2 Kings 15
Today's Passage: 2 Kings 15
Chapter 15 begins with a snapshot of King Azariah’s reign. He reigned for 52 years. That may sound like a long time, and when you compare it to the lengths of the other kings mentioned, you realize that it is!
Becoming king at 16, Azariah did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, and he found that, when he feared the Lord, God made him prosper. This fear of the Lord is in large part why Azariah’s rule was so long.
However, in verse 5 we see that the LORD gave him leprosy. A sickness that would have rendered him unclean, an outcast in the society that he ruled.
When we look at 2 Chronicles 26 we see the bigger picture of what God was doing. Verse 16 reads, “But when he was strong, he grew proud, to his destruction.” This pride led him to be unfaithful to the LORD.
Azairah entered the temple and burned incense on the altar. This act went outside of God’s design for worship as the burning of offerings was reserved for priests alone.
In Israel the three main forms of leadership were prophets, priests, and kings. In general, these roles did not usually overlap. In taking on the role of the priest, Azariah is grasping for more authority than what the LORD had called him to.
When the priest confronted the king, Azariah became angry and automatically leprosy broke out on his body. The leprosy rendered his outward appearance unclean, but ultimately it mirrored the posture of his heart.
Even this great king was broken.
However, in the midst of this we can look forward to a better king. King Jesus, the only one who can perfectly exercise the roles of prophet, priest, and king, and the only one who can heal our unclean hearts.
Written By: Paulette Carwile
Chapter 15 begins with a snapshot of King Azariah’s reign. He reigned for 52 years. That may sound like a long time, and when you compare it to the lengths of the other kings mentioned, you realize that it is!
Becoming king at 16, Azariah did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, and he found that, when he feared the Lord, God made him prosper. This fear of the Lord is in large part why Azariah’s rule was so long.
However, in verse 5 we see that the LORD gave him leprosy. A sickness that would have rendered him unclean, an outcast in the society that he ruled.
When we look at 2 Chronicles 26 we see the bigger picture of what God was doing. Verse 16 reads, “But when he was strong, he grew proud, to his destruction.” This pride led him to be unfaithful to the LORD.
Azairah entered the temple and burned incense on the altar. This act went outside of God’s design for worship as the burning of offerings was reserved for priests alone.
In Israel the three main forms of leadership were prophets, priests, and kings. In general, these roles did not usually overlap. In taking on the role of the priest, Azariah is grasping for more authority than what the LORD had called him to.
When the priest confronted the king, Azariah became angry and automatically leprosy broke out on his body. The leprosy rendered his outward appearance unclean, but ultimately it mirrored the posture of his heart.
Even this great king was broken.
However, in the midst of this we can look forward to a better king. King Jesus, the only one who can perfectly exercise the roles of prophet, priest, and king, and the only one who can heal our unclean hearts.
Written By: Paulette Carwile
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