Friday, July 1, 2011

II Chronicles 26 - Uzziah King of Judah (NIV)

Summary:

Uzziah King of Judah
Verses 1-23

The people of Judah took Uzziah and made him king in place of his father Amaziah.  He rebuilt Elath and restored it to Judah after Amaziah rested with his fathers.  He was 16 years old when he was made king.  He reigned in Jerusalem for 52 years.  His mother was named Jecoliah, from Jerusalem.  He did right in God's eyes as Amaziah had done.  He sought God during the days of Zechariah, who taught him to fear God.  As long as he did so, God gave him success.

Uzziah was at war with the Philistines.  He broke down the walls of Gath, Jabneh, and Ashdod.  He rebuilt the towns near Ashdod and elsewhere in Philistia.  God helped him against the Philistines and Arabs living in Gur Baal, and against the Meunites.  The Ammonites paid tribute to Uzziah and he became famous as far as the border of Egypt, because he was quite powerful.

Uzziah built and fortified towers in Jerusalem at the Corner Gate, at the Valley Gate, and at the angle of the wall.  He built towers in the desert and many cisterns, because of his large amount of livestock in the foothills and the plain.  People worked in his fields, in the vineyards in the hills, and in the fertile lands, because he loved the soil.

Uzziah had a well trained army.  They were ready to deploy by their divisions, according to their numbers mustered by Jeiel the secretary and by Maaseiah the officer under the direction of Hananiah, one of the royal officials.  The total number of family leaders over the fighting men was 2,600.  Under them, was an army of 307,500 men trained for war.  They were a powerful force to fight the king's enemies.  Uzziah gave all of them shields, spears, helmets, coats of armor, bows, and slingshots.  In Jerusalem, he made machines designed by skillful men to use on towers and corner defenses, which could shoot arrows and hurl large stones.  His fame spread because he was greatly helped, until he became powerful.

Uzziah's power led to pride, which led to his downfall.  He was unfaithful to God.  He entered the temple to burn incense on the altar of incense.  Azariah the chief priest, with 80 courageous priests of the Lord, confronted him.  The priests told him that he shouldn't be there; only the descendants of Aaron were consecrated to do so.  They asked him to leave, because he'd been unfaithful, and they told him that he wouldn't be honored by God.

Uzziah, with a censer for incense in his hand, raged against them.  Leprosy broke out on his forehead and all the priests rushed him out.  Uzziah was eager to leave because of his affliction.

Uzziah had leprosy until he died.  He lived in a separate house, excluded from the temple.  His son Jotham took charge of the palace and governed the land.  His other events were recorded by the prophet Isaiah, the son of Amoz.  Uzziah rested with his fathers and was buried near them in a field for the kings, because he had leprosy.  His son, Jotham, then became king.

Lori's Thoughts:

"Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will lift you up."  (James 4:10)

"Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, 'Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me?  Up to seven times?'  Jesus answered, 'I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.' "  (Matthew 18:21-22)

God is quick to forgive if we are quick to repent.

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