Royalty and Ruin

Great Peril for the Chosen Nation

In the kingdom of Judah the outlook was dark. The forces for evil were multiplying. The prophet Micah had to exclaim, “The faithful man has perished from the earth, and there is no one upright among men.” “The best of them is like a brier; the most upright is sharper than a thorn hedge.” Micah 7:2, 4. RR 119.1

In every age, because of His infinite love, God has borne long with the rebellious and urged them to return to Him. This is how it was during the reign of Ahaz. God sent invitation after invitation to erring Israel. And as the prophets stood before the people, earnestly pleading for repentance and reformation, their words bore fruit. RR 119.2

Through Micah came the wonderful appeal, “O My people, what have I done to you? And how have I wearied you? Testify against Me. For I brought you up from the land of Egypt, I redeemed you from the house of bondage.” Micah 6:3, 4. RR 119.3

Throughout probationary time God’s Spirit is urging men and women to accept the gift of life. “Turn, turn from your evil ways! For why should you die?” Ezekiel 33:11. Satan leads them into sin and then leaves them there, helpless and hopeless, fearing to seek pardon. But God invites the sinner to “take hold of My strength, that he may make peace with Me.” Isaiah 27:5. In Christ every provision has been made, every encouragement offered. RR 119.4

In Judah and Israel many were inquiring: “Shall I come before the Lord ... with burnt offerings? ... Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, ten thousands of rivers of oil?” The answer is plain: “He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?” Micah 6:6-8. RR 119.5

From age to age these counsels were repeated to those who were falling into a religion of ceremonies and were forgetting to show mercy. When a lawyer approached Christ with the question, “Which is the great commandment in the law?” He said, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.” This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Matthew 22:36-39. RR 119.6

We should receive these plain statements as the voice of God. We should lose no opportunity to perform deeds of mercy, of tender regard and Christian courtesy for the burdened and oppressed. If we can do no more, we may speak words of courage and hope to those who do not know God. Rich are the promises to those who bring joy and blessing into the lives of others: “If you extend your soul to the hungry and satisfy the afflicted soul, then your light shall dawn in the darkness, and your darkness be as the noonday. The Lord will guide you continually, and satisfy your soul in drought, and strengthen your bones; you shall be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail.” Isaiah 58:10, 11. RR 119.7

Ahaz’s pursuit of idols despite the prophet’s earnest appeals could have only one result: “The wrath of the Lord fell upon Judah and Jerusalem, and He has given them up to trouble, to desolation, and to jeering.” 2 Chronicles 29:8. The kingdom suffered a rapid decline, and invading armies soon endangered its very existence. “Rezin king of Syria and Pekah the son of Remaliah, king of Israel, came up to Jerusalem to make war.” 2 Kings 16:5. RR 120.1

If Ahaz and the people of his realm had been true servants of the Most High, they would have had no fear of an alliance as unnatural as this one that had been formed against them. But stricken with a nameless dread of an offended God’s judgments, the heart of the king “and the heart of his people were moved as the trees of the woods are moved with the wind.” Isaiah 7:2. In this crisis the word of the Lord came to Isaiah. He was to tell the trembling king, “Do not fear or be fainthearted. ... Because Syria, Ephraim, and the son of Remaliah have plotted evil against you, ... thus says the Lord God: ‘It shall not stand, nor shall it come to pass.’” Verses 4-7. RR 120.2

It would have been well for Judah for Ahaz to receive this message as from heaven. But choosing to lean on human strength, he sought help from the heathen. In desperation he sent word to Tiglath-pileser, king of Assyria: “I am your servant and your son. Come up and save me from the hand of the king of Syria and from the hand of the king of Israel, who rise up against me.” 2 Kings 16:7. With the request he sent a rich present from the king’s treasure and the temple storehouse. RR 120.3

The help came and King Ahaz had temporary relief, but at what a cost to Judah! The large gift awakened Assyria’s greed, and soon that nation threatened to overflow Judah and take all her wealth. Ahaz and his unhappy subjects were now haunted by the fear of falling completely into the hands of the cruel Assyrians. “The Lord brought Judah low” (2 Chronicles 28:19) because of continued transgression. RR 120.4

In this time of affliction, instead of repenting, Ahaz “became increasingly unfaithful to the Lord. ... For he sacrificed to the gods of Damascus.” “Because the gods of the kings of Syria help them,” he said, “I will sacrifice to them that they may help me.” 2 Chronicles 28:22, 23. RR 120.5

As the apostate king neared the end of his reign, he ordered the doors of the temple to be closed. No longer were offerings made for the sins of the people. Deserting the house of God and locking its doors, the people of the godless city boldly worshiped heathen deities on the street corners throughout Jerusalem. Heathenism seemed to have triumphed. RR 120.6

But some people in Judah maintained their allegiance to Jehovah. Isaiah and Micah looked to these in hope as they surveyed the ruin brought about during the last years of Ahaz. Their sanctuary was closed, but the faithful ones were assured, “God is with us.” “The Lord of hosts, Him you shall hallow; let Him be your fear. ... He will be as a sanctuary.” Isaiah 8:10, 13, 14. RR 120.7