The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1911-04-27

destruction, and an naughty spirlt Do
fore fall"-Prov. i6s
T1ME-Uzziah's reign extended Beech
err from H. G. SOC to u. C. 7J5; uIastings)
q. G. sol 90 74s Uzzlah may have become
a ieper about n. G. 76S. lothian being the
e gent from that time.
pI.ACE-The Temple In Jerusalem.
KINGs-In Israel. Jeroboam ii. In
AEsyria. Shalmanezer III.
PROPHETS Amos. Hosea Isaiah. tie
Zechariah OF our lesson.
on the murder OF King Joash he
was succeeded by his eldest son,
hmaziah, a man OF piety and force.
who slew the murderers of his father,
sparing their sons, and then turned up
on the enemies OF his country. the
Edomites south OF the Dead Sea, who
had been rsvaging southern Judea.
HeQhired thousands OF morcenaries
from the Northern Kingdom. to aid
him in the war. When a prophet re-
buked him for thus involving himself
with an idolatrous nation he dismiss
ed the mercenaries, who on their way
home. plundered the cities OF Judah.
Amazlah went on, however. and with
his own troops conquered the Edom.
ties In the Valley of Salt south of
the Dead Sea, and thoroughly sub
dued the cruel nation.
lie brought home with him some Of
the Edomite idols and worshiped
them. thus dishonoring Jehovah. who
had so signally helped him. in favor
OF gods who had proved their own
powerlessness! A courageous prophet
rebuked him, but we are told what the
effect was.
In his pride OF success. and perhaps
10 avenge the towns which the Israel.
itish mercenaries had plundered. he
sent a boastful message to Joash king
OF Israel. challenging him TO fight. 10
ash promptly accepted the challenge,
completely worsted Amaziah. captured
Jerusalem. and went away with all the
treasure Of the Temple and royal pal.
ace. and with many OF the citizens as
hostages. Amaziah continued TO
reign for fifteen years, but his sub
Iects never we're contented. and at last
they rose in revolt and murdered him.
The son Of Amaziah. Uzziah. a lad
OF sixteen, was chosen by the people.
He continued his fathers conquest OF
the Edomites by fortifying Eloth, an
important city at the head OF the east.
ern branch of the Red Sea. thus put.
ting Judah in a position TO renew the
rich commerce with India which Solo
mon had established.
Uzziah's was a religious life. lie
did that which was right in the sight
Of the Lord He followed Amaziah In
the better part OF his life. and not In
his idolatry There is no better prep
aration for the eyes OF the world than
to. be conscious ever OF Gods eyes
upon us.
The period Of Uzziah and Jeroboam
was the golden age of Israel. As a
enterprise the accumulation Of wealth
was greater than had ever been
known before. The rich lived In
palaces Of hewn stone and OF ivory
While the mobiles fourished. the poor
grew constantly poorer. The peasant
the land came into the hands OF few
great mobiles. The free-born Israel!tes
sank to the position OF serfs. Pros.
perity has more perils than adversely,
and pride is one of them. Dressed, &C
cording to Josephus. in priestly attire,
and perhaps on the celebration of some
high national feast, Uzziah presumed
TO enter the Holy Place, which IL was
death for any but a priest to enter,
and 20 offer incense upon the sacred
altar. uzziah appears TO have desired
to become supreme pontiff as well as
king, and TO exercise the same dual
functions as the Egyptian Pharaohs
were wont TO do. lie had to disregard
the direct command OF Jehovah that
the priests alone should burn incense
on his altar; he had TO despise the his,
tory OF his people. to defy the holy
name by which he himself was called
Thus a reign OF ffty.two years was
spoiled In an hour.
What terrible punishment came to
Uzziah? The infiiction OF that most
loathsome. incurable disease. leprosy
Thus Miriam had been punished, and
Gehazi According TO Josephus. IL was
at this very moment that the famous
earthquake Of Uzziahs leign occurred
For the rest Of his life he lived In
separate house. II was perhaps some
place In the country to which the king
confined himself. We are not told
whether he repented Of the sin that
be had committed: but We may PEI.
haps assume that he did so.
The story OF AhaI reinforces the
warning that comes TO US from the
story OF Uzziah. The pride OF Akaz
was pride OF opinion: that OF Uzzah
was pride in accomplishment. Pride
may spring from good looks, fine
clothes, plenty OF money, a keen intel
lect. distinguished social position. A
boy may be vain OF his ball-playing
and a girl OF her white hands. What.
ever may be tho source o. IL, pride is
always q terrible danger.
Pride Is indeea like a Ieprosy. Il
makes US hideous TO look upon. though
all the while we think we are beauti
full. II causes our spiritual body 10
decay and portions OF It TO drop on.