2 Chronicles 26:1-23
Q.1. Did Uzziah learn from the mistakes of his father? What assistance did God give the king to establish a godly rule? What is the lesson from his reign? – (2 Chr.26:1-5)
Hosea (Hos.1:1); Amos (Am.1:1); Jonah & Isaiah (Is.1:1; 6:1) ministered during his reign. Uzziah (Azariah) actually began to rule at the age of 16 in 790 B.C. when his father Amaziah was taken prisoner to Samaria (2 Kgs.14:13). When His father returned to Judah, Uzziah ruled with him as co-regent from 782-767 (2 Kgs 14:17) B.C. He began his sole rule in 767 B.C. after his father was killed 2 Kgs.14:19; 15:1). His father, Amaziah had not sought God with a whole heart. Sadly, Uzziah was about on par with him. He tolerated the false worship on the high places – He did right in the sight of the Lord according to all that his father Amaziah had done (2 Chr.26:4 c.f. 2 Kgs.15:4). God did assist him to draw near and – He continued to seek God in the days of Zechariah, who had understanding through the vision of God; and as long as he sought the Lord, God prospered him (2 Chr.26:5). Zechariah was not Jehoiada’s son nor the author of the Book bearing his name (c.f. 2 Chr.24:20-21). Sadly Uzziah failed to really benefit from the faithful man of God whom the Lord sent to him.
Q.2. What skills did Uzziah bring to the kingdom during his long reign? Why was is it that he succeeded? How did his success change the king? – (2Chr.26:5-16 c.f. Jms.4:5-7)
Uzziah was a fine military strategist, builder, pastoralist, horticulturalist, water conversationalist – for he loved the soil (2 Chr.26:10). He defeated his enemies who paid him tribute money, because – God helped him … and his fame extended to the border of Egypt (2 Chr.26:7 & 8). He even invented engines of war – 15 … Hence his fame spread afar, for he was marvellously helped until he was strong. 16 But when he became strong, his heart was so proud that he acted corruptly, and he was unfaithful to the Lord his God, for he entered the temple of the Lord to burn incense on the altar of incense (2 Chr.26:15-16). His success went to his head. This brought him into a collision course with God, because of his pride (2 Chr.26:16 c.f. Jms.4:5-7).
Q.3. What was wrong with Uzziah’s burning incense in the Temple? How did he respond to the rebuke of the priests? With what judgement did God afflict him? – (2 Chr.26:16-23)
No layman was to enter into the Temple or make sacrifices – not even the king. That role was reserved for the priests and Levites who were set apart for that purpose by God (Num.3:10-13). His namesake, Azariah and eighty priests of the Lord brought a warning to King Uzziah. Foolishly, he reacted in rage against the priests. However, even as he did so, God smote him with leprosy (2 Chr.26:19-20). The priests quickly expelled the king from the Temple and – King Uzziah was a leper to the day of his death; and he lived in a separate house, being a leper, for he was cut off from the house of the Lord (2 Chr.26:21). It would have been a terrible judgment, to be cut off from God’s house until he died.