2 Kings 16:15

And king Ahaz commanded Urijah the priest, saying, Upon the great altar burn the morning burnt offering, and the evening meat offering, and the king’s burnt sacrifice, and his meat offering, with the burnt offering of all the people of the land, and their meat offering, and their drink offerings; and sprinkle upon it all the blood of the burnt offering, and all the blood of the sacrifice: and the brasen altar shall be for me to enquire by.

2 Kings 16:15 (KJV)

Context

King Ahaz ruled Judah during a time of great danger. Enemy nations pressed against his borders, and he felt desperate for help. Instead of trusting the Lord, he turned to Assyria and adopted foreign religious practices. His command to Urijah the priest came after he saw an altar in Damascus and ordered a copy of it to replace the bronze altar in the temple.

Meaning

Ahaz gave detailed orders about the daily offerings. The morning burnt offering, the evening grain offering, the king’s own sacrifice, and the offerings of all the people were to be placed on the new great altar. He also commanded that all the blood of the burnt offering and the sacrifice be sprinkled there. Then he said the bronze altar would be for him to enquire by.

This instruction broke the law of Moses. God had commanded that sacrifices be offered only on the bronze altar in the temple. The priests alone were to perform these duties. Ahaz took that authority for himself and changed the place of worship to suit his own plan. His words show a king who wanted control over religion, not a king who obeyed God.

The phrase “to enquire by” suggests Ahaz used the bronze altar for personal guidance, perhaps in a superstitious way. He treated the holy things of God as tools for his own purposes. This was not humble seeking of the Lord but a proud attempt to manage divine affairs.

Biblical connections

The law in Exodus 27:1-8 and Leviticus 1:1-9 shows that the bronze altar was the only place for burnt offerings. Ahaz’s change directly opposed this command. His action also resembled the sins of Jeroboam, who set up new worship places in 1 Kings 12:25-33. Both kings tried to reshape worship for political reasons, and both led the people away from the Lord.

Application

Ahaz’s example warns us about the danger of changing God’s instructions to fit our own desires. We may be tempted to make worship more convenient or more attractive to the culture around us. But true worship is not defined by our preferences. It is defined by God’s Word. When we alter what God has commanded, we lose the blessing of obedience.

This passage also reminds us to examine our motives. Ahaz used the altar for personal inquiry, not for humble submission. We must ask ourselves whether we seek God for his glory or for our own benefit. Worship that centers on our needs rather than on God’s holiness becomes self-serving.

Reflection

Consider your own habits of worship. Do you follow God’s ways even when they are costly? Or do you quietly adjust them to fit your comfort? Ahaz’s story calls us to return to the Lord with humble hearts, letting him define how we approach him. The God who gave clear instructions for worship also gives grace to those who obey him in faith.