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The Pilgrim Path (9-4-2020)

The Pilgrim Path---Second Chronicles 28: 1—6

Ahaz was twenty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. And he did not do what was right in the eyes of the LORD, as his father David had done, but walked in the ways of the kings of Israel. He even made metal images for the Baals, and he made offerings in the Valley of the Son of Hinnom and burned his sons as an offering, according to the abominations of the nations whom the LORD drove out before the people of Israel. And he sacrificed and made offerings on the high places and on the hills and under every green tree. Therefore the LORD his God gave him into the hand of the king of Syria, who defeated him and took captive a great number of his people and brought them to Damascus. He was also given into the hand of the king of Israel, who struck him with great force.

AHAZ: Followed the abominations of the nations…

---Ahaz had a godly father (Jotham). The Way of the LORD had no appeal to him. Even though Jotham ordered his ways before the LORD his God---Ahaz apparently had no interest whatsoever…think of that…heartbreaking…

---Ahaz was quite taken with the sex-gods of the pagan culture of Israel. The Baals were the “thing” for him. The “buzz” of the Baals---and he was “all in” for whatever may be asked…

---Ahaz sacrificed his sons in the Valley of the Son of Hinnom. Ahaz gave his children---God’s gift of sons---as offerings to pagan deities. What an abomination. This is abhorrent to us---yet as a culture we have put over 55 million children to death by means of abortion (that is a conservative number).

---Ahaz made a mockery of his father’s religion---but his father was dead and gone. Ahaz chose the way of the world over the World to come. Many people make this poor decision…and seem to think nothing of it...

---Ahaz found that the LORD was unimpressed with his moral and spiritual rebellion. The LORD gave Ahaz into the hand of his enemies…

You do not rebel against the Holy God of the ages without ultimately paying a price for your rebellion. Either our sin rests upon our head---or upon the head of Jesus Christ the Redeemer. Sadly, so many die---with their sins upon their own head. The penalty remains there forever and forever…Oh dear souls---Look to Jesus and Live!

A PRAYER FOR CHILDREN---from Matthew Henry

We do not ask for the great things of this world for our children. But if it pleases you, give them good health and preserve them from severely harmful accidents. Feed them with food that is sufficient for them. Give them the special blessing of a life useful to your kingdom in this world.

Most importantly, pour out your Spirit on them. Let this greatest of blessings rest on our offspring so they may serve you in their generation. Let them find their chief pleasure in that best part of life which is living in closest fellowship with you. Let this blessing never be taken away from them.

Give us wisdom, meekness, tenderness, and grace to bring them up in your fear and in the nurture and admonition of the LORD. Help us to raise them up as obedient and respectful children. Teach us how to teach then the things of God suited to their level of understanding. Give us wisdom to know how to reprove, admonish, encourage, and correct them in a right manner. Enable us to always set before them good examples of a life that is virtuous and deserving of praise from you. Give us success in promoting a lifestyle for them that pleases you. Help us train them up in the right way in which they should go, so that if they live to be old they will never depart from it.

Keep them from the snare of evil company. Protect them from all the temptations to which they will be exposed. Enable them to recognize at an early age how important it is for their own good as well as their obligation to you to live a God-pleasing life.

Let Christ be formed in the souls of our children while they are still young. Let seeds of grace be sown in their hearts at a tender age. Let us have the satisfaction of seeing them walking in the truth and setting their faces toward heaven. Give them the grace to hear counsel and receive instruction that they may be filled with the wisdom that is from above.

Prosper their education. Be the teacher of our children so their lives may be characterized by your peace. Give them the grace to know you as the only true God and Jesus Christ as the only Savior you have sent into this world. Let them begin to enjoy the gift of eternal life while they are still living on this earth.

Help our children get wisdom and understanding early in life. Let them never forget the lessons they learn in their youth. Give them the grace to continue living in light of the things they have been taught. Let them never forget what they have learned about the truth as it is in Jesus.

It is our heart’s desire and prayer that our children may be praising you on earth after we have gone to praise you in heaven. O LORD. give us that highest privilege of being together forever with our children, serving you in heaven above as we have done during this life on earth…

In all these prayers for our children we seek your glory. Father let your name be sanctified in our family. Let your kingdom come in our family. Let your will be done by us and our children as it is done by the angels in heaven. We ask these things for the sake of Jesus Christ, our blessed Savior and Redeemer whose seed shall endure forever, and whose throne shall last as long as heaven. Now to the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, that great and sacred name into which we and our children were baptized, be honor and glory, dominion, and praise, now and forever. Amen.

The LORD guide and keep Us All through the Power of Jesus, Pastor Jason