2 Chronicles 26
The next king in Jerusalem after Joash was his son, who did partly right, but not with a loving heart to God, so it was not long until he brought idols from another land and bowed down to them. When a man of God told him those idols had not helped the people who made them, he threatened to put the man in prison, and kept on his evil way (Chaps. 25).
After his death, Uzziah, his young son, became king and ruled longer than any king before him, and did much good for the people. He had strong watchtowers built on the city walls, by the gates and at the corners; he had weapons made to hurl big stones and arrows from the walls; and many spears, bows, slings, and all things used for battle in those times; so the soldiers were well fitted to protect the city if an enemy came.
But this king liked best the work for the gardens, fields, vineyards and cattle. He had cisterns or wells made in all parts of the land, so there would he water for the flocks and herds; and towers built where the men could stay to watch the flocks and vineyards, to keep wild animals or thieves away.
Uzziah became a rich and mighty ruler, and for a long time was willing to do right, but later he became proud and thought he could do whatever he pleased.
Men of the temple told the king that it would not be an honor to God for him to do this. But he would not listen, and had the censer in his hand when God suddenly sent upon him the disease of leprosy. Uzziah hurried from the temple, and could not go there again, nor in the house for the king any more, but had to live in a separate house the rest of his life.
This king knew God’s laws, and also there were men, called prophets, sent by God to remind him and the people of those laws, and to tell them what trouble would come if they would not do right. Those prophets also wrote the words God told them, and we too may read them, (see Isaiah 1:11The vision of Isaiah the son of Amoz, which he saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah. (Isaiah 1:1); Hosea 1:11The word of the Lord that came unto Hosea, the son of Beeri, in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, and in the days of Jeroboam the son of Joash, king of Israel. (Hosea 1:1); Amos 1:11The words of Amos, who was among the herdmen of Tekoa, which he saw concerning Israel in the days of Uzziah king of Judah, and in the days of Jeroboam the son of Joash king of Israel, two years before the earthquake. (Amos 1:1)). How old was Uzziah when he became king and how long did he rule? (Verse 3).
ML 09/03/1939