Start each day by reading the passages listed above. Then use the summary and reflection provided here to guide discussion around the daily reading.
Ahaz was an evil and unfaithful king who worshiped other gods. He led the entire nation of Judah into the hands of their enemies. Despite his failures, he received a prophecy through Isaiah that the deliverer—Immanuel—would come from Ahaz’s own family line.
Where do you see God working through Ahaz’s story?
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42 thoughts on "Ahaz, the King Promised a Sign"
God uses all for His good & glory. Amen.
I see God never letting man’s failures keep him from his promises and plan. Praise be to God he does not depend on us but we on Him!
Thank you!
Ahaz was one of Judah’s worst kings for idolatry and straying far from God. But God will keep His promise, no matter the sins of man. The Deliverer would come through that Davidic line, the eternal king, Jesus. The King of kings, whose reign will never end, who is Faithful and True.
Ahaz was the king of Judah from 735 to 715 BC. But he wasn’t a very good king. He basically aligned himself with the nation of Assyria, and he adopted the worship of foreign idols, and he even lost control of some of Judah’s territories.
King Ahaz heard that Syria and Israel had joined together to make war against Judah. e. So his heart and the heart of his people were moved as the trees of the woods are moved with the wind: King Ahaz and his people react with fear instead of with trust in God. They are shaken and unstable in their hearts.
During this difficult time, King Ahaz’ spiritual life continued to decline. He turned completely from God and began to sacrifice “to the gods of Damascus which had defeated him, saying ‘Because the gods of the kings of Syria help them, I will sacrifice to them that they may help me’” (2 Chron. 28:23).
*Matthew 1:7-9
Chelsea Wilson – according to Matthew 1:-9
Solomon fathered Rehoboam,
Rehoboam fathered Abijah,
Abijah fathered Asa,
Asa fathered Jehoshaphat,
Jehoshaphat fathered Joram,
Joram fathered Uzziah,
Uzziah fathered Jotham,
Jotham fathered Ahaz,
Ahaz fathered Hezekiah
I need help! I had been following the bloodline to Jesus up until now. What’s the connection between King Rehoboam and King Ahaz? God is so good to give King Ahaz this prophecy even though he turned from God completely. I like how The Lord gave him a wake up call in Isaiah 7:13! Sometimes we all need a wake up call from our trace like mundane going through the motions thinking. God will surely wake us from our ‘sleep’ and say what are you doing? Why? Here’s the truth! Let us listen to God so we know when we are needing to be ‘waken from sleep’.
Thank you! I was wondering if my phone wasn’t updating or there was an issue in the app! I appreciate you posting the full scripture!
I see God working through Ahaz’s story and family line in the prophecy about our Lord and Savior Jesus. It was a shining light in the darkness of Ahaz’s evil actions. Even with all of the evil being done by the Kings that reigned
after David, God still made sure to reassure His people of His presence and that He would provide the Savior for our salvation/redemption.
King Ahaz trusted in the king of Assyria’s power more than he did in the saving power of the Lord. He spoiled the Lord’s House for precious things to use as present/bribery to king of Assyria. And king Assyria did not even help him (2 Chronicles 28:21), what a joke! All that treasures were given away for nothing. Is it the fear of men, or the fear of death that causes him to do such a thing? Has he idolized the military power of king of Assyria that he trusted in their chariots and horses, instead in the invisible God? It is such a snare. Even us, in our fear and crisis, we can possibly act like pagans, forgetting that God just parted the red sea, plagued our enemies/ Egyptians with the 10 mighty horrified plagues. I am surprised that God encouraged us to ask Him for a sign (Isaiah 7:11). And though Ahaz’s passive aggressive answer seems pious ( I am not gonna provoke you Lord, hence I won’t say anything), but it is such a foolish response. Amen @MARIA BAER, Ahaz already provoked God with his wicked lifestyle, and when in danger, he ran first to his idol (king of Assyria whom he worshipped and thought this idol could save him, giving sacrifices of lavish gold and silver taken from God’s house ). Psalm 16:4 says, “those who run after idols will have many sorrows/much pain”. May this story reveal to us whom we should choose this day to run to, in times of need, of utter despair and distress, in times of lack and fear, whom truly deserves our gold and silver. Some trust in chariots and horses (tanks, fighter jets, submarines, military numbers, strong economy, etc.), BUT we trust in the name of the LORD our God! (Psalm 20:7).
Thank you ladies for the correction in Isaiah. I hope SRT will fix the typo. I went back to re-read it thanks to you :)
Be blessed dear sisters.
Ahaz was still blessed at least his line was still blessed because the Savior was coming from his line, even though his sin was great Ahaz and his family line was blessed. Also Isaiah 7;10-20 was cut off for me too.
I initially asked the same, then I was reminded that God will use all people for his glory, whether they serve Him to or not. Ahaz didn’t want to serve God. That’s fine! The promise of Jesus would still come to pass! Many things in the Bible have parallels – this is one of those things from my viewpoint. I hope this gave you perspective!
Why would someone evil be promised a sign let alone anything?
Amen!
I feel that despite it being so hard to read through these terrible kings, it’s also a blessing & reassurance. God can use me despite me! And if I do mess up, if I humble myself, ask forgiveness and turn from my sins, as 1 John 1.9, He is faithful to forgive me! We are never too far gone to be restored if we ask!
I am thankful for all of the boundaries that God has set. No matter how much evil beats on these boundaries, like the waves of the sea upon the shore, they will not be crossed. God is their keeper. Where is my heart pridefully pushing on these doors instead of resting and abiding in God Himself, the Sabbath rest, the One and only God, the Creator and Savior?
Jeremiah 17:5 Thus says the LORD: “ Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes his flesh his strength, whose heart turns away from the LORD”…Jer. 17:9-10”The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? I the Lord search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.”
Even though Ahaz was unfaithful, God remained faithful and true to His promises.
GM! As you all have said, we must see ourselves how we tend to choose our own ways over the Lords! His path is narrow, but he knows what and when we need it! Praying over all my dear She’s! You all are each priceless in the Lord’s eye and to SRT!
We had a great pain group meeting yesterday, God is working in each of us to look to him, that he is the great Healer! By His Stripes we are healed. He could miraculously heal everyone, but then the lessons would not be learned. Just like the Kings, when we get what we want, we soon turn away forgetting. Things may not work out in this life how I want them, but if I remember that God has the ultimate plan for the world, and this is just a small part of it, and I will have no more hurt, no more pain, running free and easy….then I can hold on to that promise. I hope I can be a small seedling in the girls hearts today at jail, that God sees them, but he needs them to humble themselves (like all of us!) and give it ALL to him. I need to give it ALL to him, the Savior of the World. Follow in all his ways, trust in him, faith above everything.
God kept His promise to David even though his descendants were not faith to God. God is faithful to His promises even when we do not deserve them. He disciplines but is always desiring to redeem us.
Even with the consequences of his bad choices literally piling up (loss of thousands) around him, What refuses to submit to the One True God. We see people in our day like that and struggle with how to minister to them and their hardened heart.
ARINA , I love the verse in ISAIAH! Joshua sau, Choose you this day who you will serve. As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.
This passage reminds me of Proverbs 3:5. Ahaz chose to lead in his own understanding. May we chose to trust in the Lord. He is the one who will make our path straight and clear.
As Kristine Loughman said reading about Ahaz was exhausting and a little depressing. My first thought was, “Here we go again with an evil king not doing what God wanted.” But, there are so many lessons for me in his story. I was especially convicted by the truth that sometimes it’s not easy to recognize idolatry in my own life. I started making a list of the things that God brought to my mind – caring too much about the opinion of others, being afraid of missing out so I get involved with things without seeking God’s direction, not seeking His council first…I’m afraid that the list might go on and on!
I am so thankful that God has sent His Spirit to provide clarity and discernment. My prayer for today is that I will be faithful and seek Him above all else.
Have a wonderful Wednesday, sweet sisters.
It’s so easy to sit back and shake my head at the unfaithfulness of these kings. But then, I think about my own life and all of the times that I forget to turn to the Lord with small and big decisions. Lord, align my heart with Yours.
Amen
Thank you, ARINA, for the heads up on Isaiah correction to 7:10-25. Smart thinking to check HRT!
What a grip the evil one had on the heart & mind of Ahaz. And we see once again that God’s plan will continue to succeed, through the family line of David, no matter the dead end to the family line that the evil one devised.
Praying for
THERESA – continued success of your husband’s trip and safe travels on his return
SHARON JERSEY GIRL – for Arian’s housing solution
GRAMSIESUE- Airbnb resolution, provision for med costs
HEIDI – miss you and pray things are going well
ALEIDA POLANCO – your son, Victor
TINA, CHURCHMOUSE, DOROTHY, SKY HILTON, TRACI GENDRON, ANGIE x 2, JENNIFER LOVES JESUS, SARAH D, JENNIFER ANAPOL and others – you are missed
Reading the story of Ahaz was exhausting. He made bad choice after bad choice. Except…I can see how he would have justified things (well since that king helped me I’m going to honor THAT god as well) and choice after choice just keeps leading Ahaz deeper down the wrong path. I wonder how many of my small choices are adding up to a large distance from God.
Struggling with the choices some of my kids are making right now… there’s comfort in knowing that despite our sins and struggles, God is merciful and allows great things to occur according to His will despite our actions.
BTW, it looks like the final scripture was cut off – it should be Isaiah 7:10-20.
The faithfulness of his ancestors allowed Ahaz to be part of the lineage of Jesus. He definitely did not earn his place by his good works and faithfulness. I pray that I am able to be faithful in a way that impacts generations after me.
Thank you for your prayers while my husband has been in Zimbabwe. He comes home Friday so we are almost there!
So much Mercy and Grace…but he still didn’t turn back
Deuteronomy 11-13 is also a great passage to read when reading about Ahvaz. He committed every sin listed in these passages that Moses warned the people about!
Thank you, Ariana :)
Ahaz’s story shows how God continues to give him opportunities to turn to Him— the true God— but Ahaz refuses. He truly wants to be evil. And even when God invites him to ask for a sign as reassurance that he must put his trust in God, Ahaz’s answer is “I will not ask, and I will not put the Lord to the test.” Which if you think about it, is a disingenuous statement because he has already been testing the Lord with his wicked ways. But as a I read this, I also felt convicted because, while I am not evil like Ahaz, how many times do I turn to other things and behaviors to affect certain situations? How many times do I let my need to control certain situations, make me look for my own solutions without seeking the council of the Lord? So my prayer today is that, in everything I do, I always remember to seek God’s council, and pray that the Holy Spirit— our Helper and Counselor— provides clarity and discernment in all I do and say. Have a wonderful day, She’s.
I see God working through yet another king that fell short. It is so easy for me to read the story of Ahaz and see how he is wrong. He sacrificed his son and built altars to other gods. However I know I am not so good at recognizing idolatry in my own life. I might not be building altars in my backyard but I am putting other things ahead of God , worldly things like other people’s opinions of me, control of my life.
What I see is God being faithful to the covenant with David despite the unfaithfulness of Ahaz and the people of Judah.
Amen
Gods plan is still fulfilled even through people who are unfaithful to Him. I take comfort in that for my own life and family❤️❤️
(Thanks Arina, re the Isaiah passage :) )
Ahaz sought the wrong refuge. May we not also fall into that trap. May we run to God and let Him be our refuge, our strength and our helper, in good times and in hard times.
The last Scripture reading should be Isaiah 7:10-25 according to the HRT site.
This story could have gone so different if Ahaz had just put his trust in the Lord. Instead, he did everything he could to get away from God. Isaiah 7:9 says, ” If you do not stand firm in your faith, then you will not stand at all.” How true this is.