Worldliness
“Now King Ahaz went to Damascus to meet Tiglath-Pileser king of Assyria, and saw an altar that was at Damascus; and King Ahaz sent to Urijah the priest the design of the altar and its pattern, according to all its workmanship” 2 Kings 16:10 (NKJV).
Ahaz, king of Judah, was a bad king. During his reign, Syria attacked Judah and he appealed to the king of Assyria to help him defeat Syria. As a bribe, he offered silver and gold to the Assyrian king which he took from the Temple. The Assyrian king did help Ahaz to defeat Syria. After the victory, Ahaz went to Damascus to meet the king of Assyria. Our verse speaks of this visit in Damascus. From our verse we want to note the obligation of Ahaz, the observation by Ahaz, and the order from Ahaz.
Obligation of Ahaz – “King Ahaz went to Damascus to meet Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria.” To express his appreciation and honor the king of Assyria, Ahaz was obligated to go to Damascus. All this happened because Ahaz had forsaken Jehovah God. When trouble came, instead of turning to God for help, he appealed to Assyria for help. Now he is the servant by choice of the king of Assyria (2 Kings 16:7). When we forsake God we become obligated to the world. This obligation will only burden us.
Observation by Ahaz – “Saw an altar that was at Damascus.” Ahaz was impressed by an altar he saw in Damascus. This altar was for heathen worship, but that did not bother Ahaz, because he was already given over to heathen worship (2 Kings 16:3-4). Having rejected Jehovah God, Ahaz was given to false religion which emphasizes outward form and appearance, not inward heart and character.
Order from Ahaz – “King Ahaz sent to Urijah the priest the design of the altar and its pattern, according to all its workmanship.” Ahaz wanted an altar like the one in Damascus to use at the Temple. Yet the Temple did not need any more altars. God had already prescribed the needed altars. But Ahaz wanted to pattern his life and worship after the world, so he wanted an altar like the world. When we pattern ourselves after the world, we will corrupt our worship.
(Adapted from Butler Daily Bible Reading)
Soli Deo Gloria (To God Alone Be The Glory)
Quotation of the Week
“The Christian is not ruined by living in the world but by the world living in him!”
Anonymous
Word Study
Desire (wish)
In Rom. 9:18 we read, “So then He has mercy on whom He desires, and He hardens whom He desires!” (NASB)
Desire (wish) is the Greek word thelo (θελω). The word means to wish to have, desire, to purpose to do, to be willing. This is a very common New Testament verb which primarily refers to exercising of one’s will with the underlying sense of to be willing, to desire, to want or to wish. It carries the idea of applying oneself to something (or to will).
In secular Greek, thelo spoke of readiness, inclination, and desire. In the Septuagint, thelo is often translated as want or desire. In the New Testament thelo may mean to take pleasure in, be agreeable to, be inclined toward. It can also mean to want, desire to have, wish for. Finally, thelo can mean to resolve, determine, and choose. When used of God, thelo always speaks of sovereign resolve, of His pleasure. It is used both of His sovereignty in creation and of His sovereignty in relation to mankind. God’s sovereign will applies to all facets of life, but the Christian must choose to submit to it (Acts 18:21; James 4:15).
Bible Facts
We read in Deuteronomy 8:2 that God led Israel into the wilderness to humble and test them. God wanted to see whether or not His people would really obey Him. We, too, will be tested. Knowing that testing will come, we should be alert and ready for it.
Bible Quiz
According to Hebrews, in whose order was “Jesus made an high priest?”
**Answer to last week’s trivia: What was Jonah doing in the ship during the storm? Sleeping (Jonah 1:5)
That’s in the Bible
“Take the Lord’s name in vain”
“You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain!” (Exodus 20:7 NKJV).
To misuse or speak flippantly the name of the Almighty, covenant-keeping God, manifests an impious disrespect toward the Lord himself. A person misuses God’s name by using His name in some irreverent way, in some frivolous, dishonoring, or light way. Reverence is the key word. When God’s name is used, it is always to be in a reverent way. Thus all the flippant joking about God, the frivolous, humorous stories that use God’s name, are wrong. God’s name is never to be misused, never to be taken in vain.
Did You Know – Christian History
Martin Chemnitz was born November 9, 1522 in Treuenbrietzen in Brandenburg. He was an eminent second-generation German Lutheran theologian, reformer, churchman, and confessor. In the Lutheran tradition he is known as Alter Martinus, the ‘Second Martin,’ referring to Martin Luther the Reformer.
Martin Chemnitz had to labor hard for his education, for his father died when he was a young man. In the course of time, however, he became a student at Wittenberg where Philip Melanchthon impressed him. Although he was wrapped up in astrology, Melanchthon was able to steer him toward theology. As a result, his keen mind became equipped to defend the Reformation teachings of Luther. “If the second Martin had not come, the first Martin would not have stood.” This saying from the 17th Century refers to Martin Chemnitz and Martin Luther. It means that the writings of Martin Chemnitz rescued Lutheran theology which was being undermined by the teachings of Calvinists and Catholics alike.
One of his best-known books was Loci Theologici, a commentary on Melanchthon’s theology. In it, Martin staunchly defended the doctrine of justification by faith alone. In other writings, he defended Luther’s teaching on the Lord’s Supper and the church’s ancient teaching that Jesus is both God and man. Another important work by Martin Chemnitz was his Examination of the Council of Trent. In four volumes, Martin Chemnitz made a strong Protestant reply to the Roman claims. But for Lutherans, his most important contribution was his part in drafting the Formula of Concord. This was an orthodox restatement of Lutheran faith acceptable to most Lutheran factions, which had been growing apart over differences of interpretation.
Martin died in 1586. In his later years, he turned down several offers of high positions, content to remain a pastor and educator. He is commemorated as a pastor and confessor in the Lutheran Service Book of the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod on November 9.
A Little Humor
One Sunday morning, the pastor noticed little Alex staring up at the large plaque that hung in the foyer of the church. The plaque was covered with names, and small American flags were mounted on either side of it. The seven-year-old had been staring at the plaque for some time, so the pastor walked up, stood beside him and said quietly, “Good morning, Alex.” “Good morning, Pastor,” replied the young man, still focused on the plaque. “Pastor McGhee, what is this?” Alex asked. “Well, son, it’s a memorial to all the men and women who have died in the service.” Soberly, they stood together, staring at the large plaque. Little Alex’s voice was barely audible when he finally managed to ask, “Which one, the 9:00 or 10:30 service?”
Thought Provoking Church Sign
“Life with Christ is an endless hope; without Him, life is a hopeless end!’”
