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

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

I was trying to figure out what to write about Uzziah’s reign.  Uzziah did what was pleasing in God’s site.  However, late in his reign he became arrogant and entered the sanctuary of the Temple and made an incense offering there.  His son Jotham ruled after him and also did what was pleasing in God’s sight.  Both of these kings were powerful and wealthy as a result.  However, what struck me was a phrase in chapter 27 verse 4: “But the people continued in their corrupt ways.”  Jotham was the fourth king in succession who did what was pleasing to God for most of his reign (and unlike the previous three, he did not depart from doing so as he became older).  Nevertheless, the people were not faithful to the Lord.  All too often we blame our leaders for the shortcomings of the groups of which we are a part.  However, in the long run, the leaders will be no better than the people they lead.   If we have good leaders, but do not accept that we must be good as well, or are only good because they inspire us to be good, either they or their successor will fall away from the Lord.  A good leader may inspire people to become better, but if the people do not internalize that and take responsibility to be better without the leader’s guidance, they will lose the improvements when the leader is gone.

Which leads us to Jotham’s son, Ahaz.  Ahaz followed the lead of his people and did not do what was pleasing in God’s sight.  When his enemies attacked and defeated him, rather than look to what had worked for his father and grandfather, he adopted the worship practices of those who had defeated him.  Not only that, but he went further than any of the previous kings and shut up the Temple so that no one could worship God there.  Throughout history this has been a common theme: those who reject God often try to prevent anyone else from worshiping him.