
4) Judah also responded positively.
4. The Passover was reinstituted (2 Chron. 30:13ff).
5. The king and the people made contributions to the service of God (2 Chron. 31:3ff).
E. The summary statement is decisive. “Hezekiah did throughout all Judah what was good and right and true before the Lord his God. Every work that he began in the service of the house of God in law and in commandment, seeking his God, he did with all his heart and prospered” (2 Chron. 31:20-21).
F. Will Hezekiah’s reforms prevent Judah from being taken into captivity? Are the reforms of Hezekiah too late to make a difference? This is not the end of the story of Hezekiah and there is much more to be learned. We will address this at a latter date.
III. A number of lessons are evident.A. We need to seek the Lord our God with all our heart, soul and mind.
B. When we are disciplined by the Lord for our rebellion let us not become more rebellious, but repent!
C. Even though our fathers are rebellious against the Lord we can do what is right.
D. In every instance where we find ourselves out of harmony with the Lord’s will we need to restore ourselves according to the commandment of God.
E. When the invitation to repentance goes out—whether we are among the idolatrous of Israel or among the idolatrous of Judah--let there be no scoffing, but humility in genuinely giving our hearts to the Lord.
Conclusion:
1. What will your answer to the invitation be? 2. Recognize that a gracious God has sent out an invitation to repentance. 3. Do not rebel, instead give your whole heart to Him!
