At the beginning of summer I determined with all that I had to start every day with my journal, my Bible, and my Savior. Having ADD has caused me to never be the most disciplined of persons but I knew that "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" so I foraged ahead and suprisingly (or not) have only missed one day. Ok I know summer just started but seriously 10 days in a row is alot for this girl.
Anyway one of the things that has began to happen is a sheer excitement for what I will find in the pages. So interesting! Likin 2 CHR 26 it talks about how this guy names Uzziah (I like to call him Uz for short) became king at 16 years of age. Think about it 16. No one should be driving at that age let alone be in control of a kingdom. So at first he followed Godthe Message says "he was a loyal seeker of God" and he did alot of good. He built alot of things and had a huge army.
The Message says Uz was
"a famous king. Everything seemed to go his way.
16-18 But then the strength and success went to his head. Arrogant and proud, he fell. One day, contemptuous of God, he walked into The Temple of God like he owned it and took over, burning incense on the Incense Altar. The priest Azariah, backed up by eighty brave priests of God, tried to prevent him. They confronted Uzziah: "You must not, you cannot do this, Uzziah—only the Aaronite priests, especially consecrated for the work, are permitted to burn incense. Get out of God's Temple; you are unfaithful and a disgrace!"
19-21 But Uzziah, censer in hand, was already in the middle of doing it and angrily rebuffed the priests. He lost his temper; angry words were exchanged—and then, even as they quarreled, a skin disease appeared on his forehead. As soon as they saw it, the chief priest Azariah and the other priests got him out of there as fast as they could. He hurried out—he knew that God then and there had given him the disease. Uzziah had his skin disease for the rest of his life and had to live in quarantine; he was not permitted to set foot in The Temple of God. His son Jotham, who managed the royal palace, took over the government of the country.
22-23 The rest of the history of Uzziah, from start to finish, was written by the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz. When Uzziah died, they buried him with his ancestors in a field next to the royal cemetery. His skin disease disqualified him from burial in the royal cemetery. His son Jotham became the next king"
16-18 But then the strength and success went to his head. Arrogant and proud, he fell. One day, contemptuous of God, he walked into The Temple of God like he owned it and took over, burning incense on the Incense Altar. The priest Azariah, backed up by eighty brave priests of God, tried to prevent him. They confronted Uzziah: "You must not, you cannot do this, Uzziah—only the Aaronite priests, especially consecrated for the work, are permitted to burn incense. Get out of God's Temple; you are unfaithful and a disgrace!"
19-21 But Uzziah, censer in hand, was already in the middle of doing it and angrily rebuffed the priests. He lost his temper; angry words were exchanged—and then, even as they quarreled, a skin disease appeared on his forehead. As soon as they saw it, the chief priest Azariah and the other priests got him out of there as fast as they could. He hurried out—he knew that God then and there had given him the disease. Uzziah had his skin disease for the rest of his life and had to live in quarantine; he was not permitted to set foot in The Temple of God. His son Jotham, who managed the royal palace, took over the government of the country.
22-23 The rest of the history of Uzziah, from start to finish, was written by the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz. When Uzziah died, they buried him with his ancestors in a field next to the royal cemetery. His skin disease disqualified him from burial in the royal cemetery. His son Jotham became the next king"
So Uz had everything but like so many people everything wasn't enough. He wanted total and complete power when there is only one who has that.
I thought it was interesting that the disease appeared on his forhead. I guess God wanted to give everyone a visable symbol not to get big headed.
Then his son took over. His sons name was Jotham. I also found it interesting that the bible says that UZ was 16 when he became king and reigned for 52 years and his son who was his opposite in death was 25 when he became king and reigned for 16 years.
Ok so that is a ramdom thought (hence the blog title).
Anyway the bible says that "Jotham's strength was rooted in his steady and determined life of obedience to God". Any yet he died young. Why?
Why was his life cut short? Ok so I am not a bible scholar (yet) so I don't know all the histories and backgrounds and so forth. But looking at his fathers lifespan compared to his you gotta ask..;"why do the good die young?"
When Allan got cancer the first time. He got saved as a result. Right after I had 2 people tell me in tears(one was a complete stranger) that God was going take him early before he could go back to his old self. Well I was pretty suprised when he was almost cancer free that first time. I thought they got signels crossed. But now in light of what has happened I often wonder if that is why he is gone.
I wonder if Jotham would he have turned out like his dad? I am not sure if I will ever know the answers why, but I have gotten to a point where I am ok with not knowing. Because I know the one who does. And I know that His reasons are just.
So in the end big headed Uz and obedient Jotham serve as a reminder to me that in light of eternity that what is important is not the number of our days but how we live them out.
No comments:
Post a Comment
What are your thoughts on this?