The Throne: Even Kings Die

THE THRONE: EVEN KINGS DIE

In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train of his robe filled the temple. (Isaiah 6:1 ESV)

This was a big day for Judah, and the southern kingdom. King Uzziah had prospered them greatly during his fifty-two year reign.

He had assumed leadership at the young age of sixteen after his father, Amaziah, was killed.

Uzziah successfully led military campaigns, fortified Jerusalem, built cities, brilliantly equipped an army of over 300,000 men, and even employed skillful inventors who crafted defense machines (2 Chr 26:5-15).

In short, he oversaw wonderful years in Judah. But, unfortunately for both King Uzziah and his people, he did not heed the “fear of God” in which he had been instructed (2 Chr 26:5; 2 Chr 26:16). 

Uzziah seemed able to accomplish anything he set his hand to, but “when he was strong, he grew proud, to his destruction. For he was unfaithful to the Lord his God, and entered the temple of the Lord to burn incense on the altar of incense” (2 Chr 26:16).

While this may not seem a crime, it was exactly contrary to God’s command that Aaron and the priests after him would be set aside to worship God in that way (Ex 30:7,. But, Uzziah was a builder of cities and the master of a great army, and he believed himself to be above God’s Word.

Uzziah entered arrogantly into the Temple and was struck with leprosy until the day he died.

Though he ruled an entire nation for half a century, his throne was much smaller than God’s, and he forgot that. This day, in the “year that King Uzziah died,” Isaiah “saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up.”

Even though the people of Judah would mourn the loss of their renowned king, and leadership passed to his son Jotham, there was One who remained on an everlasting throne. And ultimately, King Jesus’ reign is the only one in which we can find our security & direction.

Remember, even kings die; don’t put your stock entirely in men.