Day 28 – Faithfulness

2 Chronicles 26:1 Now the people of Judah took Uzziah, who was sixteen years old, and made him king instead of his father Amaziah. 2 He built Elath and restored it to Judah, after the king rested with his fathers. 3 Uzziah was sixteen years old when he became king, and he reigned fifty-two years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Jecholiah of Jerusalem. 4 He did what was right in the sight of JEHOVAH, according to everything his father Amaziah had done. 5 He sought Elohiym in the days of Zechariah, who had understanding in the visions of Elohiym; and if he sought JEHOVAH, Elohiym made him prosper.

 6 Now he went out and made war against the Philistines, and broke down the wall of Gath, the wall of Jabneh, and the wall of Ashdod; and he built cities around Ashdod and among the Philistines.

 7 Elohiym helped him against the Philistines, against the Arabians who lived in Gur Baal, and against the Meunites. 8 Also, the Ammonites brought tribute to Uzziah. His fame spread as far as the entrance of Egypt, for he became strong.

 9 Uzziah built towers in Jerusalem at the Corner Gate, at the Valley Gate, and at the corner buttress of the wall; then he fortified them. 10 Also, he built towers in the desert. He dug many wells, for he had much livestock, both in the lowlands and in the plains; he also had farmers and vinedressers in the mountains and in Carmel, for he loved the soil.

 11 Moreover, Uzziah had an army of fighting men who went out to war by companies, according to the number on their roll as prepared by Jeiel the scribe and Maaseiah the officer, under the hand of Hananiah, one of the king’s captains. 12 The total number of chief officers of the mighty men of valor was two thousand six hundred. 13 Under their authority was an army of three hundred and seven thousand five hundred, that made war with mighty power, to help the king against the enemy.

 14 Then Uzziah prepared for them, for the entire army, shields, spears, helmets, body armor, bows, and slings to cast stones. 15 He made devices in Jerusalem, invented by skillful men, to be on the towers and the corners, to shoot arrows and large stones. Thus, his fame spread far and wide, for he was helped till he became strong. 16 However, when he was strong he lifted his heart, to his destruction, for he transgressed against JEHOVAH his Elohiym by entering the temple of JEHOVAH to burn incense on the altar of incense.

 17 Then Azariah the priest went in after him, and with him were eighty priests of JEHOVAH—valiant men. 18 They withstood King Uzziah, and said to him, “It is not for you, Uzziah, to burn incense to JEHOVAH, but for the priests, the sons of Aaron, who are consecrated to burn incense. Get out of the sanctuary, for you have trespassed! You will have no honor from JEHOVAH Elohiym.”

 19 Then Uzziah became furious; and he had a censer in his hand to burn incense. While he was angry with the priests, leprosy broke out on his forehead, before the priests in the house of JEHOVAH, beside the incense altar.

 20 Azariah, the chief priest, and the priests looked at him, and there, on his forehead, he was leprous; so, they thrust him out of that place. Indeed, he also hurried to get out, because JEHOVAH had struck him.

 21 King Uzziah was a leper until the day of his death. He dwelt in an isolated house, because he was a leper; for he was cut off from the house of JEHOVAH. Then Jotham, his son, was over the king’s house, judging the people of the land.

 22 Now the rest of the acts of Uzziah, from first to last, the prophet Isaiah the son of Amoz wrote.

 23 Then Uzziah rested with his fathers, and they buried him with his fathers in the field of burial which belonged to the kings, for they said, “He is a leper.” Then Jotham, his son, reigned in his place.

God’s names:

JEHOVAH – Self-existent, Eternal

Elohiym – Supreme God

Yeshuwa – Jesus

God’s character:

Holy

Sovereign

Everyone has moments of regret. People live their lives as they plan, and in a moment of arrogance, everything they worked for disappears.

Uzziah had everything. He was the king of Judah. He built cities, built up his armies, went to war, gained notoriety among the people, and then in a moment of arrogance, went into the temple to sacrifice to Elohiym, which only the priests could do as Moses appointed them according to JEHOVAH’S command. When he did, Uzziah became leprous and hurried from the temple. His son, then, took control of the country until Uzziah died.

You see a lot of arrogance among Christian leaders with national and international ministries. They believe they’re untouchable because of their ministries. Yet, in moments of weakness their ministries topple. They give Christianity a bad name. Christian leaders don’t need to have a public ministry to bring shame to themselves. Many congregations become split because their leaders presume Yeshuwa will bless their work because they work in His name. However, not everything Christians do in Yeshuwa’s name comes from Yeshuwa.

King Uzziah thought he could go into the temple and sacrifice to Elohiym because he was the king. He couldn’t. Only those set apart for the work of the temple, the priests from the tribe of Levi, could enter the temple to sacrifice the offerings to JEHOVAH.

What you think you can do for Yeshuwa and what He tells you to do can be two different things. To know Yeshuwa’s heart and remain obedient to Him, you need to seek Him daily in Bible study, prayer, and in fellowship with other believers. When you do, you will know what Yeshuwa wants you to do to glorify Him. Your plans must line up with His plans for the work to bring glory to Him.

Uzziah’s plans didn’t glorify JEHOVAH. They brought shame and embarrassment to him. Don’t let a moment of arrogance shame you and destroy your work for Yeshuwa.

Let’s pray: Father, let the work I do for You, glorify You and bring a blessing in my life because I seek You first to know Your will. Let me never presume to know Your will but seek You in prayer and Bible study to know Your heart. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

Copyright © 15 February 2025 by Valerie Routhieaux