July, 1939
T H E K I N G ' S B U S I N E S S
273
Another privilege was that Zechariah, the prophet, was then in the kingdom, giv ing “understanding in the visions of God.” This nearness of the prophet was a great opportunity for Uzziah. The king evident ly gave attention to what Zechariah told him concerning the Lord. Had not Uz ziah been well trained by his parents, and taught by the faithful prophet, some ex cuse might be found for his later declension and the fearful sin that followed. But privileges bring responsibilities, and Uzziah abused his privileges and refused his responsibilities. It is thus with too many in this modern day; blessed with opportunities for wide influence for good, they throw these away, even as Uzziah did. II. U zz ia h ' s P ride (16-18) “As long as he sought the Lord, God made him to prosper” (v. 5 ). The Philis tines were routed, the Arabians were de feated, and even the Ammonites were forced to pay tribute to Uzziah. He forti fied Jerusalem, together with many places round about. He built up his army to be one of the best in the world and furnished it with what would be then modern engines of war, until “his name spread far abroad; for he was marvelously helped, till he was strong” (v. 15). But prosperity brings danger. It was when Uzziah’s strength became recognized by his fellows that he thought to have it recognized also by heaven. His heart be ing lifted up with pride concerning what he was and what he had, he imagined he could trespass where a less prominent leader would have hesitated to enter. He had the temerity to intrude into the sacred office of the priesthood, an act forbidden in God’s law. Quickly the priests went into the temple and ordered Uzziah to cease his evil prac tice and to depart from the sacred place. But he persisted in his trespass, and even allowed his anger to rise the more against these appointed officers of the temple, in spite of the clear reminder they gave to him that “it appertained not unto thee, Uzziah, to burn incense unto the Lord, but to the priests the sons of Aaron” (v. 18). III. U zzia h ' s P u n ishm en t (19-21) It is a dangerous thing to trifle with the plain directions of the Lord. God is full of compassion, “slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy" (Psa. 103:8), and He deals with people in loving-kindness and full understanding. But God is also, and first o f all, the Holy God, and must main tain His holiness, righteousness, and truth. It would seem that this is the lesson that men and women of the twentieth century need to learn above all others. W e have come to a day wherein the Holy God is— BLACKBOARD LESSON 'EUtRy OnE THAT EXflLTETH HimSELF 5HFILL bE ABASED; flnD HE THAT HUmBLETH HIITOELF 5HRLL BE EXALTED" lu . io : i - h
in the opinion of men—robbed of His high place of righteousness and made like unto man. W e are perilously near to forgetting that the true God is a consuming fire, and that those who would approach Him must come by His appointed way. Suddenly the dreaded disease of leprosy broke out upon Uzziah, and then there was no need for the priests to put him out of the temple; he himself hastened to go forth. And from that day to the day of his death, Uzziah dwelt in a separate house, being a leper. It is not without notice that, typically, leprosy is the antithesis of holi ness. The scorner may blame God for the severity of the judgment, but the exercised heart will all the more honor the God whose very holiness of character demands His judgment upon all sinfulness and re bellion. Only in the sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ could God’s righteousness be vindicated and His love for sinners be expressed. The holy God “so loved the world, that he gave his . . . Son” (John 3:16). Have your pupils accepted Him? Points and Problems 1. "He sought God in the days of Zechariah” (2 Chron. 26:5). This man named "Zechariah” is not the well-known prophet whose book we have among the other so-called Minor Prophets. Concern ing the Zechariah of our lesson we know absolutely nothing except the brief refer ence accorded him in 2 Chronicles 26:5. Yet it is quite evident that the explanation of King Uzziah’s long reign in righteous ness is somehow closely connected with this man, for we are told that Uzziah “sought God in the days o f Zechariah.” I have often wondered how much of the greatness of the world’s greatest men might be accounted for by the influence exerted by persons utterly unknown and un recognized by history. Some day the hid den things will be revealed, and then every man’s work and reward shall be known. In any event, let all be satisfied with the gifts of God, remembering that the last shall be first and first shall be last 2. "Zechariah, who had understanding in the visions o f God” (v. 5 ). There is some question here as to the proper trans lation. Some authorities change "who had understanding” to "who g av e instruction " (cf. R.V. footnote). If this be the right rendering, we have a sufficient explanation of the influence of Zechariah upon the king and his good reign. Happy is the ruler who knows some prophet able to give him instruction in the “visions of God.” Per haps we should go further and say, happy is the ruler who has the good judgment to give heed to the instruction of the prophets. That is the real difficulty today. W e have the prophets—in the written Word of God. And we have plenty of men able to give instruction in what the prophets say. The tragic thing is that our rulers for the most part care little to know the "visions of God.” Yet apart from this one factor, there can be no real progress or stability in what we call civilization. 3. “But when he was strong, his heart was lifted up to his destruction" (v. 16). What a pity that at the very pinnacle of the king's strength and prosperity he no longer had the godly Zechariah to give
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