Follow the Recipe
One Year Bible (July 30)
2 Chronicles 26:1-28:27
Follow The Recipe
Have you ever “Tweaked a Recipe” just a little bit?
My daughter loves to watch all of the cooking shows on TV. “Guy this and Guy that!” We especially love the cooking challenges. Have you ever noticed how they are given the craziest mixture of ingredients and then “throw something spectacular together”?
Well, most of the time they do, except for this one time. One of the cooks was getting so frazzled that he was literally shaking! This guy actually dropped one of the food items on the floor and picked it up without even noticing and put it BACK on the plate!!
Oh, Myyyyyy! (There’s my mother’s voice in my head again! Speaking of following directions…)
He may not have been aware (or he wanted the prize money) but the judges were certainly aware! He was CHOPPED!
It is always amazing to hear the stories of the contestants on these shows. Many of them can put together any variety of crazy ingredients together because they have a “foundation” or “base” to build within the area of cooking. Chef after chef tells of their heritage of cooking with a parent or grandparent who taught them all of their “Secret Family Recipes”. They use that knowledge as their guide in their techniques, spices, and execution of cooking.
Yesterday, we talked about, “What is the voice you hear in your ear?”
King Joash’s advisor and mentor, Jehoiada died and that left him open to the ungodly advice of his inner counsel. Why was he surrounded by those guys, to begin with? Hmmm…(That is something for all of us to ponder about our inner circle.)
Remember King Jehoram in a previous passage? Here is what is said about him, “But Jehoram followed the example of the kings of Israel, and was as wicked as King Ahab for he MARRIED one of Ahab’s daughters. So Jehoram did what was evil in the LORD’S sight.” (21:6)
He was the king whose “Bowels came out” much like Ahab’s wife Jezebel. She splattered on the streets below and the dogs came for MOST of her! “What GOES DOWN… FLOWS DOWN”.
What about Jehoram's son, Ahaziah? He was twenty-two years old when he became king and he only reigned for a whopping ONE YEAR. Oh MYYYYY… I wonder what happened here…
Let’s check out the rest of the scoop about his advisors, "His mother was Athaliah, a granddaughter of King Omri. Ahaziah also followed the evil example of King Ahab’s family, for his mother encouraged him in doing wrong. He did what was evil in the Lord’s sight, just as Ahab’s family had done. They even became his advisers after the death of his father, and they led him to RUIN.” (22:2-4)
Let us stop and make mention that Amaziah like his Father Joash had both started their journey as kings following God’s commandments. They are BOTH listed as GOOD kings on my “Kingly Chart”.
Yet, both of them did not end well. They started out young doing well, but when they should have had “More Wisdom” they seemed to have “Less Wisdom”.
This is what prompted my question, “What changed?’ The answer to that one little question is simple, “Their advisors changed!”
As we can see, Ahaziah also followed “The Secret Family Recipe” late in his life and it led him to RUIN!
He too was “CHOPPED”! Literally!!
In today’s story, we see Amaziah’s 16-year-old son, Uzziah (also known as Azariah) crowned as the tenth king of Judah. This kid barely had his driver's license!!! (Did chariots require that?)
What is his driving record you may wonder… Well, He DROVE the kingdom of Judah as king for 52 years and he is recorded as a GOOD KING. Whew!! That’s a relief…
How was his LONGEVITY?
“He did what was pleasing in the LORD’s sight, just as his father, Amaziah, had done. Uzziah sought God during the days of Zechariah who taught him to fear God. And as long as the king sought guidance from the LORD, God gave him success. (26:4-5)
Did you get that? As long as he was receiving the teaching of Zechariah and seeking guidance from the LORD, God gave him success… AS LONG AS!
"When he became POWERFUL, he became PROUD, which led to his downfall.” (26:16) Uzziah became “Too big for his kingly britches” and “too BLIND to follow the Lord’s recipe”. He also became DEAF and unable to hear the warning of 81 priestly voices!
In spite of the confrontation of the high priest and 80 other priests of the Lord, Uzziah “UZIED HIMSELF” into the sanctuary of the Lord to burn incense to the Lord.
This was not the place of the king, but when faced with confrontation he became ENRAGED with ANGER and then OVERCOME with LEPROSY!
He was CHOPPED by THE JUDGE!
This story reminds us that is essential to examine the “Voice In Our Ear” and to "Follow the Recipe”.
