SCRIPTURE: 2 KINGS 15
AZARIAH KING OF JUDAH (vs. 1-7)
Azariah, son of Amaziah became king of Judah at the age of 16. He reigned for 52 years. He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord. However, the high places were not removed and the people continued to offer sacrifices and burn incense there. The Lord afflicted the king with leprosy until the day he died. Jotham, the king’s son took charge of the palace and governed the people of the land. After Azariah rested with his father and buried in the city of David, Jotham, his son succeeded him as king.
ZECHARIAH KING OF ISRAEL (vs. 8-12)
Zechariah, the son of Jeroboam II became king in Israel and reigned for 6 months. He did evil in the eyes of the Lord. Shallum conspired against Zechariah and assassinated him in front of the people. He succeeded him as king of Israel.
SHALLUM KING OF ISRAEL (vs .13-22)
Shallum became king of Israel and reigned for one month. Menahem went to Samaria and attacked Shallum. He assassinated Shallum and succeeded him as king. Menahem attacked Tirzah and everyone in the city and its vicinity because they refused to open their gate. He sacked Tirzah and ripped open all the pregnant women.
MENAHEM KING OF ISRAEL (vs. 17-22)
Menahem became king of Israel and reigned for 10 years. He did evil in the eyes of the Lord. Pul, king of Assyria invaded the land and Menahem gave him a thousand talents of silver to gain his support and strengthen his own hold on the kingdom. Menahem exacted this money from Israel. Every wealthy man had to contribute fifty shekels of silver to be given to the king of Assyria. So the king of Assyria withdrew and stayed in the land no longer. Menahem rested with his fathers and his son Pekahiah succeeded him as king.
PEKAHIAH KING OF ISRAEL (vs. 23 – 26)
Pekahiah became king of Israel and reigned for 2 years. He did evil in the eyes of the Lord. One of his chief officers Pekah conspired against him, took 50 men of Gilead with him and assassinated him in the citadel of the royal palace at Samaria. Then Pekah succeeded Pekahiah as king.
PEKAH KING OF ISRAEL (vs. 27-31)
Pekah became king of Israel and reigned for 20 years., He did evil in the eyes of the Lord. During his reign, Tiglath Pileser, king of Assyria took many lands – Gilead, Galilee, Nahphtali – and deported the people to Assyria. Then Hoshea conspired against Pekah and assassinated him. Hoshea succeeded him as king of Israel.
JOTHAM KING OF JUDAH (vs. 32-38)
Jotham was 25 years old when he became king and he ruled for 16 years. He did right in the eyes of the Lord. He rebuilt the Upper gate of the temple of the Lord. Jotham rested with his fathers and was buried in the city of David. His son, Ahaz succeeded him as king.
THOUGHTS:
Uzziah means ‘strength of the Lord’ His other name was Azariah meaning “Helper of Jehovah”. He sat at the throne at the age of 16. Under his sound leadership, the nation took on new life and prosperity. But pride brought about his ruin. He went into the temple to burn incense and the Lord smote him with leprosy. His son Jotham reigned with him for several years until he died. He ruled for 52 years and the nation enjoyed its greatest safety and prosperity since Solomon.
The most important area that Jotham failed as king of Judah was he did not destroy the high places. Many times, we also miss doing what is most important in our lives. A lifetime of doing good is not enough if we make the crucial mistake of not following God with all our hearts. A true believer of God puts God first in all areas of life.