Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-05-06
Uzziah, King of Judah. Humbled
II Chronicles, 26:1-23.

Golden TEXT. Pride goefh before destruction, and
a naughty spirit before fall rrav-, 10 u.
0Nf E are entering upon the golden
(btkBA age OF the divided kingdoms in
our study of Uzzish Under
this great king. who ruled judah FOR a
longer period than any other sovereign
except one. Judah attained prestige. pros
perity and power. The record of nearly
sixty years Of his rule is condensed into
the chapter which contains our lesson. In
the more concise parallel account of
Kings we learn of another name by
which Uzziah is known-Azariah. For
forty years OF Czziah's reign Jeroboam
II ruled Israel. and both Kingdoms en-
joyed period of unbroken peace. From
Amos. Hosea, Isaiah and Micah we learn
that Judah and Israel reached the zenith
e their power during this period.
We CLEAN from the messages Of. the
prophets that will be the basis OF later
lessons our knowledge of the political.
social and moral conditions Of both ma
tons. Don the death of AmaZiah. who
vas murdered like his father. Joash. the
popular choice rested upon the sixteen
year-old son OF the late king. Uzzieh was
selected by all the people because his
brilliant genius had impressed the people
with his ability to rule.
Possibly at this time he selected the
official title .AZariah. which appears upon
the official Assyrian records ard upon pot
terry of that period. To the people he re-
manned Uzzah. which they shortened 10
UZZa.
Piety.
Reference to his double name AZaria h.
Ny help is Jehovah" and Czziah, My
strength is jehovah" is found I'm our les
son, where we read. GOD helped him.
"for ne was marvelously helped till he
was strong" Uzziah was aided in his
religious life Ito set himself to seek God
by the instruction of an unknown prophet
Lechariah, who had understanding in the
visions of God. Because he sought God
first he was honored by Him in the eX-
pansion Of the national domain, the de-
Velopment of its resources, the equipment
of the army. and the defense of the ma
tlonal possessions, so that the fame of
czziah reached Egypt. The foundation Of
greatness was laid by Uzziah when he
sought God daily. Zechariahs nstruc-
ton led him to be righteous SO that
whatsoever he doeth should prosper" God
is still the same. He will enable all who
seek first His will to be successful Just
as He did tzziah. who AS long as he
sought the Lord. God made him to pros
per. The wrecks of life are due to the
departure from the paths of God. The
one who works in harmony with Cod His
Will and His law, prospers today. From
the commencement of Uzziahs efforts to
increase the possessions and commerce
or judah ny securing Elath. a port the
Red sea. God caused him to succeed
In recent times the late Sultan Abdul
FL Hamid sought to control Akaba the
modern name of Eath, for the same rea-
sons that actuated Uzziah-it gave con-
troll of the Sinatic peninsula and was the
Key to commerce with Egypt 1t also
reduced the Edomites TO the same posi-
ton they held in the early DAYS of his
fathers rule. The Phlistines were sub
Jugated by the conquest of their strong
holds. Gath. Ashdod and Jabneh Each
OF these cities possessed strategic value
because they controlled the valleys that
oHered a gateway for armies into the
very heart OF Judah. He destroyed their
tortlflcatlons and was In control of the
territory west to the Mediterranean sea
The wild nomad Ara bian and Memmin
tribes OF the desert of Judah were sub
dued and controlled in the same way
mat the Turks master them today-by
1ort1ncatlons placed IN the desert He
not only made an end of the pundering
excursions of these rowing bands of the
Mech. the south country i'm Cur Baal
and Maon by the punishment inflicted
upon them, but he also secured tribute
from the Ammonite chiefs They surren-
dered their pasture rights in the lowlands
of the southern wilderness and in the
fertile plains beyond Jordan. God gave
him his possessions as He does all those
who honor Him. Blessed are the meek.
for they shall inherit the earth" Chris
tan rulers today dominate nearly all the
world