“So the king of Assyria attacked the Aramean capital of Damascus and led its population away as captives, resettling them in Kir. He also killed King Rezin. King Ahaz then went to Damascus to meet with King Tiglath-pileser of Assyria. While he was there, he took special note of the altar. Then he sent a model of the altar to Uriah the priest, along with its design in full detail. Uriah followed the king’s instructions and built an altar just like it, and it was ready before the king returned from Damascus. When the king returned, he inspected the altar and made offerings on it. He presented a burnt offering and a grain offering, he poured out a liquid offering, and he sprinkled the blood of peace offerings on the altar. Then King Ahaz removed the old bronze altar from its place in front of the Lord’s Temple, between the entrance and the new altar, and placed it on the north side of the new altar. He told Uriah the priest, “Use the new altar for the morning sacrifices of burnt offering, the evening grain offering, the king’s burnt offering and grain offering, and the burnt offerings of all the people, as well as their grain offerings and liquid offerings. Sprinkle the blood from all the burnt offerings and sacrifices on the new altar. The bronze altar will be for my personal use only.” Uriah the priest did just as King Ahaz commanded him. Then the king removed the side panels and basins from the portable water carts. He also removed the great bronze basin called the Sea from the backs of the bronze oxen and placed it on the stone pavement. In deference to the king of Assyria, he also removed the canopy that had been constructed inside the palace for use on the Sabbath day, as well as the king’s outer entrance to the Temple of the Lord.”
2 Kings 16:9-18 NLT
King Ahaz sacrificed his own son in the fire. He tore apart the sacramental aspects of the temple and gave them away to appease the enemy. He took the altar meant for the people and kept it for himself while setting up a false shrine in its place. While he could claim that he still was worshipping God personally, the sacrifice of the people’s worship came at a steeper price than the wartime peace could offer. These crimes further cemented what would become known as the Babylonian Exile. The utilitarian solution might be to submit the governing authorities with outward worship, while inwardly reserving God for yourself, but it is not what God is pleased with. He, instead, expects us to proclaim him boldly and consistently. Sometimes this will put us at enmity with our neighbors. But it will not put us at enmity with God. The results of these actions are more than present tense. Their ramifications carry deep into history and effect the future in major ways. No matter our intent, we must not hide God.
JOSH McGARY. COM 