AZARIAH OR UZZIAH KING OF JUDAH.

Azariah, the son of Amaziah was 16 years when he became king.  He ruled for 52 years. He did what was right before God but he did not abolish idolatry. He sought after God throughout the days of Zechariah, and as long as he sought God, God prospered him. He fought against the philistines, the Arabians and he succeeded. Even the ammonites brought tributes to him, he was famous and powerful. He had a great army, armoury and great inventions. However he became proud and took up the duty of the priest. When Azariah and the other priests tried to stop him, he became angry and was adamant and he became a leper and his son Jotham managed the kingdom on his behalf.

LESSONS

a)     As leaders, whatever needs to be done to cleanse our organization should be done. We should not allow evil to continue. Azariah must have been aware of the continuous idolatry among his people but he did nothing drastic to arrest it. God will hold us accountable for evil happening under our nose if we are in position to stop it and we fail to do so.

b)    Leaders can do exploits for God if they will totally follow him and rely on him. The successes recorded by Uziah were because of his devotion to God. Eyes have not seen what can do through ordinary people who rely on him.

c)     Pride goes before a fall, leaders should be aware of presumptuous sins. They should always remember that their success comes from God, they should never allow success to get in to their heads by claiming glory for it or acting beyond their God given mandate. Uziah though powerful and famous went above board and he fell flat. This is an area where every leader must be extra careful. People will hail you and flatter you when you are making progress, but when it is allowed to get into the head of a leader, it becomes a snare that can cause the downfall. The antidote is to keep the eye of Jesus always. Do not be deceived by flattery or discouraged by censure.  

AMAZIAH KING OF JUDAH.

Amaziah succeeded his father jehoah as king of Judah. He began his regin when he was 25years and he did what was right before God but he was not as faithful as David. The people, his subjects where still into idolatry. He killed his father’s murderers but spared their sons. He also fough Edonites, killing about ten thousand. His victory however got into his head and he therefore challenged Jehoash, king of Israel. The king of Israel warned him but he was adamant. Jerusalem was therefore raided with many of the treasures in the house of the Lord carted away to Samaria and many taken hostages. He was assassinated in Lasish after a coup.  

LESSONS

a)     Beware of success, lest it gets into your head and you begin to challenge what should be challenged. When success comes, acknowledge God and continue to seek his face. “pride goes before a fall’

ATHALIAH and JEHOASH, KINGS OF JUDAH

ATHALIAH,

After Ahaziah’s death, Athaliah his mother took over the throne. To secure her reign she killed all the princes king’s son  who could be potential kings and rivals. Jehospheba, Ahaziah’s sister however managed to save and hide Joash, Ahaziah’s son was only a year old . she hid him in the temple for 6 years while Athaliah reigned. During her reign, Baal worship prospered. During the 7^th year of her reign, Jehoida, the priest planned with soldiers and security guards of the palace. They brought put Joash, anointed him king and killed Athaliah. They also destroyed the house of Baal and its priest. They established the king and the city was quiet.

LESSONS

a)     Evil will not prosper forever, Athaliah performed her evil enterprise for a while but nemesis caught up with her eventually. A day of reckoning will always come. Leaders beware!

b)    King Jehoram  was unequally yoked with Athaliah and Athaliah ruined his family after his death. Leaders and administrators should beware, many God faring women of like minds, stay within the faith.

JEHOASH KING OF JUDAH.

 Jehoash was 7 years old when he became the king of Judah. He reigned for 40 years. He followed the instructions of Jehoiada, the priest and therefore was able to do what was right in the eyes of God. Although he did not carry out a complete reformation by destroying the alters of Baal, he encouraged and mandated the repairs of the temple of God. He was assassinated by his servants.

LESSONS

a)     Jehoash though young and son of a wicked king chose to obey God by following the instructions of the priest, young leaders who seek the counsel of God fearing elders will be successful.

b)    What is with doing is worth doing well, leaders should endeavor to follow through all Godly reformation that they embark on.

c)     He made sure money contributed in the house of God was properly used to repair the house – accountability and good use of resources.

JEHOSHAPHAT, KING OF JUDAH

JEHOSHAPHAT, KING OF JUDAH.

Jehoshaphat reigned for 25years in Jerusalem. He did what was right in the sight of the Lord but he did not completely abolish idolatry among the people. He took away the sodomites, he however joined forces with Ahab to fight the Syrians. He persisted in seeking the face of God before going to battle, he requested for a real prophet of the Lord when the 400 prophets prophesied success at the battle. He was sensitive to the spirit of God, again when Jehoshaphat joined Jehoram, son of Ahab to fight against Misha,king of Moab, Jehoshaphat encouraged him that they should seek the face of the Lord. They sought after Elijah and he honoured Jehoshaphat by responding to their request for water and favour. The Moabites were smitten before them.

LESSONS

a)     When a leader walks with God, God will work with him.

b)    Every godly leader must seek the face of God before making decisions or taking actions.

JOTHAM, KING OF JUDAH.

 2 chron 27

Jotham was 25years old when he became king and he reigned for 16years. He did what was right like his father Uzziah. However, his reformation was not complete. He did not carry it into the temple of God and the people were still corrupt and were sacrificing to idols. During his reign, he built gates and towers and he  subdued the ammonites. He was mighty because he walked in the way of the Lord.

LESSONS

a)     When leaders follow the Lord, the Lord will strengthen them and established them.

b)    Leaders should always try to turn the heart of the people back to God, they should leave no stone unturned. Partial reformation cannot save a nation.