2 Crônicas 28
G. Campbell Morgan · Citado em PreceptAustin
2 Crônicas 28
Morgan - -2 Chr 28.22 The utter evil of the man is seen in the fact that calamities did not produce the effect in him which they had so often done in the case of his predecessors The reign of Ahaz was a period of terrible and rapid degeneracy in Judah. With appalling fearlessness the king restored all the evils of idolatry, even including the ghastly offering of children as sacrifices to Moloch. In all probability his own son was a victim. As difficulties gathered around him, he turned to the king of Assyria for aid, attempting to procure help from him by giving him treasure out of the house of God. The utter evil of the man is seen in the fact that calamities did not produce the effect in him which they had so often done in the case of his predecessors, that of bringing him to the abandonment of his sin. He was a man evil by deliberate choice, persistent in evil in spite of calamity, blasphemously rebellious not-withstanding the direct warnings of Isaiah. Moreover, as we know from the Book of Isaiah, he openly and deliberately rejected any sign from God. It is certainly a solemn and searching story, revealing, as it does, how possible it is to yield the life so completely to evil, that prosperity only ministers to its degeneration, and adversity only hardens the will in wickedness 🙏 THOUGHT - Morgan's statement (in bold italics above) begs the question - How do I respond to afflictions and adversities the LORD allows (or sometimes sends) into my life? How one responds speaks volumes about their heart (cf Acts 13:22+). 2 Chronicles 28:23 For he sacrificed to the gods of Damascus which had defeated him, and said, “Because the gods of the kings of Aram helped them, I will sacrifice to them that they may help me.” But they became the downfall of him and all Israel. For he sacrificed: This passage, says Mr. Hallet, greatly surprised me; for the sacred historian is here represented as saying, "The gods of Damascus had smitten Ahaz." But it is impossible to suppose that an inspired author should say this; for the Scripture every where represents the heathen idols as nothing and vanity, and as incapable of doing either good or hurt. All difficulty is avoided if we follow the old Hebrew copies, from which the Greek translation was made: "And king Ahaz said, I will seek to the gods of Damascus which have smitten me." 2Ch 25:14 2Ki 16:12,13 Because the gods: Hab 1:11 sacrifice to them: Jer 10:5 44:15-18 But they were: Isa 1:28 Jer 44:20-28 Ho 13:9 Related Passages: Jeremiah 2:11-13 (THIS COULD HAVE BEEN AHAZ'S "TAGLINE") “Has a nation changed gods When they were not gods? But My people have changed their glory For that which does not profit. 12 “Be appalled, O heavens, at this, And shudder, be very desolate,” declares the LORD. 13 “For My people have committed two evils: They have forsaken Me, The fountain of living waters, To hew for themselves cisterns, Broken cisterns That can hold no water. Psalm 115:4-8+ (NOTE THE END RESULT OF IDOLATRY - VERSE 8) Their idols are silver and gold, The work of man’s hands. 5 They have mouths, but they cannot speak; They have eyes, but they cannot see; 6 They have ears, but they cannot hear; They have noses, but they cannot smell; 7 They have hands, but they cannot feel; They have feet, but they cannot walk; They cannot make a sound with their throat. 8 Those who make them will become like them, Everyone who trusts in them. IDOLATRY MAKES A PERSON A FOOL! For - Term of explanation. What's the chronicler explaining? Check the context. The immediate context describes Ahaz as "more unfaithful" (as if being a little unfaithful was not enough!). Faith is what we believe and is shown by how we live, what we say, what we do. The polar opposite is unfaithful and it too is shown by our thoughts, words and deeds. And so the chronicler will show us Ahaz's lack of faith. He sacrificed to the gods of Damascus which had defeated him - Instead of seeking God in defeat, Ahaz's mind and heart are so distorted that he seeks the very gods (which in truth are "no gods") which defeated him (so to speak because those gods per se had no intrinsic power to defeat him). The irony is that he was defeated because God allowed him to be defeated. And then God allowed him to be deceived. Ahaz falsely worshipped a false god of his own creation. David
2 Crônicas 28
Morgan - “It would seem as though the light of truth were absolutely extinguished. It was not so, however, for it is likely that throughout the whole reigns of Jotham and Ahaz, Isaiah was uttering his message, and that during the reign of Ahaz Micah also was delivering the word of God.” Charles
2 Crônicas 28
Morgan - Ahaz was evil by choice, persistent in evil in spite of calamity, blasphemously rebellious notwithstanding the direct warnings of the prophet of God. This attitude of the king made the darkness all the denser. TSK - The Hebrews were accustomed to honour the memory of those kings who had reigned well, by depositing their remains in the royal cemetery. On the contrary, those who died under the disapprobation of the people, as a mark of posthumous disgrace, were denied interment with their predecessors, and were buried in some other place in Jerusalem. So it was with Ahaz, who, though brought into the city, was not buried in the sepulchres of the kings of Judah. It was doubtless with a design to make a suitable impression on the minds of their kings while living, that such distinctions were observed. They might thus restrain them from evil, or excite them to good, according as they were fearful of being execrated, or desirous of being honoured, when dead. And Hezekiah his son reigned in his place - Fortunately Molech did not get his deadly hands on Hezekiah! And so finally we have a breath of fresh (spiritual) air! Henry