Cheraw chronicle. [volume] (Cheraw, S.C.) 1896-2005, 1922-04-20

at the age or Sixteen.
2 Length of His Reign ". 81. he
reigned tfty-two years. HIS mother >
name was Jecoliah, which means
"Jehovah is able" or "Made strong
of Jehovah"
3. His Character ". ~. He did
that which was right In the sisht of
the Lord. Though his father maue
several great mistakes he is given
credit for that which he did whlch
was worth while. TRe son is also COM
mended for what he did which was
right, but with his great opportunity
he should have done better than MS
father.
q. His Prosperity ". 81. He deh'
nitely sought God while Zecharlah
lived, and because he sought him God
made him to prosper as long as he
continued to seek him. He, like Joash
before him, turned aside when the In
fluence of the man Of God was re-
moved.
n. Uzziah's Achievement wv. 6-15).
1. He Built Eloth ". p. This was
q port on the Red sea which had been
lost to Judah. No doubt 1t was the
aim Of the father to get possession or
this port, so the son makes its restora-
tion his first duty. 1t was an i'm
portant trading point and the COM
mercial interests of the nation would
be greatly increased by It's possession.
2. He Had Military Success (vv.
6-S). Q) He conquered the Psilis-
tines ". g.. After subduing them he
dismantled their fortified cities and
built new cities in their stead. (2) He
defeated the Arabiens ". y. go He
made the Ammonites across the Jor-
dan pay tribute ". 81.
8. He Fortified Jerusalem wv. b
15). He took advantage Of the peace
which was now enjoyed because Of the
subjugation of his enemies 10 fortify
| Jerusalem. He placed In the towers
great engines Of war for hurling
stones.
4. His Civic Improvements ". 1O.
In the regions south and west OF
Jerusalem he bhilt towers which
served a threefold purpose. namely {:
observation, defense and shelter for
his cattle. This enabled him to carry
on his stock-raising enterprises, as
| they would thus be protected from the
Bedouin marauders. He terraced the
hills and vineyards and cultivated the
plains.
s. His Army wv 11-15). 1t numbered
| 3O7, 800. It was thoroughly equipped
and drilled. God was with him, and
his fame spread far and wide. The
source Of his strength was God.
10. Uzziah's Transsresslon (vv. 16-
18).
The prosperity bestowed upon him
| by the Lord was too much for him
his heart was lifted up with pride.
This Is always so unless counteracted
by divine grace. In his pride he pre-
sumptuously intruded into the priests
| office. This act was not because OF
| forgetfulness, but Of deliberate pur-
pose. Azariah and eighty other priests
demonstrated with him, but this only
made him angry. This act was a
trespass against God.
| w. Uzziah's Punishment wv. 19-
Ply.
While raging In his wrath and about
to burn incense he was smitten with
leprosy, a dreadful, incurable and un-
clean disease. This judgment came
upon him as consequence Of his
overweening pride and vanity. He was
thrust out Of the sanctuary-excluded
from Gods house. Indeed, his own
conscience smote him, and he hurried
ly went out because he knew that the
Lord had smitten him. He not only
was excluded from the place Of wor-
ship, but was dethroned. His son
Jotham was made regent. His judg-
ment was:
l. Sudden. The Lord smote him
while attired as priest, with censer in
hand. Frequently Gods judgments
are speedy. 2. Severe. The leprosy
broke forth upon his forehead. The
same judgment befell Miriam for
speaking against Moses (Num. 12:1O).
and Gehazi for lying to Elisha QI
Kings 5:2D. Great sins demand
severe punishment. 3. Conspicuous
Azariah and all the priests looked up
and beheld the leprosy ". 20). The
spot on Uzziah's forehead proclaimed
him as the object Of Gods wrath.
How many today are bearing about
the marks Of sin-God's judgment! |!
4. HumillatiI.g. He was henceforth
unclean--cut off from the congrega.
ton. This is what sin always does.
5. Fatal. 1t ended in death. 1.-THE
waces Of sin Is death" from. 6 :23l.