Uzziah (Azariah) King of Judah

Introduction

I began to name this the ‘Bible Person Study’, but chose to go with the ‘Bible Character Study’. I hesitated to name it that, as I don’t want to diminish the fact that these are real people we’ll be examining. But the reason that it’s named the Bible Character Study is because we’ll be focusing on the person’s character throughout. But don’t forget that these were real people, with real lives that made real choices that had real consequences.

Azariah (def) The Lord has helped.

Uzziah (def) The Lord is my strength.

I. Uzziah’s Nature

((What is their History / Background?)

9th King of Judah

Rehoboam, Abijam, Asa, Jehoshaphat, Jehoram, Ahaziah (Athaliah), Joash, Amaziah

Took the Throne at 16 years old

After the Conspiracy against His Father (2Chr. 25:27-28)

We see here the second conspiracy against a king of Judah. While these were more frequent in the Northern Kingdom, they were too here in the Southern Kingdom.

The first was against King Jehoash. (2Chr. 24:15-27)

The second was here.

But does anyone notice a common theme?

2 Chronicles 24:25 “And when they were departed from him, (for they left him in great diseases,) his own servants conspired against him for the blood of the sons of Jehoiada the priest, and slew him on his bed, and he died: and they buried him in the city of David, but they buried him not in the sepulchres of the kings.”

2 Chronicles 25:27 “Now after the time that Amaziah did turn away from following the Lord they made a conspiracy against him in Jerusalem; and he fled to Lachish: but they sent to Lachish after him, and slew him there.”

Neither was killed so that the conspirator could take his place on the throne. They were killed for turning their back and sinning against God. None of the conspirators tried to assume the throne. In fact in this instance the people took Uzziah, only 16 years old at the time, and made him king.

Reigned for 52 Years

An extremely long time

During the Reigns of Jeroboam II; Zachariah; Shallum; Menahem & Pekahiah Kings of Israel

It was during Uzziah's reign whereby the line of Jehu would end in the Northern Kingdom and there would be some turnover and turmoil happening there.

II. Uzziah’s Notoriety

(What they are known for?)

2nd Longest Reign in Judah

Only Menasseh would reign longer @ 55

He followed the LORD and Prospered, But…

The Bible tells us in straightforward fashion the ebb and flow of the life of Uzziah. He would begin at a young age, at just sixteen years old, and he had a good spiritual mentor. Key verse: 2 Chronicles 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.”

God blessed his goings.

He Erred and became a Leper

Then we see a shift. We see that Uzziah the king tried to act like he was a priest. God smote him with leprosy and that's the way he ended his reign.

III. What Makes him Noteworthy

(What Lessons we can Learn from them?)

Spiritual Mentors Matter (v5a)

We see another note in the life of Uzziah, much like we saw in the life of Joash.

In fact there are some other similarities between these two.

They both took the throne at a young age.

They both began well but ended poorly.

Both of them had a spiritual mentor to help them.

Spiritual mentors matter.

We should recognize and cherish the ones we have

It's easy to get high-minded and think that we know everything and don't need any help or instruction but that's nothing more than pride speaking. We all have or should have some spiritual mentors that we can look up to.

We should recognize that we are in many ways mentors to others.

It's a great responsibility but we should take it on and try our best to help others in the things of God.

We must recognize though that while Spiritual Mentors matter, they cannot be our crutch. We must learn to find stability in the Holy Ghost.

Spiritual mentors matter.

God speaks of the Importance of Border Walls Extensively (v6; 9)

I've said time and again that there are many things in our daily political life that the Bible addresses if we just look for it. One of those issues is the necessity of border walls.

This, of course, was a huge topic a few years ago and if you recall how it was presented

We were told that border walls wouldn’t stop the problem

We were told that border walls were dumb & antiquated, etc.

But the fact of the matter is, border walls work. This is why there's such a stress on it in scripture.

We go back to Amaziah's day. (2Chr. 25:23) And Uzziah's wall around Jerusalem was torn down and God made note of it and also the mischief that followed.

Now in his son Uzziah's day we see that Uzziah is the one that is tearing down walls and reigning victoriously.

Border walls are not racist. They are to keep people out to protect those that are in.

God speaks extensively about border walls.

Sometimes you need to Take the Fight to the Enemy (v7)

You notice here that in verses 6 and 7 the Bible does not say that the Philistines warred against Israel but that Israel warred against the Philistines.

Throughout scripture you can see it going both ways but my point is it's okay to take the fight to the enemy.

You can examine this from multiple levels.

(Ill.) Let's think about that war in Iran right now. I am not a fan of war. I don't care which party is bringing it. Often times we have wars that drag out for years so as to fund the military industrial complex.

That being said to take the position that you have to sit back and wait for someone to drop a nuke on you before you are justified and going to war is ridiculous.

Romans 12:18 “If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.”

This of course should be our mindset. We should always seek peace but You are not living peaceably when you are enduring threats of violence.

Secondly let's look at it on a more personal level.

(Ill.) Consider the LGBT movement. Since the 1970’s, this agenda has been fighting Biblical traditional values and largely, the general populace - and especially the church - has been silent - and what has it got us?

Not only Sodomite relationships normalized, but legitimatized in marriage

And then you’d think that would bring the issue to a close - but no.

Now we have:

Men in women’s sports

Men in women’s locker rooms & bathrooms

Gender confused people

Chemically castrating children - sometimes even without the parents knowledge

Children taken away from parents because the parents refuse to ‘acknowledge’ their children’s gender confusion

This is just where we’re at - where do you think we’re going? You think it can’t get worse?

Consider Sodom (Gen. 19:4-5) They had the city so confused that they were sodomizing people AGAINST THEIR WILL - old and young.

Know this: The next frontier on the sexual agenda is children. NO I’M NOT SAYING THAT LGBTX PEOPLE ARE INHERENTLY PEDOPHILES - WHAT I AM SAYING IS THAT WE HAVE OPENED A PANDORA’S BOX, FOR WHEN YOU JUSTIFY ONE UNBIBLICAL SEXUAL ABNORMALITY, YOU HAVE NO JUSTIFICATION TO DENY OTHERS!

We need to ‘head this off at the pass’ and fight back for Biblical standards, because we’ve not seen the end of this yet.

Pride Destroys Men (v16)

Uzziah was doing wonderfully and God was blessing him. The thing that messed up his ministry and his life was a self-inflicted wound called pride.

He thought, because he held the rank of king and because God was blessing him like he was, that it gave him liberty to do what he wanted.

Proverbs 16:18 “Pride goeth before destruction, And an haughty spirit before a fall.”

Proverbs 11:2 “When pride cometh, then cometh shame: But with the lowly is wisdom.”

Proverbs 29:23 “A man’s pride shall bring him low: But honour shall uphold the humble in spirit.”

Solomon wrote a lot about pride. He himself was lifted up and wandered from God in his final years.

Pride will do more damage to you thank you can realize.

Pride destroys men

God’s People Must Stand for What is Right

In these few verses you see a group of men that stood against the king.

Do you know why our country is in the shape it is in morally? Because God's people sat by and let it happen. FROM THE PULPIT TO THE PEW.

If we’re going to see a change in our society, God’s people must stand fro what is right! (Read Ephesians 6:10–14 “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore…”

It takes Courage (v14)

It's going to take courage.

Many people have a misunderstanding of what courage is. Courage is not the absence of fear but doing and saying the things necessary in spite of it.

(Ill.) Imagine how hard it was to stand against the king of the land in that day!

I love the way it describes these men: valiant. It's a term often used to describe warriors.

It takes courage

It takes a Team (v17)

Notice Azariah didn't go in by himself but there were eighty priests that went in with him.

If we consider the issues of our day, they are far too great for us to think that one man can correct the ills alone. There must be people there to support and to help.

(Ill.) I think of my situation with this election. I'm doing all I can but there's no way that I can do it alone. Thankfully there have been people to support me and pray for me.

But it takes a team when you are faced with an issue such as this.

It requires Tension (v18)

This is a thing that people are really not comfortable with and that is tension or confrontation but whenever you are facing a problem, this is coming.

This is one of the things that keeps people from dealing with problems.

(Ill.) As a pastor I've had to deal with many problems over the years. In every one of them there was always a tension there. Some people like confrontation; I don't but unfortunately it's a necessary thing you must deal with when you're in a position of leadership.

And that's the thing, church: we're all called to some form of leadership in a sense when we are carrying forth the gospel into the world. We must know that it's possible we'll face tense moments with people.

It requires Tension

It requires Action (v20)

It's not enough to think or to feel a certain way but action must be taken.

This has been one of the problems in the church over the last 50, 70 years. We've felt one way but we just wag our heads and go on without really doing anything about it.

It would have been easy for Azariah the priest to look at him, wag his head, and say, "The king shouldn't be doing that," but he stepped up and took action.

It requires action and then expect God to move.

Expect God to Move (v19)

You've heard of the term "putting feet to your prayers"? This is what that looks like.

You do what you know is to be right and then expect God to do what you cannot. That's what faith is.

God did not leave Azariah out to dry but he backed him up in his rebuke of the king.

Expect God to move.

Know your Role (v18)

This is a simple principle: know your role. Know where it is God wants you to be and what God wants you to do and stay there.

God had placed Uzziah as a king but instead of staying in that role he sinned when he tried to become the priest. God had a priest. What he needed was a king.

(Ill.) I know of several churches that have split up because a young man who was not called to be their pastor would rise up and inject himself in that role.

But on the flip side there's this.

There are some who God has a role for them but they will not even accept that one much less than others.

Know the role that God has for you and get there. Stay there.

Sin Separates Man from God (v21)

Uzziah's sin cost him dearly in his relationship with God.

A Biblical / Baptist doctrine much maligned is ‘Eternal Security’. (Once saved, always saved). And this is because of two things:

Men don’t understand the definition of the word “Grace”

Men think salvation is the only thing that matters… it’s not.

There’s a Relationship and then there’s Fellowship (Illustrate)

Fellowship matters. You can be in a relationship and yet have no fellowship. (Ill.) How many marriages are like this?

(Ill.) The prodigal son

There’s many Scripture detailing the division that happens with sin and hinders a Christians prayers:

Isaiah 59:1–2 “Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; Neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, And your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.”

Psalm 66:18 “If I regard iniquity in my heart, The Lord will not hear me:”

John 9:31 “Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth.”

Sin separates man from God

Conclusion