April 27 A READ 2 CHRONICLES 26–28
Reigns of Uzziah to Ahaz
OVERVIEW
Uzziah’s fifty-two-year reign can be summarized in a dozen words: “As long as the king sought guidance from the LORD, God gave him success” (26:5). His administration sparkles with military, architectural, and agricultural achievements. But the luster is dimmed in his final years when he intrudes into the priests’ functions and is stricken with leprosy. His son Jotham picks up where his father left off by becoming “powerful because he was careful to live in obedience to the LORD his God” (27:6). But after nearly seven decades of godly national leadership, Ahaz emerges to undo much of what his father and grandfather had accomplished. Forbidden alliances, infant sacrifices, and rank idolatry bring the nation of Judah to its knees “because of King Ahaz, . . . for he had encouraged his people to sin and had been utterly unfaithful to the LORD” (28:19).
MY DAILY WALK
Take a few minutes to complete the following statements:
“You will stay stronger and healthier physically if you . . .”
“You will stay stronger and healthier financially if you . . .”
“You will stay stronger and healthier emotionally if you . . .”
Now that you have the hang of it, try the really hard one:
“You will stay stronger and healthier spiritually if you . . .”
Just as there are God-given principles for physical, financial, and emotional health, so, too, there are God-given principles for spiritual health. Keep them and you will enjoy the benefits; violate them and you will pay the penalty. Uzziah and Ahaz learned that painful lesson. Have you? Take your own counsel (as revealed in the way you completed the last of the sentences above), compare it with Scripture, and look for a way to put it to work today.
WHEN YOU SEE A WORTHY PERSON, EMULATE HIM OR HER; WHEN YOU SEE AN UNWORTHY PERSON, EXAMINE YOURSELF.
INSIGHT
A King’s Death and a Prophet’s Call | 2 Chr. 26:23
King Uzziah won military victories and built towers, but he is perhaps best known for his death (26:23)—not because of his leprosy, but because of its timing. One of the best-known passages from one of the best-known prophets begins with, “It was in the year King Uzziah died that I saw the LORD . . .” Do you remember this landmark event? Read Isaiah 6 for the details.
INSIGHT
The Valley of Unquenchable Fire | 2 Chr. 28:3
The valley of Ben-Hinnom (also known as “Gehenna”), which marked the southern boundary of Jerusalem, became noted as the scene of atrocious pagan practices, including torturous child sacrifice (28:3; 33:6). Later in Jerusalem’s history, it came to be used as the city dump (2 Kings 23:10), the perpetual fires of which became a symbol for hell.
Uzziah Rules in Judah
1All the people of Judah had crowned Amaziah’s sixteen-year-old son, Uzziah, as king in place of his father. 2After his father’s death, Uzziah rebuilt the town of Elath* and restored it to Judah.
3Uzziah was sixteen years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem fifty-two years. His mother was Jecoliah from Jerusalem. 4He did what was pleasing in the LORD’s sight, just as his father, Amaziah, had done. 5Uzziah sought God during the days of Zechariah, who taught him to fear God.* And as long as the king sought guidance from the LORD, God gave him success.
6Uzziah declared war on the Philistines and broke down the walls of Gath, Jabneh, and Ashdod. Then he built new towns in the Ashdod area and in other parts of Philistia. 7God helped him in his wars against the Philistines, his battles with the Arabs of Gur,* and his wars with the Meunites. 8The Meunites* paid annual tribute to him, and his fame spread even to Egypt, for he had become very powerful.
9Uzziah built fortified towers in Jerusalem at the Corner Gate, at the Valley Gate, and at the angle in the wall. 10He also constructed forts in the wilderness and dug many water cisterns, because he kept great herds of livestock in the foothills of Judah* and on the plains. He was also a man who loved the soil. He had many workers who cared for his farms and vineyards, both on the hillsides and in the fertile valleys.
11Uzziah had an army of well-trained warriors, ready to march into battle, unit by unit. This army had been mustered and organized by Jeiel, the secretary of the army, and his assistant, Maaseiah. They were under the direction of Hananiah, one of the king’s officials. 12These regiments of mighty warriors were commanded by 2,600 clan leaders. 13The army consisted of 307,500 men, all elite troops. They were prepared to assist the king against any enemy.
14Uzziah provided the entire army with shields, spears, helmets, coats of mail, bows, and sling stones. 15And he built structures on the walls of Jerusalem, designed by experts to protect those who shot arrows and hurled large stones* from the towers and the corners of the wall. His fame spread far and wide, for the LORD gave him marvelous help, and he became very powerful.
Uzziah’s Sin and Punishment
16But when he had become powerful, he also became proud, which led to his downfall. He sinned against the LORD his God by entering the sanctuary of the LORD’s Temple and personally burning incense on the incense altar. 17Azariah the high priest went in after him with eighty other priests of the LORD, all brave men. 18They confronted King Uzziah and said, “It is not for you, Uzziah, to burn incense to the LORD. That is the work of the priests alone, the descendants of Aaron who are set apart for this work. Get out of the sanctuary, for you have sinned. The LORD God will not honor you for this!”
19Uzziah, who was holding an incense burner, became furious. But as he was standing there raging at the priests before the incense altar in the LORD’s Temple, leprosy* suddenly broke out on his forehead. 20When Azariah the high priest and all the other priests saw the leprosy, they rushed him out. And the king himself was eager to get out because the LORD had struck him. 21So King Uzziah had leprosy until the day he died. He lived in isolation in a separate house, for he was excluded from the Temple of the LORD. His son Jotham was put in charge of the royal palace, and he governed the people of the land.
22The rest of the events of Uzziah’s reign, from beginning to end, are recorded by the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz. 23When Uzziah died, he was buried with his ancestors; his grave was in a nearby burial field belonging to the kings, for the people said, “He had leprosy.” And his son Jotham became the next king.