2 Kings 15:6 As for the other events of Azariah's reign, and all he did,
are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Judah?
Azariah began to reign over Judah
when he was sixteen years old. According to the Bible, he was king for fifty
two years. He was a good king, but we really don’t know anything about his
reign. Today’s Bible verse hints at a book that has never been rediscovered –
The Annals of the Kings of Judah. We don’t know what it contains because it was
lost thousands of years ago, probably during the time of exile. There may have
been many events, circumstances, and miracles during Azariah’s reign that would
interest us, but we will never know of them unless archaeologists actually find
those lost scrolls.
The fact that he reigned over the
nation for fifty two years must have meant that the land and his people had
continuity, peace, and prosperity. Most of the countries around Judah were in
turmoil at this time, so he must have been a strong leader, astute diplomat, as
well as a wise king. Perhaps, one day in glory, we’ll get to hear about Azariah’s
reign from his own lips because he appears to have been a very faithful king,
too.
In Shakespeare’s play ‘Julius Caesar’,
Mark Anthony says this about the lives of leaders:
‘The evil that men do lives
after them;
The good is oft interred with their bones;’
The good is oft interred with their bones;’
This,
sadly, may be the case concerning Azariah’s life. Evil kings around him had
their deeds recorded in the scriptures, but the life, work, and faithful ways
of good King Azariah are unknown. Whatever he accomplished has been forgotten;
how he faithfully served God is not remembered. However, this may be the case
on Earth, but I don’t think that his goodness has gone unnoticed in the Heavenly
realms.
Sometimes faithful people despair at trying to be good.
Taking and keeping the high road in personal circumstances, as well as against
the tide of public opinion, can be grueling, exhausting, and often unrewarding.
However, for those who endure despite the opposition, as well as the injustices
smeared against them, the eternal reward is far greater than anything we can
ever know, experience, or receive on Earth. As St. Paul wrote: “Blessings
beyond our seeing, hearing, and knowing are prepared by God for those who love
Him.” (1 Corinthians 2:9).
Questions
for personal reflection
Where and when do I display the goodness of God in my
life? What will other people remember about me?
Prayer: Lord
Jesus, we try to be good people and faithful servants. We know that we don’t
always succeed, but we pray that You will continue to grant us opportunities
and circumstances that will allow us to positively witness to Your love,
compassion, and kingdom. In Your Holy Name, we humbly pray. Amen.
John Stuart is the pastor
of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to ask
questions or write a comment about today’s message, please send John an email
to Traqair@aol.com. He enjoys reading and
receiving your feedback.
Today’s image is one of
John’s fun drawings for Halloween called “Text Hex.” If you would like to see a
larger version of it, please click on the following link: Text Hex.
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