King Uzziah (Azariah)

When Israel was one nation the people wanted a king like the other nations. This was bad, because the LORD was their king, but he allowed them to choose a king and they chose king Saul because of his physical stature . He soon disobeyed the LORD and the Spirit of God left him and he was given bad spirits.

King David was the king that carried the lineage leading to the birth of Jesus, so he was the most important king, the king after God's own heart.

Solomon was known for wisdom and the wealth and splendor of Israel, but too many wives led to too many gods and his decline. After Solomon Israel was divided. The Northern 10 tribes were called Iarael and all of their kings were bad. The two southern tribes were Judah and Benjamin. Judah was called the southern kingdom and there was the city of Jerusalem and the temple of God.

What makes a good king is one who follows the LORD, a bad king does not. No one perfectly follows the LORD, so even the good kings failed in some ways. We should apply this principal to our leaders and to ourselves. Do we obey and follow the LORD?

There were twenty kings of Judah and Uzziah was the tenth. There were bad and good kings of Judah; here are the kings listed in order:

Rehoboam,was a bad king, Abijah was a bad king, Asa was a good king, Jehoshaphat was a good king, Jehoram was bad, Ahaziah was a bad king, Athaliah, a woman was bad, Joash was good, Amaziah was good, Uzziah or Azariah, was a good king, He is who we will be studying. After Uzziah was Jotham, a good king, Ahaz was bad, Hezekiah was good, Manasseh was bad, Amon was bad, Josiah was good, Jehoahaz was bad, Jehoiakim was bad, and Jehoachin was bad. Jerusalem falls into the hands of Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. He sets up a bad king Zedekiah for eleven years.

King Uzziah

Uzziah, "My Strength is Jehovah"; other names for Uzziah that are in the Bible; Azariah, and in the New Testament in Matthew's lineage chart he was listed as Ozias.

He began to reign as king at the age of sixteen.

2Ch 26:1 Then all the people of Judah took Uzziah, who was sixteen years old, and made him king in the room of his father Amaziah.

Uzziahs father was Amaziah, "Jehovah is Mighty"

2Ch 26:2 He built Eloth, and restored it to Judah, after that the king slept with his fathers.

Elath or Eloth = "grove of lofty trees"; a port on the north-east arm of the Red Sea in the land of Edom.

Like Uzziah's fathe, he had a strong army and he followed the LORD.

2Ch 25:2 And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, but not with a perfect heart.

We need to pray that our hearts be perfect before the LORD; the only way is through receiving Jesus as our Lord and saviour and continuing with him. We are not to have a divided heart.

1Jn 1:8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

1Jn 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

2Ch 26:3 Sixteen years old was Uzziah when he began to reign, and he reigned fifty and two years in Jerusalem. His mother's name also was Jecoliah of Jerusalem.

Jecoliah, "The LORD is Able", was his mother's name.

2Ch 26:4 And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his father Amaziah did.

This is good, he continued in the good things of his father. Most importantly he went to the LORD for direction.

2Ch 26:5 And he sought God in the days of Zechariah, who had understanding in the visions of God: and as long as he sought the LORD, God made him to prosper.

He had the prophet Zechariah who heard from the LORD and understood the visions of the LORD and as long as he sought the LORD he prospered. Prosperity tends to draw our attention away from God. He will not bless a people who will not come to him for their needs. Our real needs are not only physical, but also spiritual.

We must love God above all else.

Luk 10:27 And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.

3Jn 1:2 Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.

The LORD spoke through Zechariah:

Zec 1:2 The LORD hath been sore displeased with your fathers.

Zec 1:3 Therefore say thou unto them, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Turn ye unto me, saith the LORD of hosts, and I will turn unto you, saith the LORD of hosts.

Zec 1:4 Be ye not as your fathers, unto whom the former prophets have cried, saying, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Turn ye now from your evil ways, and from your evil doings: but they did not hear, nor hearken unto me, saith the LORD.

Zec 1:5 Your fathers, where are they? and the prophets, do they live for ever?

Zec 1:6 But my words and my statutes, which I commanded my servants the prophets, did they not take hold of your fathers? and they returned and said, Like as the LORD of hosts thought to do unto us, according to our ways, and according to our doings, so hath he dealt with us.

King Uzziah prospered and had success as he trusted the LORD. There were three prophets in his time: Zechariah, Hosea and Amos. The LORD was speaking in this time period. Do we seek the LORD's voice? We are to be watchmen and the LORD has other watchmen. He does nothing without telling us first.

2Ch 26:6 And he went forth and warred against the Philistines, and brake down the wall of Gath, and the wall of Jabneh, and the wall of Ashdod, and built cities about Ashdod, and among the Philistines.

God helped him in his military strength as well. Gath was the place where the giants dwelled. Goliath came from Gath.

2Ch 26:7 And God helped him against the Philistines, and against the Arabians that dwelt in Gurbaal, and the Mehunims.

2Ch 26:8 And the Ammonites gave gifts to Uzziah: and his name spread abroad even to the entering in of Egypt; for he strengthened himself exceedingly.

His fame spread even to Egypt, may the LORD receive the glory for the battles are his. May we also prosper in our spiritual battles. How may we gain spiritual ground? It begins with standing fast and not letting the enemy take any ground within the spiritual kingdom of God. The devil owns the nations, but those who trust in the LORD belong to God almighty.