Thursday, September 9: 2Kings 16- Whom do you serve?

One of the players in today’s chapter is Uriah the priest. For many years and the reign of two kings, Judah has been faithful to the Lord. I mention this because it means that faithfulness was the norm prior to this chapter.

Then along comes Ahab, who sees a beautiful altar in Damascus (a kingdom recently defeated by Assyria, I might add) and Ahab instructs Uriah to build a replica in the temple. Then King Ahaz … saw an altar in Damascus and sent to Uriah the priest a sketch of the altar, with detailed plans for its construction. So Uriah the priest built an altar in accordance with all the plans that King Ahaz had sent from Damascus and finished it before King Ahaz returned. … The bronze altar that stood before the LORD he brought from the front of the temple--from between the new altar and the temple of the LORD--and put it on the north side of the new altar. King Ahaz then gave these orders to Uriah the priest: "On the large new altar, offer the morning burnt offering and the evening grain offering, the king's burnt offering and his grain offering, and the burnt offering of all the people of the land, and their grain offering and their drink offering. Sprinkle on the altar all the blood of the burnt offerings and sacrifices. But I will use the bronze altar for seeking guidance." And Uriah the priest did just as King Ahaz had ordered (10-16).

Altars were not simply architectural features, which could be changed out when new designs spring on the market. Altars represented the god to which their sacrifices were offered. Building this new altar was more a statement about worshipping a different god than changing the style of chairs in a sanctuary because the old ones were worn out.

Ahab instructed Uriah to commit idolatry and Uriah complied! The priest caved because it was expedient to do so. Uriah, anointed and called by God, turned his back on the Lord…

1Peter 2:10 reminds us that we are a “royal priesthood.” The Lord’s words flash immediately in my mind, “Do I (we) choose the expedient road rather than the way of the Lord? Will I (we) turn from the Lord when instructed by someone in authority or it is financially beneficial?”

Uriah did… think about it.

Lord, give me the faith to stand with You in every situation, no matter the pressure –overt or subtle- placed upon me. I ask this in the name of the One who endured the cross on my behalf… In Jesus’ name, Amen.