Why did King Ahaz seek help from the king of Assyria in 2 Chronicles 28:16? The immediate text “At that time King Ahaz sent for help from the kings of Assyria.” (2 Chronicles 28:16) What was happening to Judah? • Aram (Syria) and Israel were invading (2 Chron 28:5-6; cf. 2 Kings 16:5). • Edom raided Judah and carried off captives (2 Chron 28:17). • Philistines seized Judean towns and villages (2 Chron 28:18). • These military blows came “because the LORD his God had handed him over” (2 Chron 28:5) in response to Ahaz’s idolatry (2 Chron 28:1-4). Why did Ahaz turn to Assyria instead of the LORD? • Desperation under relentless attack—he saw no human way out. • An idolatrous heart already trained to look anywhere but heaven (28:3-4). • Political pragmatism—Assyria was the regional superpower. Aligning with Tiglath-Pileser III appeared the smart diplomatic move (2 Kings 16:7-8). • Unbelief—Isaiah had offered God’s deliverance and even the sign of Immanuel (Isaiah 7:3-14), yet Ahaz refused. • Self-reliance and fear eclipsed faith; “Cursed is the man who trusts in man” (Jeremiah 17:5). How did Ahaz seek Assyrian help? 1. He raided the LORD’s temple and royal treasuries (2 Kings 16:8; 2 Chron 28:21). 2. He sent that silver and gold as tribute to Tiglath-Pileser III. 3. He promised political vassalage—“I am your servant and your son” (2 Kings 16:7). What resulted? • Assyria took Damascus and killed Rezin (2 Kings 16:9), but did not stop Judah’s internal losses. • Assyria then “distressed him and did not help him” (2 Chron 28:20). • Ahaz sank further into idolatry, closing the temple and erecting altars “in every corner of Jerusalem” (2 Chron 28:24-25). Take-away truths • Trials expose where our trust truly lies (Psalm 20:7-8). • Turning to human powers while ignoring God compounds disaster (Isaiah 30:1-3). • God remains willing to deliver any who repent and rely on Him alone (2 Chron 7:14; 1 John 1:9). |
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