Who Is Your Father?

Today I noticed an interesting example of the grace of God in the Old Testament.  It is exciting and to discover connections previously unknown by me, and these revelations confirm our deepest studies only scratch the surface of God's Word.

Uzziah was king in Jerusalem and was greatly helped by God.  Yet when he was strong his heart was lifted up with pride and he decided to burn incense - a God-given duty only for sanctified priests, not the king.  After he was angry when confronted by a host of godly priests, Uzziah was struck with leprosy.  This event did not go unnoticed by his son Jotham who became king after him.

The following chapter makes a key observation concerning king Jotham in 2 Chronicles 27:2:  "And he did what was right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his father Uzziah had done (although he did not enter the temple of the LORD). But still the people acted corruptly."  It seems Jotham did not distinguish the sin of his father from the place where God's judgment fell and consequently would not even enter the temple.  Better safe than sorry, right?  Not at all, for the people followed his example and acted corruptly.  If the king did not go to the temple for sacrifice or prayer, why should they?

After the passing of Jotham, Ahaz his son became king and did not do what was right in the sight of the LORD.  Not only did he openly worship idols, but 2 Chronicles 28:24 tells us, "So Ahaz gathered the articles of the house of God, cut in pieces the articles of the house of God, shut up the doors of the house of the LORD, and made for himself altars in every corner of Jerusalem."  Ahaz scorned the worship of God and forbid anyone else to worship God either.  The temple was plundered, polluted, and the doors sealed.  Uzziah sinned in the temple without repentance, Jotham would not enter the temple, and Ahaz plundered and shut it so no one could!  The spiritual downward spiral seemed without end.  Only the grace of God could redeem this hopeless state.

At twenty-five years Hezekiah became king and did what was right in the sight of the LORD.  He did what was right as his father David had done, not as Ahaz had done for he was faithful to the God of Israel.  God led him in the first year of his reign to open the doors of the temple and repair them (2 Chron. 29:3).  At his command the priests and Levites were sanctified, the temple was cleansed of rubbish, and the worship of God began once again in earnest.  Praise and prayers were lifted up to God and sacrifices were made morning and night.  2 Chronicles 29:36 says, "Then Hezekiah and all the people rejoiced that God had prepared the people, since the events took place so suddenly."  God prepared Hezekiah, the priests, Levites, and people to worship the LORD, and it was His doing.

How awesome is our God, who redeems people from iniquity!  We are not destined for destruction without hope, even as a son is not doomed to repeat the mistakes of his wicked father.  Everyone who has a Father in heaven has access to the grace of God in which we stand.  We must not blame our earthly fathers for our spiritual lameness, but take to heart what Hezekiah urged the people in 2 Chronicles 30:7-8, "And do not be like your fathers and your brethren, who trespassed against the LORD God of their fathers, so that He gave them up to desolation, as you see. ⁸ Now do not be stiff-necked, as your fathers were, but yield yourselves to the LORD; and enter His sanctuary, which He has sanctified forever, and serve the LORD your God, that the fierceness of His wrath may turn away from you."  Those who yield to God and enter His presence with worship on the basis of Christ's sacrifice can serve Him faithfully.  We turn from God, but when we return to Him He will not turn His face from us (2 Chron. 30:9).