Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1922-04-22
BY nHysHUeH T. sTEyENs on.
UzMAH's PRIDE AND PUN,
IsHHEtF.s-I1: Chron, 26.i.2f.
Golden Text--Pride-g oeth be-
fore, 4eAtruction, and a naughty
spirit before 2 fall.--Proyy 1918.

We resu0ee; our studies In the. his
tory of Judah with the consideration
of the career and character Of Ezziaf.
who wassJhe grandson of $JoSsh. The
tragic enayof the latter can, ba traced
to his iddlatry: His religious @ideats
were changed after, the death ofs.Je-
hoiada. !, whose s. influence evidently
kept Joash in the right way during
the formers lifetime. He stoned to
death zechariah. the son of Jehoiada,
who had succeeded the patriotic
and religion. Zechariah's protest
against the apostacy of the people.
who had fallen into idolatry after
the 1apsing of Joash, brought upon
the jealous servant of Jehovah the
wrath of the king, who was murdered
in his own bed "for the blood of the
sons of Jehoiada"
Amaziah succeeded TO the throne.
He punished the murderers of his
fAfkSr. He started out as pious
leadeb Tor in his preparation. for his
war with Edom he sent back; 100000
northern kingdom to help him con-
quer Edom. when prophet protested
against his using soldiers secured
from an idolatrous nation. His faith
in Gods power was justified by the
remarkable success that followed his
efforts to- punish Edom. He con-
quered the Edomites. but erred by
bringing their idols home with him.
Pulled up with pride over his power
as warrior. he fought Jehoash, the
king of Israel, who overwhelmed him
completely in battle at Bethshem-
esh. which enabled him to enter
Jerusalem through Its walls. which
he had broken. carry away every
thing OF value that he could find In
the temple and palace, as we'll as
hostages to Judah. After this de-
feat Amaziah ruled fifteen years. I'M
til he was murdered at Lachish. when
he sought to escape the results of a
conspiracy to dethrone him.
Upon the untimely death of Ana
ztah. Uzziah was chosen by the people
as their ruler His reign of over fifty
years was the longest in point of
time. The condensed record Of his
golden age of the divided Kingdoms.
Jeroboam II ruled Israel for forty
years of Uzziah's reign. During that
period both kingdoms enjoyed peace
ana developed in prestige. power and
prosperity. Piety marked the com
mencement of Uzziah's leadership. He
was aided in his religious life by
Zechariah. who had understanding Of
the vision of God. The young king
who was only sixteen when he was
chosen king. recognized. as his name
indicates, "My Help is jehovah" for
He assisted him marvelously until he
became, a powerful and prosperous
ruler. Piety produces prosperity to-
day as it did in the time of Uzziah.
The one who works in harmony with
Ged is sure to gain. The pathway
of life is marked by the wrecks of
those who have departed from the
paths of the Lord.
In his efforts to subjugate the
Edmonites and re-establish the long
hindered trade with India by secur-
ing a port at Elath on the Red sea
he was successful due to the infu-
ence of Jehovah. In recent times the
late Sultan Abdul Ell Hamid sought
to control Akaba, the modern name
for Elath. for the same reasons that
actuated Uzziah. 1t gave control of
the Sinatic peninsula and was key to
the commerce with Egypt. His vic
tories over Edam reduced them to
the same position which they had oc-
cupied in the early days of his fathers
rule.
He conquered the principal cities
of the Philistines by taking Gath.
Ashdod and Jabneh. These strategic
cities controlled valleys that offered
gateways for armies of hostile pow
ers into the very heart of Judah. He
established new cities in these dis
tricts, especially for garrison pur-
poses to patrol and protect the ma
ton. He also crushed the power of
the Arab tribes. who had raided Je-
rusalem in King Joram's time He
controlled these wild tribes of the
desert by Notifications that he erect
ed in the. desert. He made an end of
the plundering excursions of these
royfng bands of the Nezeb. the south
country in Cor Baal and Maon by the
punishments which he inflicted upon
them. He secured also tribute from
the Ammenite chiefs. who surrender
ed their pasture lands in the low
lands of the southern wilderness and
the fertile plains beyond the Jordan.
This caused his reputation as war
rior to extend to Egyptian frontier.
He recognized the need of fortify-
ing Jerusalem. He did this in a
manner that made it an impregnable
fortress. His inventions OF new
ordinances were as wonderful to his
people as some of those marvellous
inventions that helped change the
methods of warfare in the world war
were to US. Some of the new gates
which he constructed in improving
the Notifications CO Jerusalem have
been discovered by the eminent Pail
estine explorer. DR.. F. ]. Bliss. The
towers that Uzziah erected can be
traced today.
Agriculture found worthy patron
VxYEnNIECnAN EVENING