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Day 30 – Prosperity 2 Kings 14:21 And all the people of Judah took Azariah, which was sixteen years old, and made him king instead of his father Amaziah. 22 He built Elath, and restored it to Judah, after that the king slept with his fathers. (KJV) What do we really know about the people we live with, our neighbors, the people we work with, and even those we profess to love? From this passage of scripture we know nothing about Azariah who was also known as Uzziah. It would seem he lived and died in the space of a few years. Yet these are not all the facts about Azariah better known as Uzziah. 2 Chronicles 26 gives us a full picture of Uzziah. 2 Chronicles 26:1 Then all the people of Judah took Uzziah, who was sixteen years old, and made him king in the room of his father Amaziah. 2 He built Eloth, and restored it to Judah, after that the king slept with his fathers. 3 Sixteen years old was Uzziah when he began to reign, and he reigned fifty and two years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name also was Jecoliah of Jerusalem. 4 And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his father Amaziah did. (KJV) What can we learn about Azariah/Uzziah that we don’t see in 2 Kings 14? 1. Uzziah sought God and He made him to prosper. 2. Uzziah warred against the Philistines 3. Ammonites gave him gifts 4. His name went as far as Egypt 5. Uzziah built the towers of Jerusalem and fortified them 6. Uzziah built towers in the desert and dug many wells for his cattle and he loved husbandry 7. Uzziah had 2600 mighty man of valor and a host of fighting men 8. Uzziah’s army was 307,500 that went to war for him 9. Uzziah prepared the tools necessary to fight – shields, spears, habergeons, helmets, bows, and slings for stones. 10. He fortified the towers with armament on the towers This was the good Uzziah did that was not mentioned in today’s text. How well are you known? Do people know you only a tiny bit as we see about Uzziah in today’s text, or are people aware of the good you do for your community, family, and friends? As Christians we are told to let our light shine for all to see. Matthew 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. (KJV) We do not do things to bring glory to ourselves, but to God. Uzziah glorified God in everything he did and God prospered him. Uzziah fortified himself and his army against his enemies. We are to put on the armor of God against our enemy – Satan. We are to war in God’s strength not our own and God will defeat our enemies, just as Uzziah defeated his enemies. God was with him. Uzziah did a lot of good. One thing mentioned in both texts is that he took back Eloth and built it up again. He took back what the enemy stole from him and his people. As Christians we are to take back what the enemy stole from us. We are not to allow Satan to have access to what belongs to us, not for a single moment of time. What has Satan stolen from you? Has he taken your children, spouse, family members, your home, your land? You have the right to take back everything Satan stole from you. Joshua 14:9 And Moses swore on that day, saying, Surely the land whereon thy feet have trodden shall be thine inheritance, and thy children’s forever, because thou hast wholly followed the LORD my God. God wants you to prosper. He will not only give you your children and family members, but He will give you the land for your inheritance. Mark 10:29 And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel’s, 30 But he shall receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life. Jesus said we would receive it NOW in this time. We don’t need to wait until we die to receive our reward from God as long as we live for Jesus and help spread the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, God will prosper us. Uzziah lived for God and God prospered him. God will do the same for us. Let’s pray: Father, help me to seek You all the days of my life. Help me spread the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ to bring You glory in all I do. Help me to prosper under Your hand so that those who see me will know it is You I serve and not myself. In Jesus’ name, I pray, amen. Copyright © 30 October 2015 by Valerie Jean Routhieaux All scripture is King James Version, edited by me into common English. Image courtesy of Pixabay