The one word that comes to mind when I read the story of Ahaz, king of Israel, is “compromise.”
And not the good kind, either. Ahaz not only allowed pagan worship to go on in Israel; he took part in it himself. He led by example, even to the point of sacrificing his own son in the fire. Compromise. Ahaz compromised went under attack as well, paying for Assyria’s help by taking silver and gold from the Lord’s temple. I’m pretty sure that wasn’t what that treasure was intended for. Ahaz also, in deference to the king of Assyria, “renovated” the temple, even though it had been originally built according to God’s design. Compromise. What Ahaz compromised I’m sure he reasoned was in Israel’s or his own best interests. But the things he compromised were dishonoring to God. Thus, they weren’t his or Israel’s best either. Jesus calls us a life of no compromise. Leaving everything to follow Him. Making Jesus our Lord, and not giving the world or the devil even a small area of control. Easier said than done, I’m afraid. But nothing is impossible with God.