The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1911-05-04

TIME-Uzziahs reign extended CBeech-
err from B. O. s06 10 B O.. 75J: GHastings)
B. c. sol 20 N9. Uzzlah may have become
a leper about r c 76S lothian being the
regent from that time
PLACE-The Temple IN Jerusalem.
klNGS-ln Israel Jeroboam H. In
Assyrla, Shulmanezer H.
PROPHETS-Amos. Hosea, Isaiah. tho
necharlah OF our lesson.
On the murder of King Joash he
was succeeded by his eldest son.
Amaziah 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 ravaging southern Judea.
lie hired thousands Of mercenarles
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
He 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
poweressness! a courageous prophet
rebuked him, but we are told what the
effect was
In his pride Of success, and perhaps
to ayenge the towns which the Israeli
itish mercenaries had plundered, he
sent boastful message to Joash king
of Israel. challenging him to fight. Jo-
ash promptly accepted the challenge,
completely worsted Amazlah, 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
jects never were contented, and at last
they rose in revolt and murdered him.
The son Of Amaziah, Uzziah lad
OF sixteen, was chosen by the people.
lie 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
ling judah I'm a position to renew the
rich commerce with India which Solo
mon had established
Uzziahs 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
result of conquest and of commercial
enterprise the accumulation OF wealth
was greater than had ever been
known before The rich lived in
palaces of hewn stone and Of ivory.
They reposed on couches with damask
coverings. They lay upon beds OF
ivory, and stretched themselves upon
sofas. They ate lambs selected out
Of the tlocks, and calves fattened in
the stall They sang to the accom-
paniment Of harps songs that they
thought as fine as those OF David.
They drank beakers of rare wine, and
themselves with precious
)intments This prosperity, however,
was restricted to the upper classes.
While the mobiles lourished. the poor
grew constantly poorer. The peasant
were crowded out, and all
he land came into the hands Of few
great mobiles. The free-born Israelites
sank to the position OF serfs. Pros
)erty has more perils than adversely,
md pride is one OF them Dressed, ac-
,ordng to Josephus. In priestly attire.
md perhaps on the celebration OF some
ligh national feast, Uzziah presumed
% enter the Holy Place. which It was
leath for any but a priest TO enter,
md to offer incense upon the sacred
altar Uzziah appears to have desired
o become supreme pontin as well as
King, and TO exercise the same dual
uhctions as the Egyptian Pharaohs
we're wont to do. lie had to disregard
he direct command of Jehovah that
he priests alone should burn incense
m his altar; he had to despise the his
ory Of his people, to defy the holy
lame by which he himself was called.
thus reign of ffty-two years was
poiled in an hour,
What terrible punishment came to
Jzzah? The inAicuon OF that most
Dathsome, incurabIe disease, leprosy.
'hus Miriam had been punished. and
ieha2i. According to Josephus, it was
{ this very moment that the famous
arthQuake OF Uzziah's reign occurred.
or the rest Of his life he lived in
eparate house. 1t was perhaps some
lace in the country to which the king
ondned himself We are not told
neither he repented of the sin that
e bad committed; but we may per
APPS assume that he did so.
The story of Ahaz reinforces the
'arning that comes to us from the
tory OF Uzziah. The pride OF Ahaz
'as pride OF opinion that of Uzzah
as pride in accomplishment Pride
lay spring from good looks, fine
.othes. plenty Of money, a keen intel
,ct, distinguished social position A
oy may be vain Of his ballplaying
nd a girl OF her white hands. What