Topical Bible: Hypocrisy: Ahaz

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Ahaz, the son of Jotham and father of Hezekiah, was the king of Judah who reigned during the 8th century BC. His reign is notably marked by acts of idolatry and political maneuvering that reveal a deep-seated hypocrisy, especially in his religious practices and leadership.

Idolatry and Religious Hypocrisy

Ahaz's reign is characterized by a stark departure from the worship of Yahweh, the God of Israel, as he embraced the idolatrous practices of the surrounding nations. Despite being the king of Judah, a nation called to uphold the covenant with God, Ahaz's actions reflected a profound hypocrisy. He is described in 2 Kings 16:2-4 as engaging in detestable practices: "Ahaz was twenty years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem sixteen years. Unlike David his father, he did not do what was right in the eyes of the LORD his God. Instead, he walked in the ways of the kings of Israel and even sacrificed his son in the fire, according to the abominations of the nations that the LORD had driven out before the Israelites. And he offered sacrifices and burned incense on the high places, on the hills, and under every green tree."

Ahaz's hypocrisy is further highlighted by his attempt to blend the worship of Yahweh with pagan rituals. He desecrated the temple in Jerusalem by constructing an altar modeled after one he saw in Damascus, as recorded in 2 Kings 16:10-16. This act of syncretism was a direct violation of the commandments given to Israel and demonstrated a superficial allegiance to God while his heart was far from Him.

Political Maneuvering and Lack of Faith

Ahaz's hypocrisy extended beyond religious practices to his political alliances. Faced with threats from the kings of Aram and Israel, Ahaz sought assistance from Tiglath-Pileser III, the king of Assyria, rather than relying on the Lord for deliverance. This decision is documented in 2 Kings 16:7-9 : "So Ahaz sent messengers to Tiglath-Pileser king of Assyria, saying, 'I am your servant and your son. Come up and save me out of the hand of the king of Aram and of the king of Israel, who are rising up against me.'"

By turning to Assyria, Ahaz demonstrated a lack of faith in God's promises and protection, choosing instead to place his trust in a foreign power. This political maneuvering not only compromised the sovereignty of Judah but also revealed Ahaz's duplicity, as he professed to be a servant of the Lord while seeking security through human alliances.

Legacy and Impact

The legacy of Ahaz's hypocrisy had lasting repercussions for the kingdom of Judah. His actions set a precedent of unfaithfulness and idolatry that would plague the nation. Despite his outward position as king of God's chosen people, Ahaz's heart was divided, and his reign serves as a cautionary tale of the dangers of hypocrisy in leadership.

Ahaz's son, Hezekiah, would later seek to undo the damage caused by his father's idolatry, striving to restore true worship in Judah. However, the spiritual and political compromises of Ahaz's reign left an indelible mark on the history of the nation, illustrating the profound consequences of hypocrisy in the life of a leader.

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Isaiah 7:12
But Ahaz said, I will not ask, neither will I tempt the LORD.
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Isaiah 7:17-25
The LORD shall bring on you, and on your people, and on your father's house, days that have not come, from the day that Ephraim departed from Judah; even the king of Assyria.
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Library

The Prophet Hosea.
... of eight years, began to reign in the twelfth year of Ahaz, xvii.1 ... commit sin, they
should rather desert the Lord altogether, lest by their hypocrisy Judah also ...
/.../hengstenberg/christology of the old testament/the prophet hosea.htm

The Greater Prophets.
... the amassing of filthy lucre; our ambition, slander, falsehood, intrigues, hypocrisy,
and vain ... allied kings of Israel and Syria, in the reign of Ahaz, and by ...
/.../barrows/companion to the bible/chapter xxii the greater prophets.htm

Concerning the Sacrament of Baptism
... fleece, to Manoah in his sacrifice; such also as that which Isaiah offered to Ahaz. ...
with God, He permits them to continue to the end in their hypocrisy, and to ...
/.../first principles of the reformation/concerning the sacrament of baptism.htm

Of Faith. The Definition of It. Its Peculiar Properties.
... with the children of God; but because, under a covering of hypocrisy, they seem ... to
take a nearer view of his case, and compare it with that of Ahaz, we should ...
/.../calvin/the institutes of the christian religion/chapter 2 of faith the.htm

Scriptures Showing the Sin and Danger of Joining with Wicked and ...
... a potsherd, a drossy piece covered over with the fairding(402) of hypocrisy, or,
like ... rob the land of its defence, and make them naked, as Ahaz his confederacy ...
/.../binning/the works of the rev hugh binning/section v scriptures showing the.htm

Light for them that Sit in Darkness;
... names, the feigned holiness, the demure behaviours, mixed with damnable hypocrisy,
that attend ... He was promised in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/light for them that sit.htm

Bunsen's Biblical Researches.
... Child of Isaiah 7:16, was not to be born in the reign of Ahaz, as a ... to tear off the
mask from hypocrisy, and destroy that sham which is undermining all real ...
/.../essays and reviews the education of the world/bunsens biblical researches.htm

The Life and Death of Mr. Badman,
... Lying and pilfering mark his early days; followed in after life by swearing,
cheating, drunkenness, hypocrisy, infidelity and atheism. ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/the life and death of.htm

The Desire of the Righteous Granted;
The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3. <. ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/the desire of the righteous.htm