February 1, 2009
In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the LORD sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple.- Isaiah 6:1
In all the times that you’ve read or heard this passage, have you ever wondered who King Uzziah was? Honestly, I never did. I just marveled how Isaiah described God’s majesty. But tonight, as I was reading this passage, I asked for the very first time: “Who was King Uzziah?” My research took me to several concordances and research sites that I frequent to answer my questions and I learned some quite interesting facts about him. His story begins in II Chronicles when, at the age of 16, he became the king of Israel after his father was killed. Though he helped restore Israel to its former glory, Uzziah later got arrogant. He asserted himself higher than God in worship and disobeyed the laws He set forth. When the elders confronted him, Uzziah remained firm in his defiance. God afflicted Uzziah with leprosy as a consequence and he spent the rest of his life in seclusion; his son served as king in his absence. While Uzziah was “away”, he was still king and Israel was under the submission of a king who violated God’s command and refused to accept his responsibility. When he died, it was as if Israel was freed again. Isaiah saw God and His restoration when King Uzziah died. And it is the same with us. Some things have to lose life in order for us to see God and live for Him.
It was that relationship you thought would last forever that God ended. It was that job you knew was perfect that God sent the pink slip. It was your business that you believed was flourishing that God closed. It was your plans that you thought made sense that God showed to be senseless. It had to die. It had to cease. It had to end so that you could refocus on Him. Through it, He showed you that only in Him and through Him will true love come and last. Through it, He showed that He -not your boss- supplies all your needs. Through it, He showed that His purpose is more successful than your agenda. Through it, He showed that His plans for your life are the most bountiful. Some of us are crying and upset over what God took. Why? When we had it, we were dying in our salvation. Now that it’s gone, we’re killing our flesh. Which is more beneficial?
I’m understanding and appreciating death, in the spiritual and natural, more than I ever did before. The death is just as important as the life. When something dies, it has served its purpose. It can no longer grow and there are no more changes left to be made. The death has signaled the finality of it all. We cannot will a person back to life no more than we can a dead relationship, career, business or belief. When it is over, we are to look back on the memories and continue our growth and development, allowing the lessons learned from the life and death to make us better. Let go of the dead thing. The fact that you are still living is proof enough that God has more life and prosperity coming your way. Isaiah saw God after Uzziah died because he knew that the Lord was there. He acknowledged that God was using that opportunity to get Isaiah to see Him and oh, what a sight!! Recognize that despite the pain, frustration and disappointment- whatever it was had to come to an end so that God could fulfill His work - that beautiful, amazing, life changing, powerful work- in you!
©BirthRight, 2009
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