Joash's son Amaziah succeeded him to the throne. He followed God, but halfheartedly at best. The end result was he was taken captive by Jehoash, the king of Israel and who then broke down part of the wall of Jerusalem and took all the gold and silver from the temple. He suffered the same end that all of the kings who turned to other gods did. From the time that Amaziah turned away from following the LORD, they conspired against him in Jerusalem and he fled to Lachish, but they sent men after him to Lachish and killed him there - Chron. 25:27 NIV
Amaziah's son Uzziah succeeded him. Like his father, he followed God, up to a point. But after Uzziah became powerful, his pride led to his downfall. He was unfaithful to the LORD his God, and entered the temple of the LORD to burn incense on the altar of incense....Uzziah rested with his fathers and was buried near them in a field for burial that belonged to the kings, for people said, "He had leprosy." - 2 Chron 26:16 NIV
Uzziah was followed by Jotham who started out following God like his father and grandfather. However, unlike them, Jotham grew powerful because he walked steadfastly before the LORD his God. - 2 Chron 27:6 NIV
After Uzziah his son Ahaz followed. Ahaz, however, made no pretense about being a follower of God. He walked in the ways of the kings of Israel and also made cast idols for worshiping the Baals. He burned sacrifices in the Valley of Ben Hinnom and sacrificed his sons in the fire, following the detestable ways of the nations the LORD had driven out before the Israelites. He offered sacrifices and burned incense at the high places, on the hilltops and under every spreading tree. Therefore the LORD his God handed him over to the king of Aram. - 2 Chron. 28:3-5
Is it any wonder that the Lord appeared to Isaiah during this time, causing him to record the following: In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the LORD sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple. - Isaiah 6:1 KJV
And is it any wonder that the Lord told Isaiah:
"Go and tell this people:
"'Be ever hearing, but never understanding;
be ever seeing, but never perceiving.' " - Isaiah 6:9 NIV
Four generations of kings, and only one could really see. The rest were blinded by power.
No comments:
Post a Comment