II Chronicles 26; II Kings 15:8-16:4
Today we finally get a more complete picture of King Uzziah (aka Azariah) of Judah. (A couple of days ago, we read II Kings 5:1-7, which gave us only the briefest overview of his 52-year reign. And then we read Isaiah 6:1: In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord…) For the most part, Uzziah does what is right, and the LORD blesses him and his kingdom. But when he was strong, he grew proud, to his destruction. (II Ch. 26:16a) In fact, the LORD strikes him with leprosy, and his son Jotham has to step up as coregent for the final years of Uzziah’s life.
How often we take credit for the Lord’s work and turn from humility to hubris! It is not only in these ancient stories, but all around us — or within us. I know I have certainly fallen into that trap. I come to the Lord seeking His help. He rescues and blesses me. Eventually I get comfortable and cocky and say, “I’ve got this!” I try to do things on my own, my way. And so the Lord has to bring me back down a notch or two. Rinse. Repeat. I’ve been through those steps more than a few times. I’ve managed to avoid leprosy so far, but maybe I should wise up…
Meanwhile, back in the Northern Kingdom of Israel, we run through a series of six kings: Zechariah, Shallum, Menahem, Pekahiah, Pekah, and Hoshea. (Spoiler alert: Hoshea is the last. No one comes after him in the Northern Kingdom…) Four of these six come to the throne by assassinating their predecessors. Such political upheaval within Israel and growing threats from without form the backdrop for Hosea’s preaching. For example, consider what Menahem does with Assyria:
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.
II Kings 15:19
Although paying tribute looks effective in the short run, this is what the LORD has to say through Hosea:
For they have gone up to Assyria,
Hosea 8:9-10
a wild donkey wandering alone;
Ephraim has hired lovers.
Though they hire allies among the nations,
I will soon gather them up.
And the king and princes shall soon writhe
because of the tribute.
Maybe going after other “lovers” — and refusing to seek the LORD — isn’t such a good idea after all.
The chronological Bible truly helps one to see how different passages of scripture are related, and your comments put them together nicely, John. Thanks again for your efforts!
As for our repeated patterns of behavior, I often wonder why God doesn’t give up and give us all leprosy!
Not sure why we keep slacking and falling back, but I do know and count on God, for He knows that we fall away, and He constantly and lovingly pulls us back. The pull of independence is falsely wooing us away, but God with His great love and compassion holds tight. He is teaching me that being dependent on Him brings a true independence from the world. His faithful love carries me and all of us.
Amen!