2 Kings 16:16, New Living Translation

“Uriah the priest did just as King Ahaz commanded him.”

If we read 2 Kings 16:16 (NLT), “Uriah the priest did just as King Ahaz commanded him.” There doesn’t seem to be anything wrong, but if you read the whole chapter carefully, then you will find the core mistake. So, let’s first look at verse 10-14 (NLT):

“King Ahaz then went to Damascus to meet with King Tiglath-pileser of Assyria. While he was there, he took special note of the altar. Then he sent a model of the altar to Uriah the priest, along with its design in full detail. Uriah followed the king’s instructions and built an altar just like it, and it was ready before the king returned from Damascus. When the king returned, he inspected the altar and made offerings on it. He presented a burnt offering and a grain offering, he poured out a liquid offering, and he sprinkled the blood of peace offerings on the altar. Then King Ahaz removed the old bronze altar from its place in front of the Lord’s Temple, between the entrance and the new altar, and placed it on the north side of the new altar.”

Now, let us finish up by reading verses 17 and 18:

“Then the king removed the side panels and basins from the portable water carts. He also removed the great bronze basin called the Sea from the backs of the bronze oxen and placed it on the stone pavement. In deference to the king of Assyria, he also removed the canopy that had been constructed inside the palace for use on the Sabbath day, as well as the king’s outer entrance to the Temple of the Lord.”

If you have not noticed the mistake yet, I encourage you to read the books of Exodus, Deuteronomy, and 1 Kings for a deeper understanding of the divine meaning and commands the Lord gave His people concerning the dwelling place of God—His temple. Then you will recognize that what King Ahaz did was a violation against the Lord, against both His command and His holiness. Simply put, he was dismantling the house of the Lord.

This leads to an important question—and application—for us today: how many of us, as believers and as the church, have done the same kind of division to His temple—the body of Christ? How often have we twisted the Word, taken it out of context, or interpreted it in ways that fit our own benefit? How often have we added man-made principles to what God has already spoken? The Lord did not only call His disciples to serve, function, and love as one body; He also instructed us to be living sacrifices and to be holy—because our bodies are His temple.

May we all take heed of His Word seriously and sincerely.