Now the rest of the acts of Uzziah, first and last, did Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, write.
The rest of the acts of Uzziah, first and last, were written by Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, covering a reign that lasted fifty years. That writing belongs to one of the prophetic, contemporary histories of the times of the kings of Israel and Judah that bear on the destiny of the chosen people, assigned for study with 2 Chronicles 26 to 29, including in a week's reading about Uzziah. Its value is to widen the horizon and present the setting for the events recorded in the Bible, and it was preserved for study for the spiritual lessons to be gleaned from it.
Uzziah's history is that he began well, sought God, was blessed, marvelously helped, prospered, became renowned, and accomplished great things during his long reign, but when he grew strong his strength and prosperity led him to pride. In his pride he transgressed by usurping the sacred office of the priests, going into the temple to offer and burn incense, a priestly duty, and threatening to kill all who opposed him. He was therefore brought low to destruction and loss and was smitten with leprosy, while a great earthquake shook the ground, shattered and rent the temple itself, and broke asunder the mountains around Jerusalem. That earthquake confirms the earthquake of two years before Amos and the earthquake fled from in the days of Uzziah remembered by Zechariah, as one of the most remarkable convulsions in Palestine.
The record was preserved as a lesson and warning from his mistake, presumption, and transgression that departing from God brings loss. The history shows the doctrine that a king's civil authority did not give him authority over religious worship. The earthquake connected with it shows that earthquakes are often indications of God's displeasure against peoples, cities, and countries for their wickedness and are temporal punishments inflicted for sin. Unlike the boasting proclamations of heathen kings written to exalt man, this record is directly connected with God's historical revelation which culminated in Christ, belongs to the fount of knowledge and wisdom that makes wise unto salvation, is to be respected and searched because in it is eternal life, and testifies of Christ, in whom is its meaning and message and from whom as the central light and sun illuminating rays are shed through all Scripture and all its parts are held together.
The rest of the acts of Uzziah, first and last, were written by Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, covering a reign that lasted fifty years. That writing belongs to one of the prophetic, contemporary histories of the times of the kings of Israel and Judah that bear on the destiny of the chosen people, assigned for study with 2 Chronicles 26 to 29, including in a week's reading about Uzziah. Its value is to widen the horizon and present the setting for the events recorded in the Bible, and it was preserved for study for the spiritual lessons to be gleaned from it.
Uzziah's history is that he began well, sought God, was blessed, marvelously helped, prospered, became renowned, and accomplished great things during his long reign, but when he grew strong his strength and prosperity led him to pride. In his pride he transgressed by usurping the sacred office of the priests, going into the temple to offer and burn incense, a priestly duty, and threatening to kill all who opposed him. He was therefore brought low to destruction and loss and was smitten with leprosy, while a great earthquake shook the ground, shattered and rent the temple itself, and broke asunder the mountains around Jerusalem. That earthquake confirms the earthquake of two years before Amos and the earthquake fled from in the days of Uzziah remembered by Zechariah, as one of the most remarkable convulsions in Palestine.
The record was preserved as a lesson and warning from his mistake, presumption, and transgression that departing from God brings loss. The history shows the doctrine that a king's civil authority did not give him authority over religious worship. The earthquake connected with it shows that earthquakes are often indications of God's displeasure against peoples, cities, and countries for their wickedness and are temporal punishments inflicted for sin. Unlike the boasting proclamations of heathen kings written to exalt man, this record is directly connected with God's historical revelation which culminated in Christ, belongs to the fount of knowledge and wisdom that makes wise unto salvation, is to be respected and searched because in it is eternal life, and testifies of Christ, in whom is its meaning and message and from whom as the central light and sun illuminating rays are shed through all Scripture and all its parts are held together.