Ahaz became king of Judah when he was twenty years old and did not do what was right. He cast idols of Baal and burned sacrifices in the Valley of Ben Hinnom on the south side of Jerusalem including sacrificing his sons in the fire. The Arameans defeated him and took many of his people to Damascus. Also, Pekah of Israel, son of Remaliah, killed 120,000 soldiers of Judah in one day. An Ephraimite warrior named Zicri killed the king’s son and 200,000 wives, sons and daughters were taken north into Israel.

A prophet named Obed confronted the army of Israel as they led the people of Judah away as slaves and warned them that they also were guilty before the Lord and should send the people from Judah back. The leaders of Israel agreed and did not want to face the wrath of God so they clothed the naked prisoners with clothes from the plunder, put the weak on donkeys and provided the prisoners with sandals, food, drink and salve before they took them back to Jericho.

Isaiah spoke to Ahaz in chapter seven of the book of Isaiah telling him to stand firm in his faith and not go to Assyria for help against Israel and Aram but Ahaz went to Tiglath-pileser III of Assyria for help around the year 733 BC. Isaiah warned Ahaz that Tiglath–pileser III would be “a razor hired from beyond the River to shave your head and the hair of your legs, and to take off your beards also.” (Isaiah 7:20)

Tiglath-pileser III did come to Jerusalem and Ahaz gave him things from the temple and from the royal palace. Ahaz shut down the temple of the Lord and removed the furnishings. Instead, Ahaz began to worship the gods of Damascus since they had helped the Arameans. But according to the word of Isaiah in chapter 7 of his book, by the time Ahaz died Israel and Aram had been completely overrun by the Assyrians and were no longer a threat to worry about.

“Too many Christian young people are ill prepared to take the lead in proclaiming and defending the Gospel of Jesus Christ throughout society.” - David A. Noebel, Understanding the Times

Reconciliation – Reconciliation means “to cause to conform to a standard” or “to be adjusted to a specified standard.” When a person adjusts the clock in their car to the satellite time shown on their cell phone they have reconciled the clock in the car to the time on the cell phone. If a person does not keep track of the use of their debit card they will not be reconciled with their bank statement at the end of the month. Their checking account will be out of balance. The world is out of balance with God. We are unable to reconcile ourselves with God (Romans 5:6-9). But, in this condition God came through Jesus Christ and reconciled us to himself (Romans 5:10). God reset us; he realigned us; he caused us to come into conformity with him (Romans 5:20-21;
2 Corinthians 5:18-20).
Redemption – Redemption is what occurs when a slave is purchased by someone who has the intention of setting that slave free. No one can set a slave free unless they are willing to pay the debt for the price of the slave, that is, to redeem the slave.
Jesus Christ purchased us from sin by paying the penalty for our sin
(1 Peter 3:18;
Revelation 5:11, 12;
Galatians 3:13;
Romans 3:22-24).