THE KING OF JUDAH SACRIFICED HIS SON

PROCLAMATION

“… Ahaz the son of Jotham king of Judah began to reign.  Twenty years old was Ahaz when he began to reign … and did not that which was right in the sight of The Lord … But he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, yea, and made his son to pass through the fire, according to the abominations of the heathen, whom The Lord had cast out from before the children of Israel.”  2 Kings 16:1-3 (KJV)

 

EXPLANATION

These words were written under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God.  The human author is unknown although some Bible scholars attribute this book to the prophet Jeremiah.  Ahaz was the king of Judah but he did evil in the sight of The Lord as the kings of Israel had done.  And worse yet he even sacrificed his son as a brunt offering as the heathens of Syria did in their idol worship.  When Rezin the king of Syria and Pekah the king of Israel joined forces to make war against Ahaz king of Judah, he called upon Tiglath-pilser the king of Assyria (Mesopotamia, the northern portion of Syria) to help him and did not call on The Lord God. (2 Kings 16:1-7)  Ahaz paid him silver and gold, and Tiglath-pilser agreed to help him and went up against Damascus and took it.  He took the people of Damascus as captives and slew Rezin.  When Ahaz went to meet with Tiglath-pilser, he saw the altar they used for sacrifices and he offered a sacrifice to their god.  Then Ahaz sent word and commanded that Urijah the priest to build a similar altar for them.  Afterwards, he dismantled all of the other worship items and blocked the entrance to the temple. (2 Kings 16:8-18)  When Ahaz died his son Hezekiah reigned in his place.

 

APPLICATION

When The Lord God warned His people not to imitate the sinful customs of the nations they would inhabit, the first item on the list of forbidden practices was the sacrifice of their sons and daughters by fire. (Deuteronomy 18:9-10)  This is an abomination unto The Lord God. (Deuteronomy 18:12)  All sin is sinful and God hates sin.  However He hates some sins more than others.  There are seven sins which are an abomination to God: pride, greed, wrath, envy, lust, gluttony, and sloth.  These are referred to as the seven deadly sins. (Proverbs 6:16-19)  The sacrificial killing of a son or daughter can be added to this list.  The worst sin is blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, for this sin cannot be forgiven. (Mark 3:28-30)  Do not disrespect The Lord God, in word or deed, and do not use the name of God in vain. (Exodus 20:7)