Azariah’s Good Reign in Judah
May 31, 2020
Commentary
Azariah was a good king like his father but he too failed to remove the high places. He expanded Judah’s territories southward to Elath (2 Kings 14:22), eastward so that the Ammonites paid him tribute (2 Chron. 26:8) and westward by defeating the Philistines (2 Chron. 26:6, 7). He fortified Jerusalem and other parts of Judah (2 Chron. 26:9-15) and reorganized the army (2 Chron. 26:1-14). After Jeroboam’s death, Azariah became even more powerful and was looked to for leadership by the surrounding nations.
However, because of his pride and taking over of priestly responsibilities he became a leper (2 Chron. 26:16-21). After that he lived a life of limited seclusion as required of lepers in Israel. He was more or less a figurehead, while his son, Jotham, undertook his royal duties. We now find record of the lost years of the Northern Kingdom. Zechariah succeeded Jeroboam II to the throne but he only reigned six months. He was assassinated publicly by Shallu (v. 13). Shallu’s reign was the second shortest in Israel’s history (after Zimri’s seven-day reign, l Kings 16:15-20) as it only lasted one month. Menahem who was commander of the army regarded Shallu as a usurper to the throne and believed that he should succeed Zechariah to the throne so he killed him and took over. He reigned 10 years and when he died he was succeeded by his son Pekohiak.
Application
It was only after God’s presence was firmly established in the temple that the river of life began to flow. As God’s presence is evident in my life His blessings should produce fruit along the way.
Ezekiel 47:1– 12 (NET)
1 Then he brought me back to the entrance of the temple. I noticed that water was flowing from under the threshold of the temple toward the east (for the temple faced east). The water was flowing down from under the right side of the temple, from south of the altar. 2 He led me out by way of the north gate and brought me around the outside of the outer gate that faces toward the east; I noticed that the water was trickling out from the south side.
3 When the man went out toward the east with a measuring line in his hand, he measured 1,750 feet, and then he led me through water, which was ankle deep. 4 Again he measured 1,750 feet and led me through the water, which was now knee deep. Once more he measured 1,750 feet and led me through the water, which was waist deep. 5 Again he measured 1,750 feet, and it was a river I could not cross, for the water had risen; it was deep enough to swim in, a river that could not be crossed. 6 He said to me, “Son of man, have you seen this?”
7 When I had returned, I noticed a vast number of trees on the banks of the river, on both sides. 8 He said to me, “These waters go out toward the eastern region and flow down into the rift valley; when they enter the Dead Sea, where the sea is stagnant, the waters become fresh. 9 Every living creature that swarms where the river flows will live; there will be many fish, for these waters flow there. It will become fresh, and everything will live where the river flows. 10 Fishermen will stand beside it; from En Gedi to En Eglaim they will spread nets. They will catch many kinds of fish, like the fish of the Great Sea. 11 But its swamps and its marshes will not become fresh; they will remain salty. 12 On both sides of the river’s banks, every kind of tree will grow for food. Their leaves will not wither nor will their fruit fail, but they will bear fruit every month, because their water source flows from the sanctuary. Their fruit will be for food and their leaves for healing.”