May 9, 2013 – 2 Kings 16

Here we see the king reach out for help to another nation.  Many of the prophets talk about this type of action during the exile as a type of harlotry and how they didn’t trust in God, but sought the aid of human kingdoms.  I also thought it was interesting that the king, even though he wasn’t following the Lord, it appears he thought enough to keep the Temple going with its priest and ceremonies, he just didn’t seem to participate, or did so on his own private alter.  I wonder what type of percentage of people followed the king or followed God.  I got the impression that back then, people did whatever the king did, it really wasn’t a choice.  But here, it appears that it was a little looser than that.  It might actually be a very early example of religious freedom, although the king was choosing the wrong alter to go to.