2nd Kings 15 COUNTDOWN Generations of leadership passed in both Israel and Judah and occasionally there were temporarily recoveries to prosperity and spirituality. Under the leadership of Jeroboam II in Israel the nation prospered financially. Under the leadership of Azariah (Uzziah) Judah enjoyed peace and prosperity. The walls of Jerusalem were repaired and the city fortified. The devotion of Azariah to God affected the positively on the whole nation. But like those before him, he did not remove the pagan shrines that caused the people to mix their worship of God with other forms of religion.
We should not follow the practices of those who have gone before us without question. It is important that everything we do as individuals, assemblies and nations is according to the plans and will of God as revealed in the scriptures. It was good of Azariah to "do what was right in the sight of the Lord." It was wrong of him to not remove the places of pagan worship that misled the people. He did not use the authority that he had to accomplish that responsibility.
In his zeal for the Lord, Azariah (Uzziah) offered incense on the altar which was a priestly work, not the privilege of a king. He was smitten with leprosy by God and from then on served in a dual leadership with his son Jotham. This practice was not uncommon for those who were old and needed help, or were training the next generation to lead. In the case of Uzziah leprosy would keep him away from public life and a public role as the leader of the nation so Jotham ruled with him until his death.
As much as we appreciate the example and leadership of those who have gone before us, the only perfect example to follow is our Lord Jesus Christ. The limitations of others and ourselves are negative influences, but in our Lord, there was no limitations. We see in Him what God intends in one who leads and we should consciously seek to be committed to His example. There are those from whom we can learn such as the apostle Paul who said, "Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ."
In Israel the four generations of leadership promised to Jehu were coming to an end. Jeroboam II brought prosperity, power and a period of peace to the nation. When Zechariah, the son of Jeroboam became king, the nation started to disintegrate. He did evil and was also evil, so he was assassinated after being king for only six months. God kept His promise to Jehu, but payday always comes and evil will be punished. He had been warned by the prophet Amos that promoting idol worship would bring death. Sin is serious in every case, but when we are responsible for leading other people into sin by our influence, divine justice brings inevitable consequences.
Shallum had taken matters into his own hands when he killed Zechariah. He was only king for one month when what he did happened to him. He was assassinated by a man who was more evil than himself. The disintegration of Israel followed rapidly as one after another the leadership either died after only a short reign or were assassinated. The nation came under the domination of the Assyrians who began by exacting tribute from them and finally took much of their land and many of the people as slaves into Assyria. It is possible that in one generation, people who seeing the failure of their leaders to follow the Lord and followed them anyway, to go right from prosperity to slavery.
The people cannot avoid being seriously affected by their leaders. Leaders either encourage or discourage their people by their example. The way they organize the activities of their family, assembly or nation will make or break the work of the unit. it is important for fathers, elders and national leaders to promote faith in God rather than put obstacles to faith in place. Our influence will be felt for generations to come whether we like it or not. The last king of Israel was Hoshea, the man who killed Pekah, the leader before him.
While Pekah was king in Israel, Jotham the son of Azariah (Uzziah) became the king in Judah. It was during the time of Pekah's reign that Uzziah died and Isaiah saw the vision of the Lord "high and lifted up." He saw God's holiness and Israel's destruction. But he also saw beyond the imminent doom of the nation to the promise of the Messiah who would be born of a virgin and whose name would be "Immanuel" (God with us). It was then he prophesied of the future blessing that would come under the reign of our Lord.
In this day of departure from truth, morality, righteousness and integrity - deterioration and disintegration of a normal society will follow. We who know the Lord can look ahead in faith and see beyond the terrible things that are going on presently and that will happen, to the blessings yet to come. Even the united nation of Jews will have the promise of God fulfilled and will live in peace in the land promised to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. The lessons of history should awaken us to the reality of what happens when people get used to evil and the consequences that are sure to follow.
God is not done with His people. Israel is a chosen people who are unique in the world of nations. It was to them the earthly promises of God were given. It was through that nation the Messiah came to "put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself." It was from them the nations of the world are blessed. Those nations that favor Israel will be blessed even though Israel is such a small nation. Because Israel is the chosen nation to bring blessing to mankind through Christ, it has an undeniable influence on all the nations of earth. There are fewer citizens in Israel than there are in some states in this country, and yet the leaders of earth are rightly concerned when threats are made against Israel. They are the earthly people of God. Believers in the Lord Jesus Christ need to remember that we "who were not a people," are "now the people of God." We have obtained mercy and are Christ's "peculiar people" - His "purchased possession."
2Kings 15:34-35. “And he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord: he did according to all that his father Uzziah had done. Howbeit the high places were not removed: the people sacrificed and burned incense still in the high places. He built the higher gate of the house of the Lord.” SERIOUS EXCEPTIONS. It is a good thing when people return to the Lord It is a good thing to see people reading God’s Word It is a good thing when people turn from evil to God – But what about those idols you keep?
It is good when those who lead are compassionate and fair It is good when the needy are shown genuine and tender care It is good when the rich and the poor both share – But what about promises to God you don’t keep?
It is good when a nation finally has some peace It is good when parents tell the young about God’s grace It is good when churches and families talk freely about faith But what about obedience to God you don’t keep?
It is good to see people enjoying the blessings of life It is good to see obvious love between husband and wife It is good when the children grow up free of domestic strife – But what about inconsistencies children see?
It is good to see benefits from the labor you expend It is good to see the workers have some money to spend It is good to have confidence in the economy so people can borrow and lend – But what about illegal practices others can’t see?
It may be God is blessing us, but are we blessing Him? It may be things are better for us now than they have ever been It may seem like a better moral climate is about to begin – But half-hearted response to God’s will should never be.
“O God of all nations, I heard of Thy acts of blessing and retribution in other countries. Now both are seen in our country. Our losses are huge and our assets are too. We are the problem. As a nation we haven’t done away with evil in our attempts to do good. I pray for divine assistance that I will not allow evil to remain when I ask to do what is right. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, Amen.”