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Divinity for Advanced Secondary Schools

pleasing to the Lord and followed the He led the whole Israel nation into
example of the kings of Israel (2 Kings paganism. For example, Uriah kept
16:2). Ahaz practised human sacrifice the bronze altar for divination (2 Kings
and even sacrificed his own son as a 15). He allowed foreign nations like

burnt offering to idols (2 Kings 16:3). Assyrians to enter Judah and dominate
FOR ONLINE READING ONLY
the decision-making process in the
He offered sacrifices. He burnt incense country (2 Kings 16:18).
at the pagan places of worship, on the
hills, and under every shady tree. Ahaz worshipped pagan gods like
Baal. This practice was against the
Ahaz trusted more in political alliances covenant law and led him into conflict
than in God. He sent a message to with Prophet Isaiah (2 Kings 16:4). He
the Emperor of Assyria to come and refused to ask for a sign when told by
rescue him from the king of Syria (2 Isaiah, saying that he could not put God
to the test (Isaiah 7:12). Ahaz never
Kings 16:7). He paid tribute to Assyria listened to the advice of prophet Isaiah.
by plundering the temple and palace
treasuries (2 Kings 16:8). Ahaz made Lessons to religious leaders in the
foreign alliances with the pagan nations contemporary world
that were against the covenant laws (2 Religious leaders should be exemplary
Kings 16:7). to their subjects, unlike Ahaz, who

never followed the good example of his
Ahaz copied pagan practices. For ancestor, David. They should respect
example, he ordered Uriah to construct human life as opposed to King Ahaz,
a temple in the exact model he had seen who sacrificed his son as a burnt offering
in Assyria (2 Kings 16:14). Ahaz moved to idols.
the bronze altar dedicated to the Lord,
which was between the new altar and
the temple to the North side of his new They should worship only one God,
altars. More so, he removed the platform unlike Ahaz, who worshipped Baal.
for the royal throne from the temple and They should sacrifice their lives to God
closed up the King’s private entrance as opposed to Ahaz, who sacrificed and
to the temple to please the Assyrian burnt incense in pagan places of worship
emperor (2 Kings 16:18). and under every shady tree. They should
trust more in the Almighty God, who is
He acted cowardly, terrified, and mighty, unlike Ahaz, who trusted more
trembled like trees shaken by the wind in political alliances.
when he heard that the Syrian Army was
already in the territory despite Isaiah’s They should construct churches in
words of comfort (Isa. 7:2). Christian ways as opposed to Ahaz, who

Form Five Student’s Book 63