Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1911-05-05

king showed himself to be a man OF
parts; he seemed to recognize the SOL
emn responsibility of the office, and to
appreciate his own inadequacy. There
was "a pious man in his kingdom by
the name of Zachariah (not the prophet
whose book is in the scripture). This
man had an understanding of the vision
of God; he lived closely to Him, and
being a friend of God God revealed His
Will to him. Realizing that he was
but the vice gerent of God, who is the
real governor in this theocracy, Uzziah
set himself definitely to seek after God.
in which search Zachariah was of great
help to him. am always interested
in word studies, and / find here, one
of great interest. The Hebrew word
translated SEEK originally meant to
frequent, so that when we learn that
Uzziah set himself to seek God we re-
alize what his life must have been; he
frequented God; he was constantly in
His presence; he made no move with
out asking Gods guidance and direc-
ton; he counselled often with this man
who had understanding of the vision of
God His life was one of communion
and Fellowship Is 1t not easy then, TO
understand this statement concerning
him, that as long as he sought Jehovah,
God made him to prosper; as long as he
frequented God, God prospered him?
Certain temporal blessings followed.
for during the reign of Uzziah, judah
reached the highest state of prosperity
since the division under Rehoboam, Sol
onions son; everything he touched
sedms to succeed, and his activities
we're manifold. In the fight which Is
rael had had with his father, portions
of the walls of Jerusalem had been
damaged; these he repaired, and forth
fled the, city more strongly. he built
towers in the planes, not only for the
protection of his people, but also to af-
ford shelter for his cattle, for he was
growing very rich. He rebuilt certain
cities that had been badly damaged. AS
builder, he was greater than any of
his Predecessors since solomon.
He excelled as a soldier, he conquered
the warlike Philistines and other hostile
tribes around him. Considering the size
of the nation, he gathered an enormous
army, for there were SO7,5OO men, with $500
officers. Under his patronage the first
implement for throwing missiles was in
vented, and with these he equipped his
army, in addition to the side arms and
spears.
He had 2Oth-century hobby, too, for
he loved husbandry, and had scores of
men who attended his vineyards in the
hill country, his cattle in the plains, and
his other agricultural adventures. Had
he lived today he would have taken prizes
in the chicken shows, the cattle shows,
and the displays Of homegrown fruits
and vegetables. This many-sided man
made a success of all his many opera
tions, because he feared God and fire.
quented him. He was able to do well
many things, because he worked with
God, and God worked through him.
UzZIAH FORGETs GODS AND FAILS.
But-what a great little word that is
He prospered, he grew rich, he succeeded.
but. My brother, may God grant that
this little-big word may find no place
in your biography. But when he grew
strong, he grew proud, and-tumbled. W.
ziah could not stand prosperity. He for
got the way in which his prosperity had
quenting God so much in his prosperity
puenting God SO much in his prosperity
as in his poverty, and when he got to
keeping company with some other coun-
sellors he began to think he was lit" He
went into the temple. he didn't want the
priests around; he wanted, in his pride, to
be the only leader, in worship as well as
in other things. God had appointed the
priests to burn incense, but he under
took to supplant them. They remonstrat-
ed with him. he was naughty; they re-
buked him, he was persistent; then God
smote him, and without much more urg-
ing, he left the temple white with leprosy.
In the moment of his success he was
failure because he forgot God. He spent
the remainder of his life in isolation, and
was not buried in the royal sepulchre, be-
cause he was a leper.
Have you ever been tempted to feel
proud of your piety? Your spiritual at
tainments; any religious work you have
done? Any battles you have won? Have
you ever compared yourself with someone
else, and finding yourself more advanced
spiritually, felt some tendency to con-
graduate yourself? If you ever do, then
ask yourself the question Paul asked the
Corinthians, ''Who made you to differ
from another? or what hast thou that
thou didst not receive? and if thou didst
receive it, why glory in it?''