Week 21 2 Chronicles 26
The chronicler is interested in the kings of Judah and today I read about Judah’s king Uzziah. Right away I notice one of the things the chronicler says about Uzziah: he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, just as his father Amaziah had done.
If I’d opened the bible today and just randomly read chapter 26 by itself I would know two things for sure and I’d also figure one other thing. The two things I’d know are: a) Uzziah did what was right in the eyes of the Lord and that b) Uzziah is compared to his father Amaziah in doing right. The one logical thing I’d figure is that Amaziah did what was right.
But I read the stories of three kings today. Joash (chapter 24). Amaziah (chapter 25). Uzziah (chapter 26). And because I’d read Amaziah’s story five minutes before I turned the page back and re-read that: (Amaziah) did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, but not wholeheartedly.
What that means is that when I read that Uzziah did right just-like-his-father Amaziah I’m getting an early tip-off that Uzziah’s doing right-ness might be a qualified and kind of un-wholehearted brand of doing right-ness.
And that’s what happened: after Uzziah became powerful, his pride led to his downfall. He was unfaithful to the Lord his God.
So Uzziah was like his father in his faith and his non-faith.
Note: quotes from 2 Chronicles 26:4 & 16 25:2 (NIV)