-2 Kings 16:10-16 ESV

10 When King Ahaz went to Damascus to meet Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria, he saw the altar that was at Damascus. And King Ahaz sent to Uriah the priest a model of the altar, and its pattern, exact in all its details. 11 And Uriah the priest built the altar; in accordance with all that King Ahaz had sent from Damascus, so Uriah the priest made it, before King Ahaz arrived from Damascus. 12 And when the king came from Damascus, the king viewed the altar. Then the king drew near to the altar and went up on it 13 and burned his burnt offering and his grain offering and poured his drink offering and threw the blood of his peace offerings on the altar. 14 And the bronze altar that was before the LORD he removed from the front of the house, from the place between his altar and the house of the LORD, and put it on the north side of his altar. 15 And King Ahaz commanded Uriah the priest, saying, “On the great altar burn the morning burnt offering and the evening grain offering and the king's burnt offering and his grain offering, with the burnt offering of all the people of the land, and their grain offering and their drink offering. And throw on it all the blood of the burnt offering and all the blood of the sacrifice, but the bronze altar shall be for me to inquire by.” 16 Uriah the priest did all this, as King Ahaz commanded.


THE STRANGE ALTAR.

King Ahaz travelled to Damascus to pay respect to his new lord. When he saw the altar at Damascus, it caught his attention. He got the model of the altar and sent it to Uriah, the priest. He made instructions to Uriah, the priest, to do some innovations and revisions at the altar in Jerusalem. em.
King Ahaz traveled to Damascus to pay respect to his new lord. When he saw the altar at Damascus, it caught his attention. He got the model of the altar and sent to Uriah, the priest. He made instructions to Uriah, the priest, to do some innovations and revisions at the altar in Jerusalem.

Why?

The answer is not so evident. Perhaps, it’s the close association between politics and religion in their times. As a new vassal state, this could be one of the reforms needed. But, this is not so clear. However, it’s implicit, by his actions that [i.e. he saw..he sent] he did it due to aesthetics. As a liberal minded king, his travel had broadened his mind that he gained new ideas. He was a king very open for foreign ideas. The temple for him was not where God is but just a political symbol. We could think of the churches in Europe that have become museums, nowadays. Although there is no hint that this reform or change was a requirement, he may had removed some things to avoid offence and replace with things acceptable by the Assyrians. That, he was careful to please his new master.

Seen from the outside, the temple building may appear unchanged. But, it’s tragic that its altar inside was significantly altered. God has set apart and stipulated the exact measurements and placements of every furniture in the tabernacle. Jesus’ anger had shown how jealous is God in preserving the sanctity of the temple. Any alteration or addition won’t be acceptable.

Today, we should always take care our respective ‘altars’, that is our hearts, to be pure and unadulterated before God. How many believers have changed today in the name of being progressive?

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