Today, I am reading and commenting on 2 Chronicles 26-28.

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Yesterday I looked at how Joash and Amaziah started their reigns by being faithful to God but then ended them by turning to idolatry.  Which brings us to Uzziah in today’s passage.  He also began his reign doing what was right in the eyes of the Lord, just as his father, Amaziah, had done.  The writer tells us that Uzziah prospered as a result and became strong.  Unfortunately, along with becoming strong Uzziah became proud.  In his pride Uzziah tried to usurp the role of priest in order to burn incense before the Lord.  In response to Uzziah’s prideful actions God struck him with leprosy in his final years and his son Jotham ruled as his regent until his death.  When Uzziah died Jotham went from being regent for his father to reigning as king.  The writer tells us that Jotham also did what was right in the eyes of the Lord just as his father had done, but did not fall into the sin of pride like his father.  The people, however, did not follow the example of their kings, instead following corrupt practices.

Which brings us to Ahaz.  For most of my life I read the accounts of the kings of Israel and Judah as telling us that wicked rulers lead their people to wickedness.  However, as I have read through the Bible again and again I have come to realize that the stories told about ancient Israel are summed up by  Psalm 125:3, which says that the wicked will not rule over the righteous lest the righteous do wrong.  So, I conclude that the people of Judah’s wickedness under a righteous king, Jotham, led them to have a wicked ruler in Ahaz.  When we look at our rulers today, if we think they are wicked that reflects on us.  Before Ahaz, the people of Judah had four kings in a row who did what was right in the eyes of God for most of their reigns, yet the people followed corrupt practices under the last of those four kings.  So, it was not the kings who led the people of Judah to sin.  Rather it was the sin of the people of Judah which corrupted their kings.  So, while a good ruler may lead his people to obey God, a corrupt people will eventually have corrupt rulers.

I use the daily Bible reading schedule from “The Bible.net” for my daily Bible reading.