2Ch 28:18 | KingComments | STEP | Ahaz cannot be brought to an acknowledgment of his sins by discipline, nor by the just granted proofs of grace. “At that time”, that is the time when he is threatened by the king of Syria and the king of Israel, he does not resort to God, but seeks support from the kings of Assyria ( ). Edomites have also come and defeated Judah, and carried away captives ( ; ; ). The Philistines also attack Judah ( ). They invade several places and live there. Ahaz’s behavior causes God’s people suffering enormous losses of territory and freedom. The same goes for the lives of people who deviate from God. They lose their blessings and freedom. They may think they are living in freedom because they experience life according to God’s will as a yoke. However, they will experience that living without God is a life in slavery of sin. The LORD stands behind all this. He humbles Judah ( ), because Ahaz, the leader of His people, precedes the people in being very unfaithful to Him. The whole policy of Ahaz is aimed at preventing the people from serving God. This is a great dishonor to Him. He cannot leave such actions unpunished. Ahaz, however, does not let himself be moved by anything to “humble himself under the mighty hand of God” ( ). We will see this in the sequence.

‏ 2 Chronicles 28:18

Further Discipline of the LORD

Ahaz cannot be brought to an acknowledgment of his sins by discipline, nor by the just granted proofs of grace. “At that time”, that is the time when he is threatened by the king of Syria and the king of Israel, he does not resort to God, but seeks support from the kings of Assyria (2Chr 28:16). Edomites have also come and defeated Judah, and carried away captives (2Chr 28:17; Oba 1:11; Joel 3:19). The Philistines also attack Judah (2Chr 28:18). They invade several places and live there.

Ahaz’s behavior causes God’s people suffering enormous losses of territory and freedom. The same goes for the lives of people who deviate from God. They lose their blessings and freedom. They may think they are living in freedom because they experience life according to God’s will as a yoke. However, they will experience that living without God is a life in slavery of sin.

The LORD stands behind all this. He humbles Judah (2Chr 28:19), because Ahaz, the leader of His people, precedes the people in being very unfaithful to Him. The whole policy of Ahaz is aimed at preventing the people from serving God. This is a great dishonor to Him. He cannot leave such actions unpunished. Ahaz, however, does not let himself be moved by anything to “humble himself under the mighty hand of God” (1Pet 5:6). We will see this in the sequence.