The 2 Kings Chapter 16 BIBLE study, is the first study in this series, that we not only need to examine 2 Kings Chapter 16 and 2 Chronicles Chapter 28, but we will also need to examine one of the chapters of a major prophet (Isaiah 7:1-25) to get a better understanding of the events taking place in this Chapter 16. And how those events speak to every one of us in some way. Forewarning, this is not easy reading, so you will need to carefully consider what you are reading, pray constantly, and meditate earnestly. But it will be so worth, spending one-on-one time with our Beloved LORD GOD as HE demonstrates through Scriptures how destructive it is to seek anything or anyone for help, instead of seeking HIM.

In this study of king Ahaz our Beloved LORD GOD has provided several truths that each one of us should take to heart, or take seriously by carefully weighing what is being said:

1. Our sins do not affect us alone:
   1. The sins of the fathers are visited upon the children (Exd 20:5). It is important to understand that the children are not responsible for the sins of their fathers (Eze 18:1-23), but the cumulative effect of generational sin, will affect the children unwilling to turn from sin (Mat 23:29-36). King Ahaz’s father and grandfather, “did right in the sight of The LORD, according to all that their fathers had done.” But they did not tear down the high places where the people of Judah, sacrificed and burned incense to false gods (2 Kin 15:3-4, 2 Kin 15:34-35). King Ahaz did not do what was right in the sight of The LORD; he personally offered sacrifices and burned incense at the high places (2 Kin 16:4). Sadly, king Ahaz’s father and grandfather were builders of seaports, cities, fortified towers, wells, walls, and gates. King Ahaz was a builder of high places (2 Chr 28:25). What sins remain in your life that will be visited upon your children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, great-great-grandchildren? Have you inherited anger, dishonesty, unforgiveness, fault-finding, selfishness, cruelty, rebellion, materialism, complacency, hypocrisy… that will be visited on the next four generations after you, because you refuse to turn to The LORD?
   2. As demonstrated by king Ahaz (2 Chr 28:19, 2 Chr 28:5-18), and king David (2 Sam 24:1-25, 1 Chr 21:1-30), the sins of a king bring guilt on the people they reign over. King Ahaz’s refusal to serve our Beloved LORD GOD, brought a lack of restraint in the nation of Judah, causing them all to suffer judgment for idol worship (2 Chr 28:19). Did not Aaron commit this very sin with the children of Israel, in the wilderness (Exd 32:1-8)? What has your behavior taught those who follow your example? Do you trust in self rather than GOD? Do you make things happen by self-effort rather than GOD’s provision? Do you easily give up rather than patiently wait on GOD?     
   3. The sins of the priests (spiritual leaders) bring guilt on the people they serve (Lev 4:3). Urijah the high priest, blindly followed the commands of king Ahaz (2 Kin 16:10-16), instead of resisting, as the high priest Azariah and eighty priests resisted his grandfather king Uzziah (2 Chr 26:16-20). A spiritual leader can bring guilt on the people, because these leaders are recognized by the people as those who stand before GOD. And when they are not standing before GOD, listening to HIS council (Jer 23:21-22), they lead GOD’s people astray (Mat 15:12-14). Are you leading GOD’s people astray by your words or your behavior? Are you tickling ears rather than speaking truth?
2. When one sins against GOD (Psa 51:4, 2 Chr 28:2), they injure themselves (Pro 8:36, Job 35:6-8, Jer 7:16-19). Sadly, there are many who turn from GOD in times of loss, tribulation, or disappointment. Some turn out of fear (Luk 22:31-34, Luk 22:54-62), others turn out of grief (Job 2:9-10) and even others turn out of anger (2 Sam 6:1-15). I pray each one of us, would always cling to our GOD (Deu 10:20, Deu 11:22), not letting anything, even death, separate us from loving and trusting HIM (Rom 8:35-39, Rev 14:12).
3. You cannot stand before your enemies, if GOD is not with you (Lev 26:17, Lev 26:36-37, Num 14:30-45, Jos 7:11-13). King Ahaz chose not to serve GOD nor seek HIS help, and ended up being surrounded by, and suffering loss from four different enemies ― Aram (2 Kin 16:6, 2 Chr 28:5), Israel (2 Chr 28:6-8), Edom (2 Chr 28:17), and the Philistines (2 Chr 28:18). What constantly attacks you because you do not seek, trust, or obey our Precious LORD JESUS? Is it fear, depression, anxiety, loneliness, helplessness…
4. Cursed (harmed, injured, or troubled), is the man who trusts in mankind, and makes flesh his strength (Jer 17:5, 2 Kin 16:7-9, 2 Chr 28:20-21). King Ahaz turned to a man (king Tiglath-pileser of Assyria) to help him against two enemies who wanted to dethrone him (kings of Aram and Israel), instead of turning to GOD. Trusting man to help instead of GOD, is futile, just as it was for king Ahaz, when he turned to the king of Assyria (2 Chr 28:20-21). You are flesh, and if you trust in yourself instead of trusting in GOD, you are cursed (Jer 17:5), and will suffer for it (Pro 3:5-8, Jer 42:1-22).
5. Our Beloved LORD GOD is The Self-Existent ONE (Exd 3:13-15, Jhn 8:56-58), the Alpha and Omega (Rev 1:8), the First and the Last (Isa 41:4, Rev 22:13), the Beginning and the End (Rev 21:6). Which means, man’s behavior does not affect WHO HE is. HE remains a holy, just, gracious, righteous, compassionate, and forgiving GOD (Psa 116:5, 2 Tim 2:13, Isa 7:1-9). HE is faithful, even when we are faithless, because HE cannot deny HIMSELF (2 Tim 2:13). And for this reason, even in HIS wrath, there is still mercy (Hab 3:2). Though King Ahaz was extremely wicked, serving multiple false gods, and even tried to eradicate worship of the true GOD (2 Chr 28:22-25). But at the time he and all of the people of Judah became absolutely terrified, when hearing two of their enemies had united against them; our Beloved LORD GOD had compassion on them and sent HIS prophet Isaiah with words of comfort, peace and assurance (Isa 7:1-9). We have been called to be like our Beloved ABBA FATHER (Lev 20:26, 1 Pet 1:15-16), and that is why we must obey, not returning evil for evil (1 Pet 3:8-9). We must love when hated, bless when cursed, pray when mistreated, and be kind to evil and ungrateful men (Mat 5:43-48, Luk 6:27-36).

King Ahaz looked for help from everywhere, except from our Beloved LORD GOD. He looked for help from Molech by sacrificing his son to it (2 Kin 16:3, 2 Chr 28:3, Lev 18:21); from Asherah by sacrificing and burning incense on the high places and under every green tree (2 kin 16:4, 2 Chr 28:4); from Baal by making molten images of it (2 Chr 28:2); from man by seeking help from the king of Assyria (2 Kin 16:7-8, 2 Chr 28:20-21); from the false gods of Damascus by copying an altar in Damascus, and offering sacrifices on it (2 Kin 16:10-18, 2 Chr 28:22-23). King Ahaz refused to seek help from The ONE WHO could truly provided help, instead he insisted on looking for help in all the aforementioned wrong places.

Why would one seek help from anyone or anything besides GOD? For at least six reasons, they do not:

1. believe that HE is GOD (Heb 11:6)
2. know GOD (Jer 9:3, Jhn 10:3-5, 1 Cor 15:34), nor HIS WAYS (Jer 5:4-5)
3. trust GOD (Jam 1:6-8)
4. know GOD is where help comes from (Psa 33:20, Psa 121:2, Psa 124:8)
5. understand our victory comes from GOD alone (Lev 26:7-8, Deu 32:30, Pro 21:31, Zep 3:17, 1 Cor 15:57)
6. know all good things comes from GOD (Psa 34:10, Psa 84:11, Jam 1:17)

For they hated knowledge, and chose not to fear The LORD
They rejected MY advice, and paid no attention, when I corrected them
Therefore, they must eat the bitter fruit of living their own way
Choking on their own schemes
For simpletons turn away from ME—to death
Fools are destroyed by their own complacency
But all who listen to ME, will live in peace, untroubled by fear of harm
Proverbs 1:29-33 (New Living Translation)