The Seed in the Stump

Isaiah lived during the decline of Judah - remember last week we talked about Solomon’s idolatry and how the nation would eventually be divided into a Northern and a Southern Kingdom, then ultimately they would be dispersed into exile. Isaiah lived in the Southern Kingdom of Judah during the time of it’s demise. 

 

But there seemed to be a glimmer of hope that perhaps there was a revival taking place. A young King Uzziah or Azeriah had become King in Judah. We are told in 2 Kings 15:3 (ESV)

³ And he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, according to all that his father Amaziah had done.

 

• From Genesis onward, humanity has waited and watched for the “Seed” that God would provide that would ultimately crush the head of the enemy. Throughout the Old Testament, we see hopeful prospects- Seth, Noah, Abraham, Moses, Samuel, David… and now Uzziah. Could this be the one? Could it be Uzziah?
• Uzziah was the Ronald Regan of his day - He built up the military, Defeated the Enemies, Led a massive Economic Resurgence. It seemed that this may be the seed of Jessie the people had been waiting on. 

 

2 Chronicles 26:16 (ESV)

¹⁶ 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.

 

Now if you remember this was very similar to the sin of Saul. He didn’t follow the prescribed procedure laid out in the Word of God. It was the priests place to enter the temple and burn the incense. But Uzziah’s success had gone to his head and he devalued the word of God. God struck Uzziah with leprosy and ultimately he died.