A Prayer for Seeking Divine Guidance in Our Choices
"¶ And king Ahaz went to Damascus to meet Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria, and saw an altar that was at Damascus: and king Ahaz sent to Urijah the priest the fashion of the altar, and the pattern of it, according to all the workmanship thereof." - 2 Kings 16:10
Heavenly Father,
As we come before You today, we pause in reverent awe of Your majesty and grace. We gather our hearts and minds to reflect on the truth revealed in Your holy word, specifically in 2 Kings 16:10, where it speaks of King Ahaz and his journey to Damascus, saying, *"And king Ahaz went to Damascus to meet Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria, and saw an altar that was at Damascus: and king Ahaz sent to Urijah the priest the fashion of the altar, and the pattern of it, according to all the workmanship thereof."*
Lord, we acknowledge that King Ahaz, in his desire to impress and align himself with powers greater than his own, turned to crafting a new altar that mirrored the influences around him. In this moment of reflection, we too recognize the temptation of our worldly surroundings, where the allure of external approval and the patterns of society can seduce us into compromising our divine calling. We may find ourselves drawn to models of success that do not align with Your will, and in doing so, we risk abandoning the true path You have laid out for us.
We pray, Father, that as we navigate our lives, we may be granted wisdom and discernment, much needed in our decisions and the influences we choose to emulate. Help us, Lord, to identify when we are seeking validation from earthly authorities rather than relying on Your Word, which is our ultimate source of truth. May we not, like Ahaz, look to the world for guidance but rather seek Your kingdom first, embracing the eternal patterns of life that You have destined for us.
O God, we ask for Your understanding as we consider the nature of our actions. King Ahaz sought to create an altar designed in the image of foreign gods, forgetting the covenant You made with His people. Let us not forget our identity as Your children, Lord. Remind us that we are fearfully and wonderfully made in Your image, and that our worship, our lives, and our actions should be reflections of our devotion to You and a pursuit of holiness.
Father, as we seek direction in our lives, lead us to those who embody Your truth. Just as Ahaz reached out to Urijah the priest to validate his designs, may we similarly seek counsel from those who will guide us toward righteousness. Surround us with wise mentors who encourage us to live according to Your Word and to create in our lives a reflection of Your love and mercy.
Help us to build our altars, not from the fashioning of worldly designs, but from the solid rock of faith, prayer, and the teachings of Scripture. Let our lives be testimonies of Your grace, and may our worship uplift and glorify You, swaying the hearts of others to turn towards You.
Lord, forgive us for the times we have strayed and sought the approval of those whose values do not reflect Your character. Forgive us for allowing our hearts to be swayed by the allure of power and prestige, and for neglecting the spiritual altars we need to construct in honor of Your name. Help us to remember that it is not the appearance of our choices that matters, but rather their alignment with Your divine purpose.
As we conclude this prayer, we place our hopes and decisions in Your capable hands. Equip us to resist the temptation of imitation from earthly sources, and enable us to be bold in our offerings to You. Guide us, Lord, in our journeys and let our eyes remain fixed upon Your truths, always seeking to honor You through every altar we build in our hearts.
In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.
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2 Kings 16:10 - "¶ And king Ahaz went to Damascus to meet Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria, and saw an altar that was at Damascus: and king Ahaz sent to Urijah the priest the fashion of the altar, and the pattern of it, according to all the workmanship thereof."
"¶ And king Ahaz went to Damascus to meet Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria, and saw an altar that was at Damascus: and king Ahaz sent to Urijah the priest the fashion of the altar, and the pattern of it, according to all the workmanship thereof." - 2 Kings 16:10
2 Kings 10:16 - "And he said, Come with me, and see my zeal for the LORD. So they made him ride in his chariot."
Joshua 10:16 - "But these five kings fled, and hid themselves in a cave at Makkedah."
2 Kings 16:16 - "Thus did Urijah the priest, according to all that king Ahaz commanded."
2 Kings 3:16-19
2 Kings 16:19 - "¶ Now the rest of the acts of Ahaz which he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?"
1 Kings 10:16 - "¶ And king Solomon made two hundred targets of beaten gold: six hundred shekels of gold went to one target."
1 Kings 16:10 - "And Zimri went in and smote him, and killed him, in the twenty and seventh year of Asa king of Judah, and reigned in his stead."
2 Kings 14:16 - "And Jehoash slept with his fathers, and was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel; and Jeroboam his son reigned in his stead."
2 Kings 3:10 - "And the king of Israel said, Alas! that the LORD hath called these three kings together, to deliver them into the hand of Moab!"
"And he said, Come with me, and see my zeal for the LORD. So they made him ride in his chariot." - 2 Kings 10:16
"But these five kings fled, and hid themselves in a cave at Makkedah." - Joshua 10:16
2 Kings 6:16 - "And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them."
2 Kings 20:16 - "And Isaiah said unto Hezekiah, Hear the word of the LORD."
2 Kings 12:16 - "The trespass money and sin money was not brought into the house of the LORD: it was the priests'."
2 Chronicles 28:16 - "¶ At that time did king Ahaz send unto the kings of Assyria to help him."
2 Kings 21:10 - "¶ And the LORD spake by his servants the prophets, saying,"
2 Kings 10:28 - "Thus Jehu destroyed Baal out of Israel."
2 Kings 10:4 - "But they were exceedingly afraid, and said, Behold, two kings stood not before him: how then shall we stand?"
2 Kings 10:34 - "Now the rest of the acts of Jehu, and all that he did, and all his might, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?"
2 Kings 10:20 - "And Jehu said, Proclaim a solemn assembly for Baal. And they proclaimed it."
2 Kings 3:16 - "And he said, Thus saith the LORD, Make this valley full of ditches."
2 Kings 10:16-17 - "And he said, Come with me, and see my zeal for the Lord. So they made him ride in his chariot. And when he came to Samaria, he killed all who remained to Ahab in Samaria, till he had wiped them out, according to the word of the Lord that he spoke to Elijah."
2 Kings 16:1 - "In the seventeenth year of Pekah the son of Remaliah Ahaz the son of Jotham king of Judah began to reign."
2 Kings 16:8 - "And Ahaz took the silver and gold that was found in the house of the LORD, and in the treasures of the king's house, and sent it for a present to the king of Assyria."
"Thus did Urijah the priest, according to all that king Ahaz commanded." - 2 Kings 16:16
2 Kings 16:12 - "And when the king was come from Damascus, the king saw the altar: and the king approached to the altar, and offered thereon."
1 Kings 2:10 - "So David slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city of David."
2 Kings 10:26 - "And they brought forth the images out of the house of Baal, and burned them."