27 From the time that Amaziah turned away from following the Lord, they conspired against him in Jerusalem … and killed him in Lachish. 2 Chronicles 25
King Amaziah had known blessing and victory from the Lord, but he turned to worship false gods and was heavily defeated by Joash, King of Israel. He turned his back on God for worthless idols and it eventually cost him his life.
Many Start Well, but Don’t Finish Well! We must set ourselves to Finish Our Race in order to receive the Lord’s commendation – ‘Well done Good and Faithful Servant’. Matthew 25:21
26 Then all the people of Judah took Uzziah, who was sixteen years old, (What a responsibility) 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 fathers. 2 Chronicles 26
Once again this young King had a mentor who helped him walk in the Favour and Blessings of the God of Israel. Zechariah helped lay the foundation for Uzziah’s success.
5 He sought God during the days of Zechariah, who instructed him in the fear of God. As long as he sought the Lord, God gave him success.
Uzziah seemed to have been a King of many interests and talents. God has blessed His Jewish people and many today are very gifted and receive high awards. He REBUILT AND RESTORED Elath to to Judah.
6 He went to war against the Philistines and broke down the walls of Gath, Jabneh and Ashdod. He then rebuilt towns near Ashdod and elsewhere among the Philistines. 2 Chronicles 26
10 He also built towers in the wilderness and dug many cisterns, because he had much livestock in the foothills and in the plain. He had people working his fields and vineyards in the hills and in the fertile lands, FOR HE LOVED THE SOIL.
He was a successful soldier with a ‘well-trained army’, 2 Chronicles 26:11. He built up the defences of Jerusalem and installed machines of war to protect the city.
14 Uzziah provided shields, spears, helmets, coats of armour, bows and slingstones for the entire army. 15 In Jerusalem he made devices invented for use on the towers and on the corner defences so that soldiers could shoot arrows and hurl large stones from the walls. HIS FAME SPREAD FAR AND WIDE, FOR HE WAS GREATLY HELPED UNTIL HE BECAME POWERFUL.
Uzziah walked in great blessings but then a tragedy overtook him which changed his entire life and resulted in him becoming a recluse.
16 But after Uzziah became powerful, HIS PRIDE LED TO HIS DOWNFALL. He was unfaithful to the Lord his God, and entered the temple of the Lord to burn incense on the altar of incense.
He assumed the place of the priest in the Lord’s Temple and was struck with leprosy on HIS FOREHEAD. The Bible says, ‘Knowledge puffs up, but Love builds up’. 1 Corinthians 8:1
The late Peter Wagner wrote a book titled ‘Humility’. In it he said he asked the Lord every day to keep him from ‘Pride’ and a ‘Sharp Tongue’. Success can be a greater test than trials.
For what do we have that has not been given us? 1 Corinthians 4:7
God bless and keep you today.