2Ch 26,27: "Uzziah gained great help from his contemporaries,
such as Zechariah (2Ch 26:5). There was also Amos (Amo 1:1), Hosea (Hos 1:1),
and Isaiah (Isa 1:1; esp Isa 6:1). but the king usurped his authority in the
matter of the temple, and received the physical consequences of his folly. The
record sets out: [1] Uzziah reigns by popular acclaim: vv 1-4. [2] His great
prosperity: v 5. [3] His international successes: vv 6-8. [4] The mighty
fortifications: vv 9,10. [5] His powerful army: vv 11-15. [6] His abject folly:
vv 16-21. [7] His reign summarised: vv 22,23. [8] Jotham's good reign: 2Ch
27:1,2. [9] Preparations for defence: vv. 3,4. [10] International relationships:
vv 5,6. [11] His reign summarised: vv 7-9.
"Uzziah was appointed king by the people, when the throne was
left vacant in Jerusalem through the foolish affinity of Jehoshaphat in allowing
his son Jehoram to marry Athaliah, and by the flight of Amaziah, whose name is
excluded in the chronology of Matthew. Jehoshaphat thus confused the marriage
covenant and compromised the ecclesia by associating with those of the north --
and the effects were now being felt in Judah. Compromise always brings confusion
and conflict. Like so many others, Uzziah commenced well (2Ch 26:5), but allowed
pride to overtake him (v 16). Uzziah's sin was mentally conceived before it was
actually committed. The leprosy he received thus appropriately struck him in the
forehead. Ct his leprous forehead with the forehead of the High Priest with the
same name, who bore the mitre: Yahweh Kadesh, Holiness to Yahweh (Exo 28:36-38).
Leprosy was a living death, figurative of sin's flesh. Thus in the sight of the
startled priests, the sign of pollution was clearly manifest. In the following
reign of Jotham gave encouragement to the faithful. He exceeded his father in
righteousness (2Ch 27:6), but his reign ended in growing international troubles
as a turbulent period of history was about to overshadow the ecclesia in Judea"
(GEM).
2Ch 26: Uzziah as a type of modern Israel: The life of Uzziah
was one of great achievement through divine blessing and was only marred in the
last ten years of his reign by a foolish act of presumption by which he lost
everything. (Uzziah attempted to enter the Temple to offer sacrifice to God,
thus usurping the role of the High Priest in Israel. Possibly this was a
misguided attempt to demonstrate that he was the Messiah -- which Scripture
promises will be a king and a priest!)
The king who sought to become Israel's Messiah in the end
became a remarkable type of modern Israel. (Some modern Israelis believe the
nation itself IS the "Messiah".) The following is a brief list of the
achievements of Uzziah and the way they foreshadowed the success of the State of
Israel in recent years. The humbling of Uzziah is also clearly used in the Bible
as a type of the humbling of the Jews by the events of Armageddon. The events of
2Ch 26 in chronological order are: (1) Uzziah captured and rebuilt Elath into a
trading port. So Israel did in 1956. Elath today is a trading port of the utmost
importance. (2) He captured the Shephelah and the Negev. Israel captured these
areas in 1948 and 1949. (3) He defeated both the Arabs and the peoples of modern
Jordan. In successive wars, modern Israel has also in part defeated both
peoples. (4) He fortified Jerusalem against attack. All new buildings in
Jerusalem today are specially constructed to withstand modern warfare. (5) He
built a prosperous agricultural society. The 'miracle' of modern Israel's
agricultural prosperity is world-famous. (6) Uzziah found water supplies in the
wilderness. Israel's innovative 'Water Carrier' has brought water to barren
parts. (7) Uzziah had an army of 300,000 trained in guerrilla warfare. Israel's
army is approximately 300,000 and is perhaps the world's best guerrilla force.
(8) He developed a unique missile capacity (engines for throwing missiles: v
15). Israel invariably updates missile systems purchased from the super-powers.
(9) He was helped by God to achieve his military and economic success. Modern
Israel has indisputably been helped by God. (10) Uzziah attributed his success
to his own strength and abilities. Israel today believes its success is by its
own strength. (11) Uzziah was humbled by an earthquake. Israel will be humbled
by the events of Armageddon, including an earthquake likened to that which
occurred in the days of Uzziah (Zec 14:5). (12) Smitten and humbled, Uzziah
dwelt in a house apart to contemplate his sin. So the remnant of Israel will
dwell apart until they realize the extent of their iniquities and pride (Zec
12:12-14). (GN 1995).
2Ch 26:6
There were 5 major Philistine cities (1Sa 6:17; Josh 13:3),
but in later days the prophets carefully leave Gath out of the picture (Amo
1:6-8; Zeph 2:4; Jer 25:20; Zec 9:5,6). Why? Uzziah, in his war against the
Philistines, smashed up Gath, Jabneh and Ashdod (2Ch 26:6). The last of these
was evidently strategic enough to warrant rebuilding (Isa 20:1), but the other
two disappeared from history -- and from prophecy also.
2Ch 26:10
During Uzziah's day, there was a grievous famine in the Land:
Hos 2:9,12; 4:3, etc; Amo 1:2; 4:6,9, etc.
2Ch 26:16
AFTER UZZIAH BECAME POWERFUL, HIS PRIDE LED TO HIS
DOWNFALL: Cp Deu 32:15,16. The same thing might be said of David and
Hezekiah.
AND ENTERED THE TEMPLE OF THE LORD TO BURN INCENSE ON THE
ALTAR OF INCENSE: The king who wanted to be a priest. A King-Priest! Did
Uzziah begin to think of himself as the Messiah?
2Ch 26:19
LEPROSY BROKE OUT ON HIS FOREHEAD: Ct the High Priest,
with "holiness" on his forehead: Exo 28:36-38. The one who exalted himself to be
a priest will be revealed as the worst kind of sham. And now the disease in his
forehead revealed that it was his THINKING which was at fault.
2Ch 26:23
UZZIAH RESTED WITH HIS FATHERS AND WAS BURIED: In the
year king Uzziah died (Isa 6), the prophet Isaiah saw the great vision in the
Temple, of the Glory of the LORD -- suggesting the Messiah, the great
King-Priest who was to come: the one whom Uzziah unsuccessfully tried to
imitate.