“Then the Lord struck the king, so that he was a leper until the day of his death; so he dwelt in an isolated house. And Jotham the king’s son was over the royal house, judging the people of the land. 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? So Azariah rested with his fathers, and they buried him with his fathers in the City of David. Then Jotham his son reigned in his place.” II Kings 15:5-7 NKJV
a. The LORD struck the king, so that he was a leper until the day of his death: 2 Chronicles 26also tells us of the downfall of Azariah, who was marvelously helped till he became strong(2 Chronicles 26:15). The Chronicler goes on: But when he was strong his heart was lifted up, to his destruction, for he transgressed against the LORD his God by entering the temple of the LORD to burn incense on the altar of incense(2 Chronicles 26:16). The priests tried to stop him, but the king insisted on forcing his way into the temple to offer incense.
i. Azariah violated what had become a general principle in God’s dealing with Israel: that no king should also be a priest, and that the offices of prophet, priest, and king should not be combined in one man – until the Messiah, who fulfilled all three offices.
ii. “His great power fostered such pride and haughtiness that about 750 b.c. he sought to add to his vast power by usurping the prerogatives of the sacred priesthood.” (Patterson and Austel)
b. He dwelt in an isolated house: Azariah came into the temple as an arrogant king, and he left as a humbled leper. Indeed, he hurried to get out, because the LORD had struck him(2 Chronicles 26:20).
i. “It was a fearful stroke from God. Death was the actual penalty enjoined by the law for his crime (Numbers 18:7), and leprosy was really that – a living death, prolonged and intensified.” (Knapp)
c. So Azariah rested with his fathers: The death of Azariah (again, also known as Uzziah) contributed to the call of the prophet Isaiah: In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the LORD sitting on a throne (Isaiah 6:1).
i. Considering the reign of Azariah:
· He began his reign at only 16 years of age.
· He reigned for 52 years.
· Overall, he was a good and strong king who led Israel to many military victories, he was an energetic builder and planner.
· Despite all this, Azariah had a tragic end.
ii. Therefore, when Isaiah wrote that he was called in the year King Uzziah died, he said a lot. It is to say, “In the year a great and wise king died.” But it is also to say, “In the year a great and wise king who had a tragic end died.” Isaiah had great reason to be discouraged and disillusioned at the death of King Uzziah, because a great king had passed away, and because his life ended tragically. Yet despite it all, he saw the enthroned LORD God who was greater than any earthly king. (Guzik)
Pride and Haughtiness!
“These six things the Lord hates, Yes, seven are an abomination to Him: A proud look, A lying tongue, Hands that shed innocent blood, A heart that devises wicked plans, Feet that are swift in running to evil, A false witness who speaks lies, And one who sows discord among brethren.”
Proverbs 6:16-19 NKJV
Pride cometh before a fall and king Azariah fell hard by usurping the prerogatives of the sacred priesthood! But I wonder why he didn’t repent right away like king David did when confronted by Nathan the prophet, you are that man!
“Then Nathan said to David, “You are the man! Thus says the Lord God of Israel: ‘I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you from the hand of Saul.” II Samuel 12:7 NKJV
“So David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.” And Nathan said to David, “The Lord also has put away your sin; you shall not die.”
II Samuel 12:13 NKJV
If we find any pride and haughtiness creeping through a crack into our brain, we should immediately confess our sin to the Lord and ask for forgiveness like David!
For He is a loving and forgiving Father!
Blessings
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