The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Kings — Section 282

worl?lY poli?Y, the action was foolish, Aa ":ell might the lam'h invoke the help of the lion agarnst the wolf, as any lesser power mvoke the help of the King of Assyria against an enemy. The oonqueror, pleased with any pretext for interfering in another nation's affairs, would not refuse his help, but only that the weaker power whioh had solicitrd the help might in the end be despoiled and devoured. Thus Ahaz found it. The King of Assyria was glad enough of the occasion to march against Israel nnd Damascus, but when once the oonquest was effected, Ahaz found that he had derived no benefit, but only exchanged one oppressor for another. 2. Experuiive help. To purchase the aid of Tiglath-pileser, Ahu had (1) to become a vassal of the King of Assyria; and (2) to send him a large present of gold and silver. This he could only obtain by emptying once more the often-ransacked treasuries of the temple and the palace. The accumulations of years of prosperity under Uzziah and Jotham were again dispersed, and the freedom of the country was sold to boot. God's people passed formally under the yoke of a Gentile conqueror. To such straits was the kingdom brought by Ahaz's godless policy. 3. The .Assyrian a broken reed. The King of Assyria marched against Pekab and Rezin, and soon reduced them to his power. Damascus was severely dealt with. Its king was slain, and the people carried captive. Pekah was also chastised; bis territory was ravaged, and considerable parts of the population were removed (eh. xv. 29). The instruments employed in punishing Ahaz were thus them- selves punished. The fact that men are used as instruments in God's providence does not exonerate them from guilt. Ahaz, however, as we learn from the parallel narrative, reaped no benefit, for "Tiglath-pileser King of Assyria came unto him, and distressed him, but strengthened him not" (2 Cbron. xxviii. 20). It was his own ends, not those of his foolish vassal, that the King of Assyria was serving. Ahaz leaned on a bruised reed, and only got his hand pierced. Thus it usually is with those who put their trust in the help of man. They reap from their assiduous sowing but the gall and wormwood of chagrin and disappointment.-J. 0. Vers. 10-20.-Religious innovations. The remaining events of the reign of Ahaz recorded in this chapter shed a strong light on the king's frivolous and arbitrary ohe.rncter. I. THE Dill'.A.BOUS ALTAR. 1. ~haz at Damas=. We are now introduced to riglath-pileser holding court in Damascus, and Ahaz is there as one of the vassals and tributaries of the Assyrian king. He does not seem to feel the humiliation of his position, but is probably pleased to figure as part of so brilliant an assemblage. 'l'hus the sinner, renouncing true freedom in God's service, for a time positively hugs the chains which sin binds upon him.. He connts them no dishonour, but delights to wear them. Yet in the end they shall eat into his very flesh. 2. The new altar. So lightly does his vassalage sit on Ahaz, that his mind is free to lose itself in admiration of the pattern and workmanship of an altar he cha.need to behold in that city. It was, no doubt, an altar to some heathen deity, but that did not matter. He was charmed with its appearance, and nothing would serve him but to have the like of it set up in Jerusalem.. What a measure of this man's soul-frittering away bis interest upon the shape and decorations of an alta.r, while his kingdom is sold into servitude; toying with trifles, while doing obeisance to a conqueror! Yet is the conduct of Ahaz any more strange than that of multitudes whose sole concern is for the vanities of time, while the realities of eternity stand unheeded? When men who are at variance with God, and bondslaves of sin, are found eagerly amusing themselves with worldly trifles, what are they doing but repeating the error of this frivolous monarch? '!'here is the same lack of the sense of proportion in things; the same sacrifice of substance to shadow ; the ,same indifference to supreme iuterests. 3. The pliant priest. Having obtained a JJatkrn of the coveted a:ltar-its fashion and workma □ ship--Ahaz sent the samo to Urijah the priest, to get a Bimilar one made for the temple at Jerusalem. '£his priest was of a different mould from tliat Azariah, who, with four score other priests, resisted Kiug Uzziab ill his presumptuous attempt to usurp sacerdotal functions (2 Chron. xxvi. 17, 18). Urijah was a courtier first, and a priest of the Lord afterwards, and be at once set about executing the orders he had received from the king. Facile priests of Drijah's stamp have not been rare in history. The tendency of high dignitaries in many countries to folhw court Cashio □, and put a king's pleasure in room of every higher law, OS, X\rL 1-20.] 'l'HE SECOND BOOK OF 'l'HE KtNGS. 329