2 Chronicles 26

June 29, 2022

Please use the comment section on this page to share insights from today’s reading OR your own personal Bible reading.

Reading along with us in 2 Chronicles? Here’s today’s reading:

2 Chronicles 26 (NIV)

Uzziah King of Judah
1 Then all the people of Judah took Uzziah who was sixteen years old, and made him king in place of his father Amaziah. 2 He was the one who rebuilt Elath and restored it to Judah after Amaziah rested with his ancestors.
3 Uzziah was sixteen years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem fifty-two years. His mother’s name was Jekoliah; she was from Jerusalem. 4 He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, just as his father Amaziah had done.........Continue Reading

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This Post Has 8 Comments

  1. Another king that starts strong a finishes so badly. Uzziah was a bit of a Renaissance style king with developments in many areas of the kingdom. He seemed to be able to balance the military portions while still taking good care of daily life for the people and it even said he invented things and became famous. Once again likely pride settled in and made him think he could enter the temple even though that was reserved for the priests. So he was humbled to go from famous to a leper in hiding when he did not acknowledge God’s power and began to forget his place and think too much of himself instead.

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  2. Wow, Uzziah started out so well as a king from age 16 until he was 68!

    He learned the secrets to success by following in his father, King Amaziah’s footsteps, by doing “what was pleasing in the Lord’s sight.”
    He also “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.”
    So Uzziah:
    -Did pleasing things in the Lord’s eyes
    -Sought God
    -Feared God
    And as long as he did these things, “the Lord gave him success.

    Seems simple enough, but oh how I forget from morning to morning when I wake up thinking about all the work I need to get done that I didn’t get to finish the day before. This past week before we drove to MN on Sunday it was:
    -painting the Chapel at Naval Station Newport
    -more solar estimates
    -finishing our outside shower
    -getting our AirBnB ready – putting together a new jungle gym, fixing bikes, 2 new door locks, trampoline, raking and mowing

    As you can see, I just didn’t have time to seek the Lord (at least that’s the thought that so easily creeps in).

    But then I look at how successful Uzziah was when he sought, feared and did what was pleasing in Jesus’ eyes:
    26:6 Uzziah declared war … and broke down the walls.
    -Then he built new towns
    -God helped him in his wars, his battles … so his former enemies paid annual tribute to him, and his fame spread even to Egypt, for he had become very powerful.
    -Uzziah built fortified towers
    – He also constructed forts in the wilderness and dug many water cisterns, because he kept great herds of livestock
    -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.
    -Uzziah had an army of well-trained warriors, ready to march into battle, unit by unit. … These regiments of mighty warriors were commanded by 2,600 clan leaders. The army consisted of 307,500 men, ALL ELITE TROOPS. They were prepared to assist the king against any enemy.
    -Uzziah provided the entire army with shields, spears, helmets, coats of mail, bows, and sling stones.
    -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
    WHY?
    For the Lord gave him marvelous help, and he became very powerful.

    Uzziah was doing so well in his life, all because he sought & feared the Lord, and did what was pleasing in Jesus’ eyes.

    But 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.

    Oh, Uzziah, how could you fall? Everything was going so well!
    Oh, how could I? Things seem to be looking up after this year of Sabbath rest the Lord has orchestrated.
    It’s so simple.
    I can get straight to work and be productive taking care of my family by earning money and fixing up my house to earn money and doing work during my 2 week vacation before my family wakes up… Or
    I can take this time to:
    -seek my Lord
    -have a healthy fear/awe/respect/reverence for my King
    -do what’s pleasing in his sight

    All these things I’m doing may be pleasing in His sight, but if I don’t first take time to enjoy the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, pondering Jesus’ wisdom and insight in 2 Chronicles 26, and sharing what I gleaned with you all, my church family, I may just be working in vain, without the power, the favor and the anointing only my heavenly Father can give as I do the same work or rest that I would’ve done today anyway.

    Thank you Lord for Living Hope, for Pastor Peter, Kelly, Amy, Melodye, Cindy, Mark, Steve, Suzanne, Jill, Linda and everyone else in our church family who takes the time to read and meditate on your word and share their insights with all of us!

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  3. Romans 7. Can’t read this chapter without my blood pressure rising. Paul nails the law verses Grace debate using marriage as a illustration. I tried to live by a set of rules and trying to get closer to God. Only to get frustrated and discouraged. Now I realize I only had my own self determination for power. Good luck with that!! Now that God is at the center of my life He supplies the power for daily living Whole way of life has changed! Verse 15 Paul also deals with sinful desires. Becoming a Christian doesn’t automatically stamp out sin Try to combat sin by thinking the less I sin less time Jesus had to spend in agony

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  4. Have a family member and a friend devote Catholics. Both lost someone they loved recently. I can’t break through their religion telling them most likely they are in purgatory. Man, does religion get my blood boiling. !!!!!!!!

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  5. Reoccurring theme, follow the ways of the Lord or face Abandonment followed by destruction. I’m curious as to how people who don’t have a relationship with Jesus get through life in their own power. I was born again at age 35, now at 60 it frightens me to think of what my life would be not having a relationship with Christ, it’s a healthy fear and I don’t dwell on it, it’s a healthy fear of the Lord, that is, knowing that without God, life would be scary to say the least

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  6. Once again pride comes before a fall. Uzziah was doing so well, obeying God and being blessed because of it. But how often the great success that comes by God’s hand gets us puffed up about ourselves. I cannot even believe the hubris of a person other than a priest entering the Holy place where the altar of incense was. At least it wasn’t the Most Holy place where the Ark was that only the High priest entered once a year. The priests would regularly serve in the Holy place keeping the incense burning, the candelabra lit and the shew bread maintained. It was there that Uzziah attempted to burn the incense. Which was very wrong and very prideful, especially not heeding the warnings of the priests who knew how wrong it was. God always intended for the office of the priest, King and prophet to be distinct.

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  8. “And he did what was right in the sight of the Lord, according to all that his father Amaziah had done.”

    “So Uzziah rested with his fathers, and they buried him with his fathers in the field of burial which belonged to the kings, for they said, “He is a leper.”

    I was thinking a recurring theme with these kings is that they (some) start well, but they are defined by how they end. I am thankful that we are defined in Christ! That’s being said, I believe it is important for our spiritual health to persevere and end well.

    Wanted to say, thank you, Chris, for sharing your insight and application of God’s word. I do read everyone’s comments!

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