06/09/2022 - WITNESSED BY ISAIAH

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Now the rest of the acts of Uzziah, from first to last, the prophet Isaiah the son of Amoz wrote.  2 Chronicles 26.22

Isaiah prophesied during the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, for about 60 years. Scholars of Jewish traditions identify his father as the brother of King Amaziah, making the prophet a member of royalty. Some think he was sawed in half at the behest of Manasseh, Hezekiah’s son, who had the misfortune of instituting the return of the idolatry that his father had destroyed. Tradition says that he died for protesting against the king’s wickedness.

The Bible does not say how he died; therefore, it is not known for sure. The truth is that Isaiah wrote the victorious path of Uzziah, giving us a glimpse of the success and prosperity, both material and spiritual, that the kingdom of Judah experienced in his days. For a long time, the king had Zechariah’s help, experienced in the visions of God. This Zechariah was not the prophet who wrote the book of the Bible that bears his name. The one from the days of Uzziah lived almost 300 years earlier. God knows what He does!

The author of the second book of Chronicles shows how valuable it is for a person to have someone spiritual and a servant of God as a leader. When the nation is led by someone who disrespects the Lord, everything goes wrong. However, if the potentate practices good, soon the stealing stops, evil is suppressed, and the people begin to think and act for the welfare of all. May God help us to have good rulers, who fear Him and do His will!

On the other hand, when the wicked take over a country – everything starts to go wrong, as it happened after Hezekiah’s death. The nation went into a great crisis, culminating in the imprisonment of King Manasseh, who was taken to Assyria. In captivity, he came to his senses and must have remembered God’s deeds on behalf of his father, who reigned after his grandfather had been ungodly, and sought the Lord, confessing his errors. Not only was he forgiven, but also returned to Jerusalem and the throne of Judah (2 Chronicles 33.10-17).

The Most High will never act against His essence – He is love (1 John 4.8). Upon hearing the confession of sins and the request for forgiveness, God soon receives the penitent with open arms. Those who seek Him will always find Him, but those who forsake Him will be debased – made vile. The good are always in communion with the Father. As the Source of all good, God will never turn His back on those who seek Him (Luke 11.9-13). There is goodness, forgiveness, and salvation in the Lord. Confess and live!

Possibly, the kings of Judah did not have time to keep the commandments written in the book of Deuteronomy, which said: And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. (Deuteronomy 6.6,7). Many seemed not to know God, living dissolutely and doing what the devil wanted, despising the Lord.

Biblical guidelines have not changed, but few Christians make use of them. Many people’s faith boils down to seeking material things, pleasure, and living as the lost live. If God is forgotten, how will He remember His own? Turn to the Lord now, confess your sins, and have true fellowship with Him and your family.

In Christ, with love,

R. R. Soares