daily bible readings

The peoples of the Ancient Near East all worshipped particular gods and sought the blessings of the those gods when they engaged in war with neighbouring countries or powers. They believed that victory in war was, in reality, a victory by their god over the god of the opposing nation or forces. The vanquished god would sometimes be captured and displayed as a trophy of war in the temple of the victorious god. 

God, of course, would bless His people with victory over the opposing forces when the king and nation followed Him and walked obediently in His pathways. Uzziah was blessed by the Lord with victory over the Philistines, the Arabs and the Meunites. The Ammonites brought him tributes for his power had grown great and had spread even to the borders of Egypt.

Apart from victory on the battlefield, we are also told of his exploits and blessings at home. “Uzziah built towers in Jerusalem at the Corner Gate, at the Valley Gate and at the angle of the wall, and he fortified them. 10 He also built towers in the desert and dug many cisterns, because he had much livestock in the foothills and in the plain. He had people working his fields and vineyards in the hills and in the fertile lands, for he loved the soil.” 2 Chronicles 26:9–10.

God had promised, way back in Deuteronomy 28ff, blessings for obedience. “You will be blessed in the city and blessed in the country. 4 The fruit of your womb will be blessed, and the crops of your land and the young of your livestock—the calves of your herds and the lambs of your flocks. 5 Your basket and your kneading trough will be blessed. 6 You will be blessed when you come in and blessed when you go out. 7 The Lord will grant that the enemies who rise up against you will be defeated before you. They will come at you from one direction but flee from you in seven.”

God also promised defeat and curses for disobedience. “However, if you do not obey the Lord your God and do not carefully follow all his commands and decrees I am giving you today, all these curses will come upon you and overtake you: 16 You will be cursed in the city and cursed in the country. 17 Your basket and your kneading trough will be cursed. 18 The fruit of your womb will be cursed, and the crops of your land, and the calves of your herds and the lambs of your flocks. 19 You will be cursed when you come in and cursed when you go out. 20 The Lord will send on you curses, confusion and rebuke in everything you put your hand to, until you are destroyed and come to sudden ruin because of the evil you have done in forsaking him... 25 The Lord will cause you to be defeated before your enemies. You will come at them from one direction but flee from them in seven, and you will become a thing of horror to all the kingdoms on earth.” Deuteronomy 28:15–25.

God is so holy and pure that He will not give His glory to another. He will not allow the gods of the nations - gods that cannot hear or speak or deliver their people from trouble - to be victorious over Himself and to be seen as victorious.

But, should His own people continue to walk in disobedience, God will allow them to be defeated and to be down trodden by the enemy. He will punish them so that they are severely rebuked and so that they come back to their senses.

All seemed well for king Uzziah but we wait with baited breath to see if he will continue in the Lord’s pathways or if he will turn away and serve other gods.

Prayer:

Adoration:

• Adore God for His sovereignty and power over all peoples, all nations and all events in our world.
• Adore our Lord and Saviour that He alone brings wealth and poverty, blessings and curses, good and bad.

Confession:

• Take time to confess your sins to the Lord and to ask for forgiveness

Thanks:

• Thank God that He disciplines us for our good and to bring us back to Himself in repentance and growth.
• Thank God that no plan of His can be thwarted by people, governments or organisations.

Supplication:

• Pray that our Small Groups would continue to grow the members and to pick up new members. Pray that the groups would be havens of love, of growth and of unity and camaraderie.
• Pray that our Small Group leaders and Ministry Leaders would be wise and skilful in the way they lead their groups or ministries and that God would equip them for every good work that He has prepared in advance for them to be doing.

Discussion Questions

1. Why was Uzziah powerful and victorious in war? (Hint: look at God’s role and Uzziah’s role)
2. What did this communicate to the nations?
3. Why are the building projects of Uzziah described in these verses?