SIN IS A REPROACH
Tuesday 13th September 2016
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2 Chronicles 28: 1 -27 (NKJV)
Ahaz was twenty years old when he became king, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem; and he did not do what was right in the sight of the Lord, as his father David had done. 2For he walked in the ways of the kings of Israel, and made molded images for the Baals. 3He burned incense in the Valley of the Son of Hinnom, and burned his children in the fire, according to the abominations of the nations whom the Lord had cast out before the children of Israel. 4And he sacrificed and burned incense on the high places, on the hills, and under every green tree. 5Therefore the Lord his God delivered him into the hand of the king of Syria. They defeated him, and carried away a great multitude of them as captives, and brought them to Damascus. Then he was also delivered into the hand of the king of Israel, who defeated him with a great slaughter. 6For Pekah the son of Remaliah killed one hundred and twenty thousand in Judah in one day, all valiant men, because they had forsaken the Lord God of their fathers. 7Zichri, a mighty man of Ephraim, killed Maaseiah the king’s son, Azrikam the officer over the house, and Elkanah who was second to the king. 8And the children of Israel carried away captive of their brethren two hundred thousand women, sons, and daughters; and they also took away much spoil from them, and brought the spoil to Samaria. 9But a prophet of the Lord was there, whose name was Oded; and he went out before the army that came to Samaria, and said to them: “Look, because the Lord God of your fathers was angry with Judah, He has delivered them into your hand; but you have killed them in a rage that reaches up to heaven. 10And now you propose to force the children of Judah and Jerusalem to be your male and female slaves; but are you not also guilty before the Lord your God? 11Now hear me, therefore, and return the captives, whom you have taken captive from your brethren, for the fierce wrath of the Lord is upon you.” …
King Ahaz woefully failed to walk in the path of righteousness, but instead burnt incense to idols, and burnt his children in the fire, after the abominations of the heathens whom the Lord cast out before the children of Israel. The same punishment that befell Ahaziah, Uzziah and other heathen kings also befell Ahaz. The Lord executed immediate punishment on him.
Today, there are many ways some people serve idols and burn incense to strange gods. Various occult practices including ritual killing, love of money and other forms of idol worship are the many ways in which people commit idolatry today, and for these, the wrath of God comes upon the children of disobedience. Make sure you do not tell lies, cheat or become hypocritical because of money. Make sure you do not withhold your tithe from God simply because of greed and covetousness, since both amount to idol worship. Pay your creditors as soon as you are able to, without telling them “come today; come tomorrow”. Honesty and integrity are important qualities of character for the child of God and if we strive to develop these, our lives will please God. 1 John 5:21 warns us to keep ourselves from idol.
Prayer: My Father in heaven, give me the grace and discipline to obey Your Word and to depart from idol worship.</blockquote>
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