He [a person with leprosy] shall remain unclean all the days during which he has the infection; he is unclean. He shall live alone; his dwelling shall be outside the camp. - Leviticus 13:46
At the conclusion of last Sunday’s message, both King Uzziah of Judah and King Jeroboam II of Israel were enjoying seasons of great success in their respective kingdoms. They were reclaiming lost cities and territories and reasserting their nation’s past dominance. On a side note, it was during this time that the minor prophet Amos lived and prophesied (Amos 1:1). However, things were about to take a turn for the worse. Such is the cycle of life. We move from highs to lows and then back again… both collectively and individually.
As stated last week, Uzziah held the throne in Judah for 52 years. During his lengthy reign, there were 6 kings who ruled in Israel as his contemporaries. We’ve already discussed the first of these, Jeroboam II, and today we will introduce 3 more men who led the northern kingdom during Uzziah’s tenure. If you listen carefully, you’ll hear another prophecy fulfilled…
I. UZZIAH’S DOWNFALL (2 Kings 15:5-7; 2 Chronicles 26:16-23)
As Uzziah’s strength increased and fame spread, he became filled with pride and began acting unfaithfully to the LORD. In his arrogance, Uzziah entered the temple and burned incense on the altar of incense - a sacred act reserved exclusively for the priests. Azariah, the high priest, along with 80 other priests, confronted him and rebuked him for his sin. They told him that he would no longer be honored by God. In response, Uzziah became enraged.
As he fumed, the LORD struck Uzziah with leprosy while he stood beside the altar of incense. When Azariah and the other priests saw the leprous sores breaking out on Uzziah’s forehead, they hurriedly escorted him out of the temple. Uzziah was a leper for the rest of his life. He was required to live in a separate house and banned from going to the temple. As such, his son Jotham ruled over the royal household and effectively acted as king, serving as coregent alongside his leprous father.
When Uzziah died, he was buried in a field that belonged to and was near the graves of the other kings. However, his resting place was separate and isolated because he was a leper. Upon his death, Jotham “officially” became the king of Judah
Uzziah’s downfall presents yet another example of the danger of pride. The LORD opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble (James 4:6). May we never become so conceited and full of ourselves that we turn from God and/or act sinfully. It also illustrates that no one is exempt from God’s judgment - not even the king himself.
II. ZECHARIAH (2 Kings 15:8-12)
In the 38th year of King Uzziah’s reign in Judah (aka, Azariah), Zechariah became the king of Israel after the death of his father, Jeroboam II. He ruled from Samaria for just 6 months. He was an evil king who walked in the sinful ways of Jeroboam, the son of Nebat. Zechariah’s kingship and life were cut short because Shallum, the son of Jabesh, conspired against him and killed him before all the people.
After assassinating Zechariah, Shallum seized the throne for himself, thereby ending the royal line of Jehu and fulfilling another Biblical prophecy. God had promised that 4 generations of Jehu’s descendants would reign over Israel (2 Kings 10:30). This is exactly what happened - they were Jehoahaz, Jehoash, Jeroboam II, and Zechariah. Beloved, God’s prophecies are certain - they always come true.
III. SHALLUM (2 Kings 15:13-15)
Shallum became king of Israel during the 39th year of Uzziah, and he reigned for only 1 month. Then Menahem, the son of Gadi, went up from Tizrah to Samaria and murdered Shallum. Menahem then usurped the throne for himself.
Shallum was a lot like Zimri, who God had ordained to wipe out the line of Baasha many years earlier. After assassinating Baasha’s son Elah, Zimri himself was killed a week later (1 Kings 16:12-20). In much the same way, Shallum put an end to Jehu’s dynasty yet was murdered shortly thereafter. Same song, second verse…
Though we’ve already made this point, it bears repeating. Jesus said, “Those who live by the sword die by the sword” (Matthew 26:52). Stated another way… you reap what you so or what goes around comes around. Generally speaking, those who inflict violence on others will be more likely to face violence themselves.
IV. MENAHEM (2 Kings 15:16-22)
In the 39th year of Uzziah (Azariah), Menahem became Israel’s king. He reigned for 10 years in Samaria. He did evil in the sight of the LORD and led Israel into the sins of Jeroboam. For example, after assassinating Shallum he returned to the city of Tiphsah, which bordered Tizrah, and violently struck its citizens, including its pregnant women, for closing their gates to him and not submitting to him as the new, conquering king. After Menahem’s death, his son Pekahiah became king.
During Menahem’s reign, Pul, the king of Assyria, came up against Israel. Many historians equate Pul with Tiglath-Pileser III, asserting that Pul was his Babylonian throne-name. Assyria was a rising power in the region, and Menahem feared its great strength. Therefore, Menahem paid Pul a thousand talents of silver, which he levied from the prominent, wealthy men of Israel, in order to secure Assyrian support. Appeased by the pay-off, Pul abandoned his confrontation with Israel and returned to Assyria. However, in the not-so-distant future, they’d be back.
CONCLUSION
Before wrapping up this message, let me add that the minor prophet Hosea began his ministry toward the end of King Uzziah’s reign and it continued during the days of Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah in Judah (Hosea 1:1). He is never mentioned in the books of Kings or Chronicles. Following the order presented in this series, Hosea is the 5th minor prophet chronologically - Obadiah, Joel, Jonah, Amos, and Hosea.
There are several lessons we can learn from today’s sermon, which I’ve tried to highlight along the way. Most of these we’ve discussed before in this and in other studies, but it never hurts for us to hear these teachings again. First, pride invariably leads to God’s judgment and no one is exempt. Second, the prophetic utterances of God always come true. Third, you will reap what you so - if you treat others violently, there is a good chance you’ll face violence yourself. And finally, God’s judgment might be delayed for a while, but it will still eventually come. Only reconciliation can actually remove the punishment that awaits us. This salvation and escape from the just consequence of our sin is achieved exclusively by faith in Jesus Christ.
At the conclusion of last Sunday’s message, both King Uzziah of Judah and King Jeroboam II of Israel were enjoying seasons of great success in their respective kingdoms. They were reclaiming lost cities and territories and reasserting their nation’s past dominance. On a side note, it was during this time that the minor prophet Amos lived and prophesied (Amos 1:1). However, things were about to take a turn for the worse. Such is the cycle of life. We move from highs to lows and then back again… both collectively and individually.
As stated last week, Uzziah held the throne in Judah for 52 years. During his lengthy reign, there were 6 kings who ruled in Israel as his contemporaries. We’ve already discussed the first of these, Jeroboam II, and today we will introduce 3 more men who led the northern kingdom during Uzziah’s tenure. If you listen carefully, you’ll hear another prophecy fulfilled…
I. UZZIAH’S DOWNFALL (2 Kings 15:5-7; 2 Chronicles 26:16-23)
As Uzziah’s strength increased and fame spread, he became filled with pride and began acting unfaithfully to the LORD. In his arrogance, Uzziah entered the temple and burned incense on the altar of incense - a sacred act reserved exclusively for the priests. Azariah, the high priest, along with 80 other priests, confronted him and rebuked him for his sin. They told him that he would no longer be honored by God. In response, Uzziah became enraged.
As he fumed, the LORD struck Uzziah with leprosy while he stood beside the altar of incense. When Azariah and the other priests saw the leprous sores breaking out on Uzziah’s forehead, they hurriedly escorted him out of the temple. Uzziah was a leper for the rest of his life. He was required to live in a separate house and banned from going to the temple. As such, his son Jotham ruled over the royal household and effectively acted as king, serving as coregent alongside his leprous father.
When Uzziah died, he was buried in a field that belonged to and was near the graves of the other kings. However, his resting place was separate and isolated because he was a leper. Upon his death, Jotham “officially” became the king of Judah
Uzziah’s downfall presents yet another example of the danger of pride. The LORD opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble (James 4:6). May we never become so conceited and full of ourselves that we turn from God and/or act sinfully. It also illustrates that no one is exempt from God’s judgment - not even the king himself.
II. ZECHARIAH (2 Kings 15:8-12)
In the 38th year of King Uzziah’s reign in Judah (aka, Azariah), Zechariah became the king of Israel after the death of his father, Jeroboam II. He ruled from Samaria for just 6 months. He was an evil king who walked in the sinful ways of Jeroboam, the son of Nebat. Zechariah’s kingship and life were cut short because Shallum, the son of Jabesh, conspired against him and killed him before all the people.
After assassinating Zechariah, Shallum seized the throne for himself, thereby ending the royal line of Jehu and fulfilling another Biblical prophecy. God had promised that 4 generations of Jehu’s descendants would reign over Israel (2 Kings 10:30). This is exactly what happened - they were Jehoahaz, Jehoash, Jeroboam II, and Zechariah. Beloved, God’s prophecies are certain - they always come true.
III. SHALLUM (2 Kings 15:13-15)
Shallum became king of Israel during the 39th year of Uzziah, and he reigned for only 1 month. Then Menahem, the son of Gadi, went up from Tizrah to Samaria and murdered Shallum. Menahem then usurped the throne for himself.
Shallum was a lot like Zimri, who God had ordained to wipe out the line of Baasha many years earlier. After assassinating Baasha’s son Elah, Zimri himself was killed a week later (1 Kings 16:12-20). In much the same way, Shallum put an end to Jehu’s dynasty yet was murdered shortly thereafter. Same song, second verse…
Though we’ve already made this point, it bears repeating. Jesus said, “Those who live by the sword die by the sword” (Matthew 26:52). Stated another way… you reap what you so or what goes around comes around. Generally speaking, those who inflict violence on others will be more likely to face violence themselves.
IV. MENAHEM (2 Kings 15:16-22)
In the 39th year of Uzziah (Azariah), Menahem became Israel’s king. He reigned for 10 years in Samaria. He did evil in the sight of the LORD and led Israel into the sins of Jeroboam. For example, after assassinating Shallum he returned to the city of Tiphsah, which bordered Tizrah, and violently struck its citizens, including its pregnant women, for closing their gates to him and not submitting to him as the new, conquering king. After Menahem’s death, his son Pekahiah became king.
During Menahem’s reign, Pul, the king of Assyria, came up against Israel. Many historians equate Pul with Tiglath-Pileser III, asserting that Pul was his Babylonian throne-name. Assyria was a rising power in the region, and Menahem feared its great strength. Therefore, Menahem paid Pul a thousand talents of silver, which he levied from the prominent, wealthy men of Israel, in order to secure Assyrian support. Appeased by the pay-off, Pul abandoned his confrontation with Israel and returned to Assyria. However, in the not-so-distant future, they’d be back.
CONCLUSION
Before wrapping up this message, let me add that the minor prophet Hosea began his ministry toward the end of King Uzziah’s reign and it continued during the days of Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah in Judah (Hosea 1:1). He is never mentioned in the books of Kings or Chronicles. Following the order presented in this series, Hosea is the 5th minor prophet chronologically - Obadiah, Joel, Jonah, Amos, and Hosea.
There are several lessons we can learn from today’s sermon, which I’ve tried to highlight along the way. Most of these we’ve discussed before in this and in other studies, but it never hurts for us to hear these teachings again. First, pride invariably leads to God’s judgment and no one is exempt. Second, the prophetic utterances of God always come true. Third, you will reap what you so - if you treat others violently, there is a good chance you’ll face violence yourself. And finally, God’s judgment might be delayed for a while, but it will still eventually come. Only reconciliation can actually remove the punishment that awaits us. This salvation and escape from the just consequence of our sin is achieved exclusively by faith in Jesus Christ.