Doubling Down

2 Chronicles 27-28

            Ahaz did things that no king of Judah had done since the days of Ahaziah, a good run of about 100 years brought to a screeching halt by a king who worshipped the Baals, burned incense at the high places, and even offered his children as burnt offerings. Having been defeated in battle by the Arameans, he doubled down on his idolatry and worshipped the gods of the Arameans, reasoning, “They helped them; maybe they’ll help me.” 2 Chronicles 28: 22 is telling, “In his time of trouble King Ahaz became even more unfaithful to the Lord.”

            Confronted with his own error and weakness, Ahaz redoubled his efforts to find his own way in the world. That happens, too. Some face life’s troubles and decide that the Lord can’t be relied on at all. The trouble is that their focus is too short; they want immediate results and don’t take into account that the Lord’s timeline stretches into life everlasting. Setback and trouble ought to drive us into the arms of the Lord. They ought to show us all the things that cannot be trusted for our ultimate good and push us to place our trust in the Lord, who alone can be trusted for good that lasts into eternity.