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 inquire by.”
This verse describes a command given by King Ahaz of Judah to Urijah the priest, outlining specific instructions for the offerings and sacrifices to be made at the altar.
To understand the significance of this verse, it’s essential to consider the context in which it appears.
During the reign of Ahaz, the nation of Judah faced various challenges, including military threats from neighboring kingdoms.
Ahaz was a king who deviated from following the ways of the Lord and embraced idolatry, seeking assistance from foreign powers rather than relying on God.
His rule was characterized by disobedience and unfaithfulness.
In this particular verse, Ahaz issues instructions to Urijah the priest regarding the religious rituals and offerings to be performed.
Ahaz specifies that the morning and evening burnt offerings, along with the king’s burnt sacrifice and meal offering, should be offered on the great altar.
Additionally, he commands that the blood of these offerings, as well as the blood of all sacrifices made by the people of the land, should be sprinkled on the altar.
Finally, Ahaz states that the bronze altar is to be reserved for his personal use, specifically for inquiring or seeking guidance.
It is important to note that Ahaz’s command deviates from the prescribed regulations of worship given by God through Moses.
According to the Mosaic Law, only the Levitical priests were to perform the sacrifices and offerings at the designated altar in the temple.
Ahaz’s directive infringed upon the priestly duties and blurred the distinction between the religious and political spheres.
This passage reveals Ahaz’s presumption and disregard for God’s ordained order of worship.
Ahaz wanted to exert control over the religious rituals and manipulate them to suit his own desires and political agenda.
By reserving the bronze altar for himself, Ahaz essentially claimed a position of authority and sought to establish his own means of inquiring from God, rather than seeking God’s guidance through the appointed priests and prophets.
The consequences of Ahaz’s actions were severe.
His reign was marked by instability and defeat, both politically and spiritually.
The subsequent verses in 2 Kings describe Ahaz’s downfall and the distress that befell Judah as a result of his disobedience to God.
This verse serves as a cautionary reminder about the dangers of compromising God’s commands and attempting to manipulate religious practices for personal gain or political motives.
It underscores the importance of remaining faithful to God’s ordained order and seeking His guidance through the established channels, rather than relying on our own human wisdom and understanding.
