Today I read 2 Kings 16, in which Ahaz, king of Judah, received help from Assyria. Today I considered that some things we should not change to receive help from others or please others.
Pleasing A King
One king getting the help of another king required continued work (2 Kings 16:1-18). Jotham’s son Ahaz became king of Judah. He did not do right but walked in the ways of the kings of Israel. Syria’s king Rezin and Israel’s king Pekah went to war against Ahaz but did not win. Ahaz sent treasures from the Lord’s house and the king’s house to Assyria’s king Tiglath-pileser. Tiglath-pileser won against Damascus and killed Rezin. Ahaz had priest Urijah build an altar like Tiglath-pileser’s and sacrificed on it. Ahaz changed other items in the temple including turning the king’s entry and the covert into a place for the king of Assyria. Ahaz received help from Tiglath-pileser but also did other activities that would continue to please Tiglath-pileser.
Questions and Thoughts for Today
Ahaz chose to please Tiglath-pileser, even changing the temple of the Lord. We have to be careful not to change things related to God to please man.
What have you seen someone change to please man that you believe would not please God?