2 Kings 15:1-7 ESV

In the twenty-seventh year of Jeroboam king of Israel, Azariah the son of Amaziah, king of Judah, began to reign. 2 He was sixteen years old when he began to reign, and he reigned fifty-two years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Jecoliah of Jerusalem. 3 And he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, according to all that his father Amaziah had done. 4 Nevertheless, the high places were not taken away. The people still sacrificed and made offerings on the high places. 5 And the Lord touched the king, so that he was a leper to the day of his death, and he lived in a separate house. And Jotham the king's son was over the household, governing the people of the land. 6 Now the rest of the acts of Azariah, and all that he did, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah? 7 And Azariah slept with his fathers, and they buried him with his fathers in the city of David, and Jotham his son reigned in his place.

Nang ikadalawampu't pitong taon ni Jeroboam na hari ng Israel, si Azarias na anak ni Amasias na hari ng Juda ay nagsimulang maghari. 2 Siya'y labing-anim na taong gulang nang siya'y magsimulang maghari; at siya'y naghari ng limampu't dalawang taon sa Jerusalem. Ang pangalan ng kanyang ina ay Jecolia na taga-Jerusalem. 3 Siya'y gumawa ng matuwid sa mga mata ng PANGINOON, ayon sa lahat ng ginawa ng kanyang amang si Amasias. 4 Gayunma'y hindi inalis ang matataas na dako; ang bayan ay patuloy na nag-alay at nagsunog ng insenso sa matataas na dako. 5 At sinaktan ng PANGINOON ang hari, at siya'y isang ketongin hanggang sa araw ng kanyang kamatayan, at siya'y tumira sa isang bukod na bahay. At si Jotam na anak ng hari ang tagapamahala ng sambahayan, na humahatol sa sambayanan ng lupain. 6 Ang iba sa mga gawa ni Azarias, at ang lahat ng kanyang ginawa, di ba nakasulat ang mga iyon sa Aklat ng mga Kasaysayan ng mga Hari ng Juda? 7 At si Azarias ay natulog na kasama ng kanyang mga ninuno. Kanilang inilibing siya na kasama ng kanyang mga ninuno sa lunsod ni David; si Jotam na kanyang anak ay nagharing kapalit niya.

FROM LOFTINESS TO LEPROSY

King Azariah [Uzziah], who reigned for 52 years, was one of the longest reigning king in Judah. He was a good king at his early years of reign. “He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, according to all that his father Amaziah had done. He set himself to seek God in the days of Zechariah, who instructed him in the fear of God, and as long as he sought the Lord, God made him prosper.” (2 Chronicles 26:4,5). He was a gifted and innovative king so that his kingdom prospered tremendously. However, he changed during his later years after Zechariah died. until the Lord ‘touched’ him. He became a leper and died in a separate house. In other words, he was alone and isolated.

What has caused his downfall?

Sadly, King Uzziah’s fame and strength had prompted him to become proud.(2 Chron 26:16). He committed an irreverent act by entering into the temple of God in order to burn incense on the altar. Clearly, this was something only the priests could do. By this presumptuous act, he was basically saying he was above the Law.. When he was confronted by the 80 courageous priests, he became furious instead of being broken. He was far from being humble so that God was displeased. Pride, indeed, happens before every fall. [Prov 16:18]

Thus, let’s be warned not to harbor a proud attitude. Why? “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”[1 Pet 5:5] God resists the proud. That is, a proud person is as somebody declaring war with God. Such person is foolhardy thinking that kicking the thorns will hurt it and not himself. The blessings of God could be so glaring to our spiritual eyes. We may lost sight to the Blessor and become proud. And, for being proud, one is hardened and deceived impervious to the voice of God. Simply put, a proud person is spiritually blind and deaf. May God gives us soft hearts always.


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