How would you like to live in the chaotic years of Israel’s history described in today’s reading? The government was overthrown three times in 33 years; how great could any of the new leaders be, having taken control of the government by force, and then continuing in the same sin as the previous king had committed? Such a leader generally maintains order enough to gain a foothold on his kingdom only through more force. That couldn’t have made Israel a pleasant place to live, but that was only part of the fun. Assyria was a frightening threat. They seemed unstoppable in building the largest empire that part of the world had ever seen, and they did it with extreme and horrific cruelty. Israel’s king exacted his tribute to Assyria from the people, and yet the Assyrians came back for more, this time capturing towns with their brutal tactics, and deporting their inhabitants. Who would be next? They were unsettling and terrifying times for the people of Israel. This is what their sin brought them. This is what sin brings still today: instability, suffering, chaos. Why would we want anything to do with it, if we have a choice? And we do have a choice, “thanks be to God, through Jesus Christ our Lord!”
The stability of a single king in Judah during those years is quite a contrast. Uzziah’s (Kings calls him Azariah) seeking the Lord made a vast difference for the people of Judah: power, fame (meaning a reputation such that no one wanted to mess with Judah), building, rebuilding, fortifying, developing technology…. Does it make you wonder what would happen in our nation if our leaders would seek God? It’s too bad that we’re powerless to elect leaders whose primary interest is not in rebuilding the economy or making life easier for a segment of the population, but in seeking God for the benefit of the people…. Of course, the leaders we have in place right now could be transformed. Could God fill their hearts with the desire to seek Him, if we prayed that for them?
It’s interesting to note from II Chronicles 26:6-7, that some things never change. We call the descendants of the Philistines Palestinians. King Uzziah was striving against the neighboring Philistines and Arabs. How does the perspective of millennia of history make you feel about the tense situation in the Middle East today? God is in control of the situation as much today as He was then.
Uzziah’s life offers an obvious lesson to us about the dangers of pride. Let’s not be too dismissive of his experience, thinking it couldn’t happen to us. Although we aren’t given enough details to know for sure, I don’t think it happened like our enemy wants us to think it happened: that he got so arrogant that he thought he could ignore the office of priest, foolishly thinking he was wonderful enough to function as both priest and king. Rather, I suspect that it was more subtle than that, that he thought he was demonstrating devotion to God to want to bring incense before him. Perhaps he thought it fitting that as the political leader of the people he should seek God in this manner. In his zeal he ignored God’s plan in favor of his own great ideas. David did that once: remember his disastrous first attempt to move the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem? Although he was angry at God for “breaking out” against Uzzah, David learned from that experience, obviously sought God’s ideas on how to move the Ark (which he didn’t even have to pray about, because it was already revealed in the Law), and proceeded to do it God’s way. He later initiated his own plans to build the Temple, but God stopped him and let His desire be made known, and David gave up his great ideas in submission to God’s ideas. I believe Uzziah’s problem wasn’t brazen arrogance, but a greater devotion to his own ideas than to God. He apparently never sought God’s mind on the matter. His story is a reminder to us to check our own devotion God: is there anything, even our ideas of worship, to which we are more devoted than we are devoted to God? Then we are in danger of the same kind of pride Uzziah demonstrated.
Tomorrow we begin reading in Isaiah. I hope the idea of prophecy doesn’t turn you off. Remember how rich the books of the Law turned out to be? The books of prophecy are RICH! The book of Isaiah is a particular favorite of mine, as its study stands out in my mind as a milestone in my walk with God, it has been that transformational for me. I’m praying you will find as great reward in reading prophecy. Please approach it with prayerful expectation!