THE FAVOR OF GOD

2 Chronicles 26:4-5

Morning Meditation 10/22/2012

"And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his father Amaziah did. And he sought God in the days of Zechariah, who had understanding in the visions of God: and as long as he sought the LORD, God made him to prosper."

Uzziah was only 16 years old which he was made king of Judah. What is so unusual about this teenage boy is that he sought to know the mind of the Lord and then to live in the center of God's will. Though later he became proud and drifted away from the Lord and left the place of blessing.

When Uzziah was right with God, he experienced many blessings. Let's notice some of them:

1. There was temporal prosperity; 2 Chronicles 26:5, "And he sought God in the days of Zechariah, who had understanding in the visions of God: and as long as he sought the LORD, God made him to prosper."

2. There was perpetual victory; 2 Chronicles 26:6-7, "And he went forth and warred against the Philistines, and brake down the wall of Gath, and the wall of Jabneh, and the wall of Ashdod, and built cities about Ashdod, and among the Philistines. And God helped him against the Philistines, and against the Arabians that dwelt in Gurbaal, and the Mehunims."

3. He had far reaching influence; 2 Chronicles 26:15, "And he made in Jerusalem engines, invented by cunning men, to be on the towers and upon the bulwarks, to shoot arrows and great stones withal. And his name spread far abroad; for he was marvelously helped, till he was strong."

4. He increased strength; 2 Chronicles 26:8, "And the Ammonites gave gifts to Uzziah: and his name spread abroad even to the entering in of Egypt; for he strengthened himself exceedingly."

5. Far-sightedness; 2 Chronicles 26:9-10, "Moreover Uzziah built towers in Jerusalem at the corner gate, and at the valley gate, and at the turning of the wall, and fortified them. Also he built towers in the desert, and digged many wells: for he had much cattle, both in the low country, and in the plains: husbandmen also, and vine dressers in the mountains, and in Carmel: for he loved husbandry."

6. He had loyal supporters; 2 Chronicles 26:11-13, "Moreover Uzziah had an host of fighting men, that went out to war by bands, according to the number of their account by the hand of Jeiel the scribe and Maaseiah the ruler, under the hand of Hananiah, one of the king's captains. The whole number of the chief of the fathers of the mighty men of velour were two thousand and six hundred. And under their hand was an army, three hundred thousand and seven thousand and five hundred, that made war with mighty power, to help the king against the enemy."

7. He had marvelous help; 2 Chronicles 26:15, "And he made in Jerusalem engines, invented by cunning men, to be on the towers and upon the bulwarks, to shoot arrows and great stones withal. And his name spread far abroad; for he was marvelously helped, till he was strong."

It would seem that after Uzziah had such blessings of God, there would never be a time when he did not seek the Lord and lead his people to greater heights of spiritual blessings.

Sometimes when the blessings of God come, we get the idea that it is really us doing it and a boldness that comes out in arrogance becomes our downfall. It was like that with Uzziah. 2 Chronicles 26:16, "But when he was strong, his heart was lifted up to his destruction: for he transgressed against the LORD his God, and went into the temple of the LORD to burn incense upon the altar of incense."

Uzziah was king but he was under God's authority. He took it upon himself in his pride to offer incense on the altar in the temple. The priests opposed him. This was not his job. When he did this we are told in 2 Chronicles 26:19, "Then Uzziah was wroth, and had a censer in his hand to burn incense: and while he was wroth with the priests, the leprosy even rose up in his forehead before the priests in the house of the LORD, from beside the incense altar." We are told that Uzziah lost his kingdom and was a leper until the day of his death.

It is not so much how we start, it is how we finish. God's hand can be upon a man and he can experience the blessing of God. But the day he starts taking credit for what God is doing, he is on his way down.

We don't just need to have the favor of God to do His work, we need to finish our course with His favor upon us.

May the Lord bless these words to our hearts.

In Christ

Bro. White