24.08 The Wicked King Ahaz (Part 4)

In today's concluding episode of the Smith's look into the life and leadership of the wicked King Ahaz, the Smiths seek to tie in the lessons learned from these Old Testament stories into our own life experiences to help us know how to sort out the supernatural and delineate the holy from the unholy.  Using the tough lessons learned from not only Ahaz, but others like King Solomon, who manifested more stupidity at times instead of great wisdom whenever they entered into unholy alliances through marriage, we today have to make sure we don't repeat their mistakes.  God calls us to marry only other Christians, but then gives instruction to those who don't follow that advice and end up marrying unbelievers instead.  Ahaz's story then turns more political, as he establishes more unholy alliances with leaders of the pagan nations around, including the Assyrians.  What happens when Ahaz goes to visit the king of Assyria?  He is mezermized by what he sees as an amazing altar this pagan nation offered their sacrifices to their pagan gods on.  What does he do?  He instructs his staff to draw up the plans to replicate this altar and have it built back in Jerusalem.  When that was done, Ahaz begins his syncretistic worship by offering the God ordained sacrifices give to His Chosen People, but did so on this shiny new pagan altar that came from the Assyrians.  Just one more way to demonstrate why he was known as a wicked king who did not obey God or His instructions on leading God's people.  Child sacrifice was also engaged in by this wicked king, which led LaDonna to insightfully comment that she was glad that it wasn't Ahaz's son, Hezekiah, who was offered in this brutal burning ritual on the molten arms of the pagan god, Molech!  Thank God Hezekiah survived being raised in such godless environments as in the household of Ahaz!  And thank God, not all leaders are wicked and vile.  Let's thank God for the ones who had and have today a heart after God and His righteousness!  What amazing insights can be mined out of only 20 short verses!  That's the power of the Living Word of God, dear friends!