Ahaz: The King of Judah

Name means

The LORD has grasped

Reference

II Kings 16:1-20
II Chronicles 28

Reign

19 years (735 - 715 B.C.)

History

For 16 years Ahaz was the epitome of evil. Among his many misdeeds, Ahaz not only sacrificed to idols, he also sacrificed his own son - perhaps the height of pagan abominations. As a result, Ahaz was handed over to the Syrians, and many of his subjects were taken captive to Damascus. Despite this, Ahaz still did not repent. As he continued to sin, his people continued to suffer. In one day, 120,000 of his soldiers were slaughtered by Pekah, king of Israel. Following the carnage, Pekah gathered 200,000 people from Judah and was intent on enslaving them before a prophet stepped in and stopped him. Despite the intervention and his own inability to lead and protect his people, Ahaz still refused to repent. Ahaz aligned himself with Assyria and began to worship their gods. He also profaned the Temple of the Lord by bringing in pagan altars and removing the altars of God, provoking the Lord to anger. His unabashed sin nearly destroyed his people, and he did nothing to stop it.

For Christians, Ahas is hardly an example to learn from, but one principle can be salvaged from the wicked king's reign and that is sin's effect on those around us. Ahaz's sin spread like cancer to his people.