I thought I might do something different today. Of course, that different thing might be making a blog post considering I have only posted 8 times before today! I have been reading through the Bible devotionally, and sometimes I read something that makes me think a bit more about how it is pertinent to life now. Maybe it happens when I have slept more soundly and am more awake at 6 AM to pay closer attention or maybe it is the Holy Spirit working. All scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16-17. I take that to mean that 2 Kings has application for me, even if the times were long ago and the practices somewhat foreign to our culture today. I thought I'd share with you the story and the questions that I began to consider after reading it. I urge you to read the story yourself because this is the condensed version according to Michelle, that admittedly does not have the clout of more established translations!
This is the story of Ahaz, king of Judah. He was an unfaithful king who was the son and grandson of relatively Godly kings. Ahaz sinned in the ways of Israel (who worshiped the golden calves at Bethel and Dan instead of worshiping God in the temple at Jerusalem as God had prescribed - this was in the period of the "divided kingdom" when Israel, the northern kingdom, and Judah, the southern kingdom were ruled separately) and also in sinned in the ways of the nations that the LORD had driven out of the promised land. He basically worshiped everybody, everywhere.
Judah was being attacked by the king of Aram and King Ahaz bought the protection of the king of Assyria by sending him the gold and silver from the temple. The king of Assyria defeated the king of Aram for Ahaz. King Ahaz went to Damascus to see the king of Assyria and while he was there was taken by the altar where the king of Assyria worshiped. Perhaps he thought that worshiping at such an altar would also make him powerful. He had plans drawn up to make an identical altar in Jerusalem. He sent the plans back to Uriah the priest and Uriah built it for the king. Then Ahaz used that altar to offer his sacrifices. He placed it at the LORD's temple and even moved the bronze altar of the LORD so that his Assyrian altar could have center stage. He also made changes around other parts of the temple area based on what he saw in Assyria. Then you have this curious comment in verse 15 "but I will use the bronze altar to ask questions of God." Followed by verse 16 that says that Uriah the priest did everything as king Ahaz commanded him.
So here is what I got to thinking: Do I have two altars? Is the place I go about my life, offering my daily sacrifices, a place that I have made for myself based on what I have seen in the life of a person that I want to emulate or am impressed by or seems to have what I want? Would I go someplace different to ask questions of God? Or do I live life and offer sacrifices based on what God has required of me according to His plan? Do I try to re-arrange what God has prescribed based on my preferences or the preferences of someone I respect? Do I give God a token place of worship off to the side in case I need Him if my plans aren't going as I expected?
Another question is who does the person that serves as a priest in my life take direction from? Is the priest staying true to the LORD or has he decided to serve another king instead? Can I see the difference? One more thing- do I remember to take each person individually instead of relying on what I know about their family? Each person chooses whom he will serve and sometimes they depart from their family, for good or for worse.
That is enough preaching for today. I hope it gives you something to think about too.
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