Which way are you moving?

Two men – Different Directions

Ahaz: Moving away from God

2 Chronicles 28

Moving experiences

MG Texas to CA – CA to Idaho – Back to Texas

Paid Move van to Detroit to Dallas and back

Move to Kansas

Decided I wanted to go  - packed and went

Make a decision – too many time begin to move without reaching a decision.

Reality always moving – which way

A man who began to move – probably did not intend to go the  destination at which he arrived – but failed to stop

Which way are you moving?

I.       If unchecked, movement from God typically increases

(NKJV) 2 Chronicles 28 1 Ahaz was twenty years old when he became king, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem;

A.     From good beginnings

(NKJV) 2 Chronicles 27 1 Jotham was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. …. 2 And he did what was right in the sight of the Lord, according to all that his father Uzziah had done … 9 So Jotham rested with his fathers, and they buried him in the City of David. Then Ahaz his son reigned in his place.

B.     Chose a path away from God

(NKJV) 2 Chronicles 28 1 … and he did not do what was right in the sight of the Lord, as his father David had done.

C.     Aligned his life with the world

(NKJV) 2 Chronicles 28 2 For he walked in the ways of the kings of Israel,

D.    Began to replace God

(NKJV) 2 Chronicles 28 2 … and made molded images for the Baals.

E.     Embraced horrible acts

(NKJV) 2 Chronicles 28 3 He burned incense in the Valley of the Son of Hinnom, and burned his children in the fire, according to the abominations of the nations whom the Lord had cast out before the children of Israel.

F.     Totally left God

(NKJV) 2 Chronicles 28 4 And he sacrificed and burned incense on the high places, on the hills, and under every green tree.

II.    God intervenes to hinder movement from Him

A.  Movement from God brings serious consequences

1.    Trouble from every side

a)      Northeast

(NKJV) 2 Chronicles 28 5 Therefore the Lord his God delivered him into the hand of the king of Syria. They defeated him,

b)      North

(NKJV) 2 Chronicles 28 5 … Then he was also delivered into the hand of the king of Israel, who defeated him with a great slaughter.

c)      Southeast

(NKJV) 2 Chronicles 28 16 At the same time King Ahaz sent to the kings of Assyria to help him. 17 For again the Edomites had come, attacked Judah, and carried away captives.

d)      Southwest

(NKJV) 2 Chronicles 28 18 The Philistines also had invaded the cities of the lowland and of the South of Judah,

2.    Devastation of others

(NKJV) 2 Chronicles 28 18 The Philistines also had invaded the cities of the lowland and of the South of Judah, and took away capti ves

3.    Worldly friends are no help

20 Also Tiglath-Pileser king of Assyria came to him and distressed him, and did not assist him. 21 For Ahaz took part of the treasures from the house of the Lord, from the house of the king, and from the leaders, and he gave it to the king of Assyria; but he did not help him.

B.     God Himself intervenes

19 For the Lord brought Judah low because of Ahaz king of Israel, for he had encouraged moral decline in Judah and had been continually unfaithful to the Lord.

C.     A wrong response breeds bitterness to God

1.    Moved more rapidly away

(NKJV) 2 Chronicles 28 22 Now in the time of his distress King Ahaz became increasingly unfaithful to the Lord.

2.    Developed bitterness against God

NKJV) 2 Chronicles 28 24 So Ahaz gathered the articles of the house of God, cut in pieces the articles of the house of God, shut up the doors of the house of the Lord, and made for himself altars in every corner of Jerusalem.

D.    Wrong responses make matters worse

1.    Create ruin

(NKJV) 2 Chronicles 28 23 For he sacrificed 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.” But they were the ruin of him and of all Israel.

2.         Provoke God’s anger

(NKJV) 2 Chronicles 28 25 And in every single city of Judah he made high places to burn incense to other gods, and provoked to anger the Lord God of his fathers.

E.     Uunresponsiveness leads to replacement

27 So Ahaz rested with his fathers, and they buried him in the city, in Jerusalem; but they did not bring him into the tombs of the kings of Israel. Then Hezekiah his son reigned in his place.

III. It could have been different – movement to God results in God drawing near

 (NKJV) 2 Kings 18 1 Now it came to pass in the third year of Hoshea the son of Elah, king of Israel, that Hezekiah the son of Ahaz, king of Judah, began to reign. 2 He was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem.

A.     Did what was right

3 And he did what was right in the sight of the Lord, according to all that his father David had done.

B.     Intentionally avoided competing gods

4 He removed the high places and broke the sacred pillars, cut down the wooden image and broke in pieces the bronze serpent that Moses had made; for until those days the children of Israel burned incense to it,

C.     Trusted God

5 He trusted in the Lord God of Israel, so that after him was none like him among all the kings of Judah, nor who were before him.

D.    Persevered in following God

6 For he held fast to the Lord; he did not depart from following Him, but kept His commandments, which the Lord had commanded Moses.

E.     God blessed him

7 The Lord was with him; he prospered wherever he went. And he rebelled against the king of Assyria and did not serve him. 8 He subdued the Philistines, as far as Gaza and its territory, from watchtower to fortified city.