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Introduction: In II
Chronicles 28:22, we learn that King Ahaz turned from
Jehovah. It was his sad response to his life’s turn of events.
To some, his decision may be understandable. Let’s examine his
life and see what we can learn about our own lives. Discussion: I. Listen to Ahaz’ bad luck. A.
Ahaz became
king when he was 20 (II
Chronicles 28:1). His father, Jotham left him a
strengthened Judah (II
Chronicles 27). But Ahaz was not as fortunate. Instead of
success in battle, He was often defeated and weakened. Notice the
string of hard breaks Ahaz had. B.
In II
Chronicles 28:5, Ahaz was defeated by the Arameans and
many of his subjects taken captive. In 28:5-6,
Israel defeated him, slaying 120,000 in one day. 28:7
reveals that Ahaz lost his son, the ruler of his household and his
right hand man. Because the Edomites and the Philistines had
attacked, taking captives and territory (28:17-18),
Ahaz turned to Assyria for help. Instead of helping, the Assyrians
also attacked and oppressed Ahaz (vss.
16, 20). C.
Poor Ahaz.
One bad break after another. And when he asked for help, they
kicked him while he was down. Where was God in all of this? Why
hadn’t Jehovah done anything to help? Have you ever felt like
this? If so, perhaps you will not be surprised by Ahaz’ response
to Jehovah. II.
Ahaz’
response to Jehovah. A.
In II
Chronicles 28:22 we read, “Now in the time of his
distress this same King Ahaz became … unfaithful to the Lord.”
Notice what Ahaz did. B.
In 28:23,
Ahaz reasoned that Aram had it better than he did, so maybe he
should sacrifice to their gods. In 28:24,
he closed the temple and destroyed its utensils. In 28:25,
Ahaz made high places to burn incense to other gods. His turning
from God and disobedience were complete. If Jehovah had abandoned
him, then he would abandon Jehovah. And why not? Serving Jehovah
hadn’t helped. Why not try something else? C.
However,
thus far you haven’t really heard the entire story. III.
How did Ahaz
get where he was? A.
If Ahaz had
come to you seeking sympathy or counsel, this is how he would have
probably told his story. But the Bible actually gives the bigger
picture. B.
Ahaz’ run
of bad luck, wasn’t bad luck at all. Rather, it was the natural
consequence of Ahaz’ own choices. We skipped II
Chronicles 28:1-5. From the beginning of his reign, Ahaz
walked in idolatry. He made molten images for the Baals. He burned
incense to foreign gods. He even sacrificed his own children.
Vss.
6 and 19 point out that Ahaz’ defeats by Aram,
Israel, Edom and the Philistines were all judgments. Of course, we
should already have recognized that Assyria would be of no help.
Ahaz should not have turned to Assyria but to Jehovah. C.
Now, we see vs.
22 in its greater context. And this time we will add two
words that I purposely left out earlier. “Now in the time of his
distress this same King Ahaz became yet more unfaithful to
the Lord.” Ahaz’ problems had come because of unfaithfulness.
When he should have repented, he turned further from God. We do
not see hard luck but choices and consequences. IV.
Lessons we
must learn from Ahaz’ life. A.
Rarely
is our “hard luck” simply hard luck. Most of the time it is
our own choice. 1.
I am amazed
at our ability to view our lives through rose-colored glasses.
Even when we are forced to admit mistakes, we see ourselves as
victims. Our mistakes weren’t really our fault. We made them
because of our parents, spouse, boss or circumstances. We rarely
make the connection that “I am where I am today, because of the
choices I made yesterday.” 2.
Ahaz was in
a bad way. But it wasn’t bad luck. It was his own choice. Yet,
he didn’t make the connection. So, he blamed God and turned
further from Him in his anger. 3.
If you are
in a bad situation, quit blaming others. Determine what choices
led you to where you are. Don’t explain those choices away.
Don’t justify them. Simply recognize them. B.
Quit
making the same choices that got you into your mess. 1.
Ahaz was in
his bad situation because he chose to follow after other gods.
When he hit bottom, he didn’t determine to change. Instead, he
continued making the same bad choices. 2.
It is not
enough simply to know what choices led you into your bad
situation. You have to stop making those choices. We have all
heard the story of the patient who came into the doctor and said,
“Doctor, it hurts when I do this.” The doctor replies,
“Well, then stop doing that.” We laugh, but there is some real
truth to this statement. 3.
You have to
learn to make different choices. This is difficult at times
because many of our past choices have become habits. But we must
work to develop different habits. C.
God
is not obligated to make everything better for us simply because
we are Christians. 1.
It almost
seems that some Christians believe God is obligated to make
everything alright in our lives no matter what choices we make.
Ahaz must have felt similarly. Why else would he have expressed
his anger as he did in vss.
22-25? He was king of Jehovah’s people. Jehovah must be
obligated to do for him what He had done for his father. 2.
It does not
work that way. First of all, God has never promised us that life
would be a bed of roses even when we are completely following His
will. Secondly, God has given us a manual for living happy,
content lives. It is the Bible (II
Timothy 3:16-17). This book contains advice for living
successfully as a Christian, family member, employee, citizen,
etc. 3.
Yet, too
often, we do not follow the commandments of God in these areas of
our lives. We end up in a mess. We try to wave the “magic prayer
wand”. When God doesn’t fix the problem overnight, we get
upset, as if God were to blame. God has provided the “fix” to
our problems. We need to read it and follow it. And with every
problem, we need to remember that we did not get into our problems
over night and we will not get out of them overnight. But, if we
follow God’s will, He does promise to provide for us. We can
trust that promise. But, we have to submit to His will and live by
it. In the end, we learn that too many times, we get mad at God
and turn further from Him, when we really should draw closer to
Him. D.
No
matter what is happening, do not turn away from God. 1.
No doubt,
Ahaz had a miserable life, even as king. However, he brought all
his “hard luck” onto himself. But consider for a moment, what
if he hadn’t? What if he had really been that one in a thousand
who had done everything right, but things just didn’t go his
way? What was he trying to do? Was he trying to hurt God? Beat
God? What? All Ahaz accomplished was insuring that not only would
his life be miserable, his eternity would be unbearable. 2.
I see people
today with miserable lives. I am not always the judge, but I
imagine I have even seen that one in a thousand case of true hard
luck. In that case, what is the point of getting mad at God and
turning away from Him? If you quit attending the assemblies, God
still exists. If you quit obeying His word, He will still judge
you according to it. We could probably spend several sermons
discussing the ins and outs of this issue. But for this sermon,
let’s just be pragmatic. God holds your soul in His hands. Even
if you think you have a case against God and don’t like the way
He has treated you, do you really want to go to hell? What do you
think you can accomplish by turning away from Him? Think for a
moment how silly it is to put into words the way we sometimes act,
“Well, if God is going to treat me this way, I’ll show Him. I
just won’t obey Him.” It is kind of silly when you put it that
way isn’t it? 3.
Job is by
far our best example for this point. Despite what errors Job may
have made in being angry with God, his statement in Job
19:25 is striking. “I know that my Redeemer lives, and
at the last He will take His stand on the earth.” Job thought
God had done him wrong. But he understood that God was still the
Judge and Redeemer. He refused to turn away. No matter what is
happening, Jehovah is still God, the Judge and Redeemer. Do not
turn away from Him. If you do, you will have all eternity in agony
wishing you had simply obeyed God for the few years of your life,
even if it was a miserable life. Conclusion: These things were written for our learning (Romans 15:4). Let us learn from Ahaz. Of course, it is easy to see the truth in Ahaz situation because we are objective onlookers from the outside. When you look at your own life and the times you get mad at God or begin to lose faith in God, work to be honest. Instead of turning from God, draw nearer to Him. He will provide (Matthew 6:33).
Glory
to God in the church by Christ Jesus
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