Section 3 -The Consequences of Ahaz’s Decision

2Chronicles 28: 1-8; 17-18 They could not take God’s city but God delivered the outlying land to the enemy. There was a great slaughter and many of Judah were taken captive. Why?
Isa 7:10-12 ¶ Moreover the LORD spake again unto Ahaz, saying, Ask thee a sign of the LORD thy God; ask it either in the depth, or in the height above. ---- But Ahaz said, I will not ask, neither will I tempt the LORD.

2Chronicles 28:19 All this came upon Judah because Ahaz refused to believe God and be established. His refusal to ask The LORD for a sign allowed the enemy to prevail.
If Ahaz would have believe God all his past (2Chronicles 28:3-4) would have been forgiven because it could have been accounted unto him for righteousness (Gen 15:6) and Judah would have been spared this great slaughter.
2Chronicles 28:16 Does Ahaz go to the Lord for deliverance - No he goes to God’s enemy, Assyria.
2Chronicles 28:20 Did it work? No, the king of Assyria brought more distress
Than what the armies of Syria and Ephraim. could not do (plunder Jerusalem ) Ahaz did for them. He gave part of the wealth of his palace, the temple ad other leaders to the king of Assyria 2Chronicles 28:21
2Chronicles 28:22-23 Where does Ahaz to for help against Assyria?- to the god’s of Syria because they “helped” Syria but he went to Assyria to defeat them so shouldn’t have went to the gods Assyria?

2Chronicles 28:24-26 -Ahaz plunders God’s Temple to build alters in every city apart from Jerusalem (the several cities) and then he burned incense in these temple to the gods of their enemies further provoking the anger of the true God. When he died he was buried in Jerusalem but not in the sepulchres of the kings. Even the people knew the depth Ahaz had pulled himself and Judah down.
Do we still wonder why there will be “That Day” (Isaiah 7:23-25) when the vineyards that once produced cluster of grapes that it would take two men to carry would be full of briers and thorns that would be trodden by oxen and cattle.
When Israel went into the promised land the vineyards were already for their picking prepared by God through the those who were God’s enemies. He was going before them and they never knew it. Bringing them into a land they did not earn or deserve.
Now God will take them to where they always wanted to be: like everyone else, apart from him and in a land the is nothing special full of thorns & thistles what the land produces on it’s own (Gen 3:18).
There was something else Ahaz didn’t believe Verse 2Chronicles 28:5, 19 It was The LORD that was in control and He delivered Judah into the hands of the enemy He was the one who he needed to worship.
All of Israel never believed it was the Lord and Him alone that was worthy of all their worship. They followed many false gods (read 1Samuel 8:7-8). In asking for a king they rejected “The Holy One Of Israel” as their King.

Remember Isaiah’s question in Chapter 6:11 - Lord., How Long - until Judah is taken so low they realize The Holy One Of Israel is the way out - ultimately it is “That Day” (Isaiah 7:17). God’s grace through judgment He will once again bring them into a Kingdom they will not earn or deserve. Why, because He promised Abraham to make of him a great nation (Gen 12:2) and for Abraham’s sake (Gen 26:24)

For us to think about

Apart from God going against His holiness - what could have Ahaz asked for that God could not have done.
Could it be that sin will always follow the disbelief of God?
Do we Christians go through periods of disbelief and actually worship what God calls unclean? We must guard against becoming so engulfed in the sins of this world that we need God’s grace through chastisement (Revelation 3:19).
Do we realize the tiniest thing God offers us is far greater than the best this world has to offer?
Could it be that when we willfully sin it is because we di not always believe #4
Do you thank God that you are under His grace through Christ instead of under the judgment of The Law?