2 Kings 17:6-13 ESv

6 In the ninth year of Hoshea, the king of Assyria captured Samaria, and he carried the Israelites away to Assyria and placed them in Halah, and on the Habor, the river of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes.

7 And this occurred because the people of Israel had sinned against the LORD their God, who had brought them up out of the land of Egypt from under the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and had feared other gods 8 and walked in the customs of the nations whom the LORD drove out before the people of Israel, and in the customs that the kings of Israel had practiced. 9 And the people of Israel did secretly against the LORD their God things that were not right. They built for themselves high places in all their towns, from watchtower to fortified city. 10 They set up for themselves pillars and Asherim on every high hill and under every green tree, 11 and there they made offerings on all the high places, as the nations did whom the LORD carried away before them. And they did wicked things, provoking the LORD to anger, 12 and they served idols, of which the LORD had said to them, “You shall not do this.” 13 Yet the LORD warned Israel and Judah by every prophet and every seer, saying, “Turn from your evil ways and keep my commandments and my statutes, in accordance with all the Law that I commanded your fathers, and that I sent to you by my servants the prophets.”

CAPTURED AND EXILED.

Samaria fell to the Assyrians. They had the good reason not to be captured. God had been wooing them back but they chose the idols. They were not conquered because the Assyrians were stronger. According to verse 7, “And this occurred because the people of Israel had sinned against the LORD their God”. That is, they rebelled God.

What they did was a slap to God. He delivered them from Pharaoh and Egypt from all their idols. He drove out all the idol worshipping pagan tribes, only to embrace them later. Emphatically, He warned them through Moses; “And God spoke all these words, saying, “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. “You shall have no other gods before me.“You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments “You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain.” [Ex 20:1-7]

But, they ignored this despite the many warnings. “The LORD warned Israel and Judah by every prophet and every seer, saying, “Turn from your evil ways and keep my commandments and my statutes, in accordance with all the Law that I commanded your fathers, and that I sent to you by my servants the prophets.” God was very patient so that their captivity was all their fault.

Should we love God, we must hate sin. We couldn’t love both flowers and weeds and grow both in the same garden, could we? Thus, today, let us search our hearts. God is knocking at our doors as Jesus did to the Laodiceans, saying, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.”[Rev 3:20] Nothing should be sweeter to us than our communion with Him.

-------------------------

Visit and FOLLOW Gospel Light Filipino on YouTube, Facebook and Instagram

2 Kings 17:1-5 ESV

In the twelfth year of Ahaz king of Judah, Hoshea the son of Elah began to reign in Samaria over Israel, and he reigned nine years. 2 And he did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, yet not as the kings of Israel who were before him. 3 Against him came up Shalmaneser king of Assyria. And Hoshea became his vassal and paid him tribute. 4 But the king of Assyria found treachery in Hoshea, for he had sent messengers to So, king of Egypt, and offered no tribute to the king of Assyria, as he had done year by year. Therefore the king of Assyria shut him up and bound him in prison. 5 Then the king of Assyria invaded all the land and came to Samaria, and for three years he besieged it.

------

1 Nang ikalabindalawang taon ni Ahaz na hari ng Juda, si Hosheas na anak ni Ela ay nagsimulang maghari sa Samaria sa Israel, at siya ay naghari sa loob ng siyam na taon. 2 Gumawa siya ng masama sa paningin ng PANGINOON, bagaman hindi gaya ng mga hari ng Israel na nauna sa kanya. 3 Umahon laban sa kanya si Shalmaneser na hari ng Asiria; at si Hosheas ay naging sakop niya at nagbayad sa kanya ng buwis. 4 Subalit ang hari ng Asiria ay nakakita ng pagtataksil kay Hosheas, sapagkat siya'y nagpadala ng mga sugo kay So na hari ng Ehipto, at hindi nagbigay ng buwis sa hari ng Asiria, tulad ng kanyang ginagawa taun-taon. Kaya't kinulong siya ng hari ng Asiria at iginapos sa bilangguan. 5 Pagkatapos ay sinalakay ng hari ng Asiria ang buong lupain at dumating sa Samaria at kinubkob ito sa loob ng tatlong taon.

A WORTHLESS HELP.

Ahaz has angered Shalmanezer, the king of Assyria, because of his treachery. He secretly sent messengers to So, king of Egypt. He did not pay his annual tribute to Assyria anymore which provoked the king of Assyria to capture him. Eventually, Assyria attacked Samaria which fell to their hands after three years. Where was the help of Egypt?

Egypt was a worthless help. As Isaiah rebuked them;

“Ah, stubborn children,” declares the Lord,

“who carry out a plan, but not mine,

and who make an alliance, but not of my Spirit,

that they may add sin to sin;

2 who set out to go down to Egypt,

without asking for my direction,

to take refuge in the protection of Pharaoh

and to seek shelter in the shadow of Egypt!

3 Therefore shall the protection of Pharaoh turn to your shame,

and the shelter in the shadow of Egypt to your humiliation.”[Isa 30:1-3]

Ahaz’s bondage can’t be solved by creating another bondage with Egypt. Similarly, a present debt in a bank can’t be solved by borrowing money from another bank. Generating an income is the solution. Similarly, our problem of sin can’t be solved by going after another sin to cover it up. Solomon had said;

“Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper,

but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy.”[Prov 28:13]

We only can plead for God’s mercy through Christ for forgiveness and deliverance. Did not Jesus say, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”[Matt 11:28-30]. “Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”[Heb 4:16]

-----------------------

Visit and FOLLOW Gospel Light Filipino on YouTube, Facebook and Instagram

2 Kings 16:10-16 ESV

10 When King Ahaz went to Damascus to meet Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria, he saw the altar that was at Damascus. And King Ahaz sent to Uriah the priest a model of the altar, and its pattern, exact in all its details. 11 And Uriah the priest built the altar; in accordance with all that King Ahaz had sent from Damascus, so Uriah the priest made it, before King Ahaz arrived from Damascus. 12 And when the king came from Damascus, the king viewed the altar. Then the king drew near to the altar and went up on it 13 and burned his burnt offering and his grain offering and poured his drink offering and threw the blood of his peace offerings on the altar. 14 And the bronze altar that was before the LORD he removed from the front of the house, from the place between his altar and the house of the LORD, and put it on the north side of his altar. 15 And King Ahaz commanded Uriah the priest, saying, “On the great altar burn the morning burnt offering and the evening grain offering and the king's burnt offering and his grain offering, with the burnt offering of all the people of the land, and their grain offering and their drink offering. And throw on it all the blood of the burnt offering and all the blood of the sacrifice, but the bronze altar shall be for me to inquire by.” 16 Uriah the priest did all this, as King Ahaz commanded.

THE STRANGE ALTAR.

King Ahaz travelled to Damascus to pay respect to his new lord. When he saw the altar at Damascus, it caught his attention. He got the model of the altar and sent it to Uriah, the priest. He made instructions to Uriah, the priest, to do some innovations and revisions at the altar in Jerusalem.

King Ahaz traveled to Damascus to pay respect to his new lord. When he saw the altar at Damascus, it caught his attention. He got the model of the altar and sent to Uriah, the priest. He made instructions to Uriah, the priest, to do some innovations and revisions at the altar in Jerusalem.

Why?

The answer is not so evident. Perhaps, it’s the close association between politics and religion in their times. As a new vassal state, this could be one of the reforms needed. But, this is not so clear. However, it’s implicit, by his actions that [i.e. he saw..he sent] he did it due to aesthetics. As a liberal minded king, his travel had broadened his mind that he gained new ideas. He was a king very open for foreign ideas. The temple for him was not where God is but just a political symbol. We could think of the churches in Europe that have become museums, nowadays. Although there is no hint that this reform or change was a requirement, he may had removed some things to avoid offence and replace with things acceptable by the Assyrians. That, he was careful to please his new master.

Seen from the outside, the temple building may appear unchanged. But, it’s tragic that its altar inside was significantly altered. God has set apart and stipulated the exact measurements and placements of every furniture in the tabernacle. Jesus’ anger had shown how jealous is God in preserving the sanctity of the temple. Any alteration or addition won’t be acceptable.

Today, we should always take care our respective ‘altars’, that is our hearts, to be pure and unadulterated before God. How many believers have changed today in the name of being progressive?

-----------------------

Visit and FOLLOW Gospel Light Filipino on YouTube, Facebook and Instagram

2 Kings 16:5-9 ESV

5 Then Rezin king of Syria and Pekah the son of Remaliah, king of Israel, came up to wage war on Jerusalem, and they besieged Ahaz but could not conquer him. 6 At that time Rezin the king of Syria recovered Elath for Syria and drove the men of Judah from Elath, and the Edomites came to Elath, where they dwell to this day. 7 So Ahaz sent messengers to Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria, saying, “I am your servant and your son. Come up and rescue me from the hand of the king of Syria and from the hand of the king of Israel, who are attacking me.” 8 Ahaz also took the silver and gold that was found in the house of the LORD and in the treasures of the king's house and sent a present to the king of Assyria. 9 And the king of Assyria listened to him. The king of Assyria marched up against Damascus and took it, carrying its people captive to Kir, and he killed Rezin.

A DESPERATE ACT

Rezin, the king of Syria had colluded with Pekah, the king of Israel to subdue King AhaZ, the king of Judah. As Rezin conquered the southern territory of Judah named Elath, King Ahaz was significantly threatened. He must have thought that sooner, if he couldn’t find an outside help, the enemy would come and devour them. Thus, he decided to seek the help of King Tiglath-Pileser [Pul] of Assyria.

Are you facing a threatening situation today? To whom do you seek help? To God or somebody else? God allows our vulnerabilities to make as realize our need of God. However, King Ahaz was already influenced with the leavened of idolatry. Thus, he was quick to ask help from a heathen king. Perhaps, he was oblivious for the fact that this was not just a military and political issue. It was a spiritual one. He left God in the equation altogether.

The situation became messy. Judah and Southern kingdom should have united to fight Syria and Assyria. Instead, they are turning against each other with their respective protectors. And, subjugation to their protectors was inevitable price to pay. Thus, Ahaz sent a message to Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria, saying, “I am your servant and your son. Come up and rescue me from the hand of the king of Syria and from the hand of the king of Israel, who are attacking me.” Ahaz was victorious over his enemies because of Assyria. Ironically, he was also a slave to Assyria. As a result, Ahaz took the silver and gold that was found in the house of the LORD and in the treasures of the king's house and gave all to him. This is the price of servitude. When God sets us free we are free indeed. Unlike God, Satan won’t gave favor without a corresponding price of serfdom. Paul had pointed this reality by saying, “Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness?[Rom 6:3] Thankfully, as His children, “our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin.”[Rom 6:6]

---------------------

Visit and FOLLOW Gospel Light Filipino on YouTube and Facebook

2 Kings 16:1-5 ESV

1 In the seventeenth year of Pekah the son of Remaliah, Ahaz the son of Jotham, king of Judah, began to reign. 2 Ahaz was twenty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. And he did not do what was right in the eyes of the Lord his God, as his father David had done, 3 but he walked in the way of the kings of Israel. He even burned his son as an offering, according to the despicable practices of the nations whom the Lord drove out before the people of Israel. 4 And he sacrificed and made offerings on the high places and on the hills and under every green tree.

EMBRACING THE ABOMINABLE

Ahaz was an evil king of judah. Strangely, he “walked in the ways of the kings of Israel.” That is, he was influenced not by the values of his own family but the lifestyle of the kings of the northern kingdom. Why? There are no easy answers but this just showed the lack of godly influence in the home. One of the reasons could be the pursuit of novelty of a young, naïve king. He was fascinated to explore and adopt what was new regardless whether these were abominable before God.

He who befriend the enemy will imbibe his values. He did the unthinkable. “He even burned his son as an offering, according to the despicable practices of the nations whom the Lord drove out before the people of Israel. And he sacrificed and made offerings on the high places and on the hills and under every green tree.”[v 3,4] This was the last straw at the camel’s back. It’s the zenith of an abominable act when the king himself did it. It is claimed that the Ben Hinom valley was the site of worship for the Molech god. Views are varied as to how exactly the god was served, but it involved either burning (to death) or singeing [burning partially].

Wickedness is as a weed that can spread its roots vigorously and rapidly unnoticed in the garden of our hearts. Unless, it is uprooted while it is small, its influence will be fatal. King Ahaz had totally abandoned Jehovah and embraced the pagan gods, without reservation.

James has warned us vehemently against befriending the world. He said, “You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.”[Jas 4:4] King Ahaz may had became unconscionable about his wicked and abominable acts. Thus we must be aware about the deceitfulness of sin to cause the hardness of our hearts. Let’s always ask God to help us have a contrite heart before Him.

---------------------------------

Visit and FOLLOW Gospel Light Filipino on YouTube and Facebook

2 Kings 15:32-38 

32 In the second year of Pekah the son of Remaliah, king of Israel, Jotham the son of Uzziah, king of Judah, began to reign. 33 He was twenty-five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Jerusha the daughter of Zadok. 34 And he did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, according to all that his father Uzziah had done. 35 Nevertheless, the high places were not removed. The people still sacrificed and made offerings on the high places. He built the upper gate of the house of the LORD. 36 Now the rest of the acts of Jotham and all that he did, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah? 37 In those days the LORD began to send Rezin the king of Syria and Pekah the son of Remaliah against Judah. 38 Jotham slept with his fathers and was buried with his fathers in the city of David his father, and Ahaz his son reigned in his place.

GOD’S TOLERANCE IS NOT GOD’S APPROVAL

King Jotham was a good king following the footseps of his father Uzziah’s earlier reign. And, perhaps, he learned a lesson to what happened to his father, he did not enter into the temple of the Lord. According to 2 Chron 27:2, “And he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord according to all that his father Uzziah had done, except he did not enter the temple of the Lord. But the people still followed corrupt practices.”

He was commended for learning what should he not follow about his father’s actions in temple worship. Indeed, children are watching their fathers’ lives so that they can learn from their mistakes themselves. His father Uzziah’s pride that resulted to leprosy was too serious to ignore. Perhaps he learned to follow God because of fear of the consequence but not by his love for God.

He was blessed to become powerful for he walked steadfastly before the Lord his God” (2 Chron 27:6). He fortified his kingdom by rebuilding the Upper Gate of the temple. And, he built the wall at the hill of Ophel and towns, forts, and towers (2 Chron 27:3–4). However, he failed to remove the high places so the people could continue to make sacrifices there (2 Kings 15:35).

God is the strength of the kingdom suppose to be. But, Jotham had played enough politics taking for granted the effect of the worship of idols. For him, there was no problem for the people and his kingdom are doing well. The good result of our compromising actions and decisions don’t make them right, do they? It’s sad when God’s tolerance is mistaken as God’s approval. Just that God has blessed us materially doesn’t mean that he approved the means for it. Grace is not permissive to continue sinning but power to overcome sin.

-------------------------

Visit and FOLLOW Gospel Light Filipino on YouTube, Facebook and Instagram

2 Kings 15:23-31 ESV

23 In the fiftieth year of Azariah king of Judah, Pekahiah the son of Menahem began to reign over Israel in Samaria, and he reigned two years. 24 And he did what was evil in the sight of the LORD. He did not turn away from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, which he made Israel to sin. 25 And Pekah the son of Remaliah, his captain, conspired against him with fifty men of the people of Gilead, and struck him down in Samaria, in the citadel of the king's house with Argob and Arieh; he put him to death and reigned in his place. 26 Now the rest of the deeds of Pekahiah and all that he did, behold, they are written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel.

27 In the fifty-second year of Azariah king of Judah, Pekah the son of Remaliah began to reign over Israel in Samaria, and he reigned twenty years. 28 And he did what was evil in the sight of the Lord. He did not depart from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, which he made Israel to sin.

29 In the days of Pekah king of Israel, Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria came and captured Ijon, Abel-beth-maacah, Janoah, Kedesh, Hazor, Gilead, and Galilee, all the land of Naphtali, and he carried the people captive to Assyria. 30 Then Hoshea the son of Elah made a conspiracy against Pekah the son of Remaliah and struck him down and put him to death and reigned in his place, in the twentieth year of Jotham the son of Uzziah. 31 Now the rest of the acts of Pekah and all that he did, behold, they are written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel.

SLOWLY BUT SURELY

Someday asked, “How to eat an elephant?” One chew at a time is the witty answer. Bit by bit, the Northern Kingdom eventually fell to the Assyrians during the reign of Hosea. During King Menahem’s reign, he paid tribute to Pul [Tiglath Pezer], the king of Assyria, so that there was a temporary respite. “The king of Assyria turned back and did not stay there in the land.”[v.20] But, he stood as the threat on the horizon because Aram had given way to Assyria as the great northern army. After Menahem, his son Pekahiah reigned only to be assasinated by Pekah, one of his chief officers. Argob and Arieh were assasinated too, who perhaps were Pekahiah’s sons.

Pekah’s reign of 20 years was longer than his predecessors combined. However, he noticed that Tiglath-Pileser [Pul] had indeed replaced Aram as the great foe. “He came and captured Ijon, Abel-beth-maacah, Janoah, Kedesh, Hazor, Gilead, and Galilee, all the land of Naphtali, and he carried the people captive to Assyria.”[v.29] After his assasination, the kingdom led by his killer Hosea eventually fell under the Assyrian kingdom.

In the same manner, the enslavement of sin comes from one compromise to another. The approach of our enemy is as a guerella tactical skirmishes. Their little advancement may be taken for granted so that encroachment will be inevitable in the future. The dam collapses when a small leak is unattended. The roof fell when a little hole is taken for granted. Thus, we should not let any foothold of the enemy to wield his power. By His grace, let’s nip the bud of sin for a little leaven will leaven the whole lump in a matter of time. James said, “But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.” [Jas 1:14,15]

-------------------------

Visit and FOLLOW Gospel Light Filipino on YouTube, Facebook and Instagram

2 Kings 15:16-22 ESV

16 At that time Menahem sacked Tiphsah and all who were in it and its territory from Tirzah on, because they did not open it to him. Therefore he sacked it, and he ripped open all the women in it who were pregnant.

17 In the thirty-ninth year of Azariah king of Judah, Menahem the son of Gadi began to reign over Israel, and he reigned ten years in Samaria. 18 And he did what was evil in the sight of the Lord. He did not depart all his days from all the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, which he made Israel to sin. 19 Pul the king of Assyria came against the land, and Menahem gave Pul a thousand talents of silver, that he might help him to confirm his hold on the royal power. 20 Menahem exacted the money from Israel, that is, from all the wealthy men, fifty shekels of silver from every man, to give to the king of Assyria. So the king of Assyria turned back and did not stay there in the land. 21 Now the rest of the deeds of Menahem and all that he did, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel? 22 And Menahem slept with his fathers, and Pekahiah his son reigned in his place.

AN ABUSE OF POWER.

“Absolute power corrupts absolutely” is a cliché known to many. The problem lies not in having an authority per se. It’s the wicked person who abuses his authority or power . King Menahem was such a despot. He was governed by his selfish and vindictive impulse.

When the place of Tirzah opposed him, he “sacked it, and he ripped open all the women in it who were pregnant.” It must have been a horrible sight to have the place littered with dead pregnant women with fetuses at their sides.

Just to stay on his throne, Menahem gave Pul[Tiglath Pileser], the king of Assyria, a thousand talents of silver as a tribute. Like holding to the edge of the sword, he turned an enemy by burdening his subjects. Thus, he exacted the money from Israel, that is, from all the wealthy men, fifty shekels of silver from every man, to give to the king of Assyria. Certainly, he did everything he could just to stay in power.

All earthly powers are delegated by God, directly or indirectly. As such, they are subjects to God. “The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything. And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place.” [Acts 17:24-26] In other words, God in His sovereignty may allow a wicked king to reign for His purpose. As Psa 76:10 declares, “Surely the wrath of man shall praise you; the remnant of wrath you will put on like a belt.” An abusive authority may always think that he is in absolute control but the reality is that he is not. God is in absolute control. Thus, evil won’t be perpetual.

-----------------------

Visit and FOLLOW Gospel Light Filipino on YouTube, Facebook and Instagram

2 Kings 15:8-15 ESV

8 In the thirty-eighth year of Azariah king of Judah, Zechariah the son of Jeroboam reigned over Israel in Samaria six months. 9 And he did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, as his fathers had done. He did not depart from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, which he made Israel to sin. 10 Shallum the son of Jabesh conspired against him and struck him down at Ibleam and put him to death and reigned in his place. 11 Now the rest of the deeds of Zechariah, behold, they are written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel. 12 (This was the promise of the Lord that he gave to Jehu, “Your sons shall sit on the throne of Israel to the fourth generation.” And so it came to pass.)

13 Shallum the son of Jabesh began to reign in the thirty-ninth year of Uzziah king of Judah, and he reigned one month in Samaria. 14 Then Menahem the son of Gadi came up from Tirzah and came to Samaria, and he struck down Shallum the son of Jabesh in Samaria and put him to death and reigned in his place. 15 Now the rest of the deeds of Shallum, and the conspiracy that he made, behold, they are written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel.

A BAD REPUTATION.

Zechariah sat on the throne after Jeroboam II. But his evil reign just lasted for six months. He was assassinated by Shallum, son of Jabesh. And as the great grandson of Jehu, this fulfilled the pronouncement of God to Jehu’s descendants reign to end in the fourth generation. [see 2 Kings 10:30] It gave the impression of God’s accumulated wrath that burst the moment Jehu reigned.

God’s word must be respected. Jehu’s descendants continued to make God angry by their idolatry. They ignored the warning of God. God seemed silent and even had blessed their kingdom until Jehu was assassinated. How many times we take God’s word casually? Then, a backlash happened and it was a little too late to realize our neglect.

On the other hand, Shallum even reigned in just a month for Menahem, son of Gad, murdered him. He reaped what he had sown. There was nothing to remember in his reign except that he killed his predecessor, Zechariah. A murderer king who was being murdered too. His name is written in the annals of Israel’s history but with a stigma of bad reputation.

How would you like people to remember you? Solomon said, “A good name is better than precious ointment.”[Ecc 7:1a] How long would a sweet smell last? In contrast, a good reputation will continue to linger. May God will help us to finish our task with a good name, thereby giving glory to the Lord.

-----------------------

Visit and FOLLOW Gospel Light Filipino on YouTube, Facebook and Instagram

2 Kings 15:1-7 ESV

In the twenty-seventh year of Jeroboam king of Israel, Azariah the son of Amaziah, king of Judah, began to reign. 2 He was sixteen years old when he began to reign, and he reigned fifty-two years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Jecoliah of Jerusalem. 3 And he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, according to all that his father Amaziah had done. 4 Nevertheless, the high places were not taken away. The people still sacrificed and made offerings on the high places. 5 And the Lord touched the king, so that he was a leper to the day of his death, and he lived in a separate house. And Jotham the king's son was over the household, governing the people of the land. 6 Now the rest of the acts of Azariah, and all that he did, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah? 7 And Azariah slept with his fathers, and they buried him with his fathers in the city of David, and Jotham his son reigned in his place.

FROM LOFTINESS TO LEPROSY

King Azariah [Uzziah], who reigned for 52 years, was one of the longest reigning king in Judah. He was a good king at his early years of reign. “He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, according to all that his father Amaziah had done. He set himself to seek God in the days of Zechariah, who instructed him in the fear of God, and as long as he sought the Lord, God made him prosper.” (2 Chronicles 26:4,5). He was a gifted and innovative king so that his kingdom prospered tremendously. However, he changed during his later years after Zechariah died. until the Lord ‘touched’ him. He became a leper and died in a separate house. In other words, he was alone and isolated.

What has caused his downfall?

Sadly, King Uzziah’s fame and strength had prompted him to become proud.(2 Chron 26:16). He committed an irreverent act by entering into the temple of God in order to burn incense on the altar. Clearly, this was something only the priests could do. By this presumptuous act, he was basically saying he was above the Law.. When he was confronted by the 80 courageous priests, he became furious instead of being broken. He was far from being humble so that God was displeased. Pride, indeed, happens before every fall. [Prov 16:18]

Thus, let’s be warned not to harbor a proud attitude. Why? “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”[1 Pet 5:5] God resists the proud. That is, a proud person is as somebody declaring war with God. Such person is foolhardy thinking that kicking the thorns will hurt it and not himself. The blessings of God could be so glaring to our spiritual eyes. We may lost sight to the Blessor and become proud. And, for being proud, one is hardened and deceived impervious to the voice of God. Simply put, a proud person is spiritually blind and deaf. May God gives us soft hearts always.

-----------------------

Visit and FOLLOW Gospel Light Filipino on YouTube and Facebook