Isaiah 7:12
12 But Ahaz ['Achaz] said, ['amar] I will not ask, [sha'al]
neither will I tempt [nacah] ['eth] the LORD. [Yahovah] KJV-Interlinear
12 But
Ahaz said, "I will not ask, nor will I test the Lord!" NASB
And now Ahaz has been
given the opportunity of a life time. He
was asked to request a sign from God. He
could have asked anything or for anything, and used that as his sign. But noble Ahaz, now being a bit too noble,
begins to pretend piousness.
Isaiah has been there
giving him the sign of the blessed nation in the face of invasion.
Ahaz receives it with
skepticism.
Isaiah has been
communicating words that the Lord had spoken.
Yet Ahaz has received
them with skepticism.
How often do you in your
life receive doctrine with skepticism or indifference?
How often in your life do
you question Gods purpose and design for your life?
How often in your life do
you substitute your own opinions and beliefs in place of Gods scriptures?
How often in your life do
you look at Gods counsel as inconvenient or not applicable to you?
It is Ahaz who has
already attempted to ally himself with the king of Assyria. He has been taking the gold and silver items
from the temple to pay for that help, 2 Kg. 16.
Ahaz, among others, has
been a principle cause for the downfall of the nation in his rejection of
God. And although you cannot charge an
entire nation for the acts and attitude of one man, this leader, represents the
collective attitude of the people of the nation. That principle was true back then and is very
true even in our current day.
Individuals rise of fall
on their thoughts and decisions and their ultimate beliefs, and when a large
enough group goes in one direction or another, then their spiritual status can
be measured by the leadership they choose, or that represents them.
Ahaz now gets self-righteous. He has been tempting and using the resources
of his title, and now even in the face of his own skepticism, he makes an
attempt to be righteous, which is really a form of mocking and disrespect.
You cannot live life both
ways. You cannot go your own way doing whatever it is that you do and then face
the consequences of your actions, and then reject good counsel, and then
pretend reform in order to get yourself back in the good graces of those around
you.
You cannot replace
responsibility with excuses or justifications.
Bible doctrine in your
soul develops your overall character for the better. Lack of Bible doctrine in the soul only
promotes character flaws, which are all sponsored by the sin nature within you. Doctrine overrides that sin nature influence,
but you still have the make the right choices and lose the excuses and the
pretense.
Ahaz had the opportunity
of a lifetime. He could have had anything and with Gods blessing, but he lacked
spiritual orientation and resources and thus made the wrong choice and the
wrong approach to God.
When you choose for
doctrine and the right choices, then opportunities open up for you.
When you make the wrong
choices and choose against doctrine and Gods will for your life, in all of its
aspects, then you close the doors of opportunity and open up the doors of
misery.
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