The Dangers of a Conservative Government, a Strong Military, and Good Policies
Reflective Reading: 2nd Chronicles 26
Can you imagine having a president who governed a nation in such a way that its people were able to prosper for the next 52 years? Who wouldn’t want that? Well, what if I told you that at the end of those 52 years this successful nation would be catastrophically destroyed because of its focus on Conservative Government, a Strong Military, and Good Policies. Sounds crazy right? Well, this actually happened, and we have a record of it in the Bible. It all starts with an unusually talented king who was just a teenager.
In the book of 2nd Chronicles, we read:
“Sixteen years old was Uzziah when he began to reign, and he reigned fifty and two years in Jerusalem…he did right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his father Amaziah did. And he sought God in the days of Zechariah, who had understanding in the visions of God: and as long as he sought the LORD, God made him to prosper…And God helped him against his enemies” (2 Chronicles 26:3-7).
The nation enjoyed a grand total of fifty-two years of protection and prosperity under young King Uzziah. Although the king was a genius in the formation of government policies, military strategies, and economic enterprises, the Bible tells us that his prosperity and protection came from seeking God,
“And as long as he sought the LORD, God made him to prosper.”
So far, so good. Let’s learn more about this amazing king!
“And the Ammonites gave gifts to Uzziah: and his name spread abroad, to the entering in of Egypt; for he strengthened exceedingly. Moreover Uzziah built towers in Jerusalem…and fortified them. Also he built towers in the desert, and digged many wells: for he had much cattle, both in the low country, and in the plains: husbandmen, and vine dressers in the mountains, and in Carmel: for he loved husbandry. Moreover Uzziah had an host of fighting men, that went out to war by bands…mighty men of valour, two thousand and six hundred. And…three hundred thousand and seven thousand and five hundred, that made war with mighty power, to help the king against the enemy. And Uzziah prepared…shields, and spears, and helmets, and habergeons, and bows, and slings to cast stones. And he made in Jerusalem engines, invented by cunning men, to be on the towers and upon the bulwarks, to shoot arrows and great stones withal. And his name spread far abroad; for he was marvelously helped, till he was strong” (2nd Chronicles 26:8-15).
Incredible! Uzziah was an agriculturalist, military strategist, hydrologist, and husbandman. He inspired inventors to invent, soldiers to fight, and brought his enemies to their knees. For fifty-two years the people of southern Israel prospered greatly. Tragically, toward the end of his reign, something happened—something that would bring devastating ruin.
While the king and his kingdom were enjoying the protection and prosperity that good conservative policies and a strong military bring, they became complacent in their seeking after God. Their prosperity and protection gave them a false sense of security as they abrogated their primary responsibility. So, what happened? Do you remember how the text previously ended regarding King Uzziah?
“And his name spread far abroad; for he was marvelously helped, till he was strong” (emphasis added).
That word till speaks volumes. Everything was going well until he was strong. What does that mean? Let’s read on,
“But when he was strong, his heart was lifted up to his destruction” (2nd Chronicles 26:16a).
He was doing so well. How could this happen? What happened was that he became strong and stopped seeking God. In fact, he became so prideful he started to place himself above God’s rules for entering His presence. And this is where it goes downhill pretty fast. Let’s read on,
“But when he was strong, his heart was lifted up to his destruction: for he transgressed against the LORD his God, and went into the temple of the LORD to burn incense upon the altar of incense. And Azariah the priest went in after him, and with him fourscore priests of the LORD, valiant men: And they withstood Uzziah the king, and said unto him, ‘Burning incense to the LORD is not unto thee, Uzziah, but to the priests the sons of Aaron, that are consecrated to burn incense: go out of the sanctuary; for thou hast trespassed; neither will this bring you any honour from the LORD God.’ Then Uzziah was wroth, and had a censer in his hand to burn incense: and while he was wroth with the priests, the leprosy even rose up in his forehead before the priests in the house of the LORD...And Azariah the chief priest, and all the priests, looked upon him, and, behold, he was leprous in his forehead, and they thrust him out from thence; yea, himself hasted also to go out, because the LORD had smitten him. And Uzziah the king was a leper unto the day of his death, and dwelt in a separate house, being a leper; for he was cut off from the house of the LORD” (2 Chronicles 26:16-21).
What a terrible ending! What happened?! There are two answers to this question. The first is what happens when people put their trust and hopes in good conservative policies and a strong military. Throughout history God has warned us over and over again not to trust in the strength of man, machine, or might. Now, this doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t have a strong military, rather,
“It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in man. It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in princes” (Psalm 118:8-9).
“Unless the LORD builds the house, they labor in vain who build it. Unless the LORD guards the city, the watchman stays awake in vain” (Psalm 127:1).
As the people were enjoying their protection and prosperity, they continued to slip farther and farther away from their devotion and trust in the LORD. After Uzziah died, by the time his grandson would take the throne, everything they had enjoyed was lost. It is essential that we as a people do not have our hopes in good conservative policies, a prosperous economy, or a strong military. What is needed is a people who fear the LORD and obey His Word.
The second reason for the downfall of the king and his kingdom is found in an easily missed sentence in 2nd Chronicles 26:5,
“[King Uzziah] set himself to seek God in the days of Zechariah, who instructed him in the fear of God, and as long as he sought the LORD, God made him prosper.”
Do you see it? This young king, at 16 years old, had a godly mentor. We know nothing of this mentor’s background, but what we do know is that his mentoring taught this teenage king how to fear and seek the LORD his God. It would appear, however, that Uzziah could not live out his faith to the end without his mentor’s influence. And this leads me to a very important point.
Over the past 40 years I have had the privilege of working with many young adults ages 16-30ish. I’ve watched them grow and become strong in godly character and in their dependance upon the LORD. But sadly, many fall away once they leave this safe environment that is constantly reminding them to seek the LORD. Unless we and our children continue to seek the LORD with all our hearts, with or without our mentors, our kingdom(s) will fall.
The fact that King Uzziah became so prideful at the end, and refused to repent even after receiving the severe chastening of leprosy, leads me to believe that his faith and allegiance to God was only superficial. His protection and prosperity gave him a false sense of confidence. He started to take the protection of the Lord for granted and forgot from where his help came.
What can we learn from this? Never stop seeking the LORD no matter how much you might prosper. When God removes mentors, cling to God more tightly! Seek Him in the morning, seek Him in the evening.
“Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near” (Isaiah 55:6).
Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things (food, clothing, shelter) shall be added to you (Matthew 6:33). Remember,
“…as long as he sought the LORD, God made him to prosper.”
Having a conservative government and strong military without a total reliance upon the God of the universe is a disaster waiting to happen.
“Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people” (Proverbs 14:34).
It’s time to get behind the one candidate that can truly make a difference in this world. His name is Jesus!
Sincerely,
Mark Hamby
M.S., M. Div., Th. M., D. Min.
Recommended Reading:
Charlie’s Choice book/audio (Ages 9+)
The Wanderer book/audio (Ages 9+)
Story of Charles Ogilvie (Ages 12+)
Come What May (Ages 12+)
