2 Kings 16:1-20
During this reign of Ahaz in Judah (and of Pekah in Israel), Assyria makes its appearance in the story. God is about to use it as "the rod of His anger" (Isaiah 10:5), to disperse Israel and to chastise Judah. Faced with this formidable foe, Ahaz acts undoubtedly as a skilful politician, but without taking the slightest account of the LORD’s mind. Yet the most wonderful of revelations had been made to him, as Isaiah, who prophesied during his reign, informs us (Isaiah 7:14), "Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel". How many in our day have heard the good news of the birth of the Saviour but have not wanted this God who has come to be "with us"!
Ahaz takes the liberty of changing everything in the house of the LORD. He causes a larger altar to be made: men always find that what God has established is too narrow. Then the impious king takes away the sacrifices from the brazen altar: the value of atonement, the efficacy of the cross, are both denied. He removes the bases of the sea and the laver: thereby suppressing self-judgment. Finally he makes alterations to the door and entrance "for the king of Assyria" (v. 18): the type of religion which pleases the world and opens wide all its doors to it.