To Study: 2
Chronicles 26:1-23, 2 Kings 15:1-7.
To Read in class: 2 Chronicles 26:1-5, 16-21.
Memory Texts:
Younger: Luke 18:14 "Everyone that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he
that humbleth himself shall be exalted."
Older: 2 Chronicles 26:21 "And Uzziah the king was a leper unto the day of
his death, and dwelt in a several house, being a leper; for he was cut off
from the house of the Lord."
OBJECTIVES: To teach that:
1. King Uzziah learned to work with companions and counselors who helped him
achieve great benefit for others.
2. Although one is young is years, it is no hindrance to serving God.
3. Either being poor or being in possession of wealth can be a test for an
individual.
4. King Uzziah had advantages and privileges but at the end of his life, he
failed to choose wisely.
5. Ignoring the advice of those who know the will of God, results in
disaster for a rebellious person.
6. Breaking the law of God results in loss of fellowship with other
believers.
SCENE 1. VISUAL AIDS. (I-5) Uzziah in his
palace consults with his engineers. Inset: symbols of his riches such as
jewels, money and palaces.
DEVELOPMENT:
- Uzziah was a very intelligent and prosperous king.
- He began to reign at 16 years of age and showed that youth need not be a
hindrance to doing well.
Apl. Young people do not have to wait until they are old to serve God.
- The king had the help of faithful engineers, artisans, military personnel
and politicians. With their
cooperation, he brought prosperity to the nation.
Cmt. When students work in groups, they see the importance of working with
those who know how
to cooperate. Ask them if they themselves cooperate.
- During his early years, Uzziah had the good advice of Zechariah who "had
understanding in the
visions of God" (2 Chronicles 26:5).
- His prosperity was due to the fact that "as long as he sought the Lord,
God made him to prosper".
- He was successful in the fields of architecture, science, agriculture, and
in the creation of war
machines.
- Uzziah was a man of varied interests, as is desirable in a king who wants
the best for his people.
- God blessed the king with many riches, which was a test of his
wholeheartedness. For others, their poverty tests their honesty.
Exm. A wealthy person has many goods, but does he share with others? Does a
poor man who has little, use dishonest means to acquire more?
Cns. Whatever the situation of one who is rich or poor, it can be a test of
their integrity.
Cns. The rich may commit sin by pride in their possessions. They may come to
depend on
themselves instead of depending on God. See Matthew 19:24; Mark 10:25; Luke
18:25.
Cns. The poor may commit the sin of envying another for what he has and at
times show hostility
towards him and complain.
Cmt. One's economic condition is not the only test by which sin may enter
into a person’s life. There are many temptations that lead to sin. It is
more difficult to manage an excess of goods than
scarcity. It is easier to carry a cup half full than one filled to the top.
- Uzziah reigned a total of fifty-two years in Judah.
SCENE 2. VISUAL AIDS. (D-8.) Countryside
showing figures of soldiers, farmers, workers, etc., to show the many areas
that prospered under the hand of Uzziah.
DEVELOPMENT:
- Not only in the economic field but also in war, the Lord helped king
Uzziah.
Sug. Using terms that are understandable to the students, tell them the size
of his army and the
successes they had.
Exm. + Uzziah was successful against the Philistines, conquering important
cities that belonged to them (2 Chronicles 26:6).
+ He triumphed over the Arabs, the Mehunims or Moabites (v.7), from whom
they received tribute,
that is, tax money (v.8).
+ He fortified Jerusalem, building towers at the main entrances.
+ He placed towers in different parts of the country, such as in the desert
(dry areas) and in the plains (cultivated lands).
- Uzziah was very interested in agriculture (vs.9-10).
- Because it was necessary to have instruments of war, he had engineers
invent machines capable of shooting stones and arrows (vs.11-15).
- Uzziah's problem began “when he was strong, his heart was lifted up to his
destruction: for he
transgressed against the Lord his God” (2 Chronicles 26:16). This is a key
verse.
- Meekness is needed in order for one who has so much power to use it in the
Lord's interests and not one's own.
Cmt. MEEKNESS is the ability to act with humility and use well the power or
position one has. To
be meek is to know how to control oneself when exercising authority without
becoming angry or
unkind.
Apl. God wants to use the intelligence and personality that students have,
but they need humility.
Sug. The teacher ought to encourage the students to be obedient to God's
commands without
becoming proud.
SCENE 3. VISUAL AIDS. (I-12) Inside the
temple of the Lord in Jerusalem with a figure of Uzziah carrying a censer
and heading towards the altar of incense. Figure of a group of priests
trying to hinder him from doing the work that only priests should do. Inset:
Figure of a distressed Uzziah because of the leprosy that has broken out on
his body.
DEVELOPMENT:
- Kings ruled the people; while priests represented them before God and
interceded with Him on
behalf of the people.
- According to God's law, only the priests had the right to serve at the
altar.
- God had set out the way and the manner of coming into His presence. It was
by means of a
sacrifice offered on the altar by an appropriate priest.
- Uzziah, now become powerful, did not take the divine will into account.
- Although he was king, he was not exempted from submitting to the will of
God as set out in the law.
- Uzziah sought to draw near to God in the wrong way.
Apl. There are those today who try to draw near to God using a variety of
means and methods to get God’s favour, rather than coming by the way
established by God, that is through Christ Jesus the One and Only Mediator.
- The priest Azariah’s courage was outstanding as he stood in opposition to
the king, for he wanted
to honour God.
- By what the king did, he dishonoured God by not paying attention to His
law regarding sacrifices.
Apl. Christians today may be called upon to uphold the principles of justice
in school or in the work
place. High school students could be warned about getting involved in
demonstrations against the
established authority in their schools.
Apl. Just as did Azariah, Christian parents ought to make sure that in their
homes Christian rules and
standards are maintained in order to teach the children obedience to the
Lord.
Lsn. It should be explained to the students that their parents seek to give
a Biblical orientation to the family. They do not want them to oppose God’s
word, as did Uzziah.
- Incense is offered to honour God, but when the king did it in his own way,
he was really seeking to honour himself.
Apl. Proverbs 16:18, "Pride goeth before destruction, and a haughty spirit
before a fall."
- No king in the Old Testament was given the additional office of serving as
a priest.
- When Uzziah took upon himself the work of the priests in addition to his
role of king, it meant that figuratively he was taking to himself what God
has reserved solely for His Son, the Lord Jesus
Christ.
- God resists (opposes) the proud (1 Peter 5:5). In this case, God showed
His opposition to and
displeasure with Uzziah’s actions by allowing leprosy to break out on the
king’s forehead.
SCENE 4. VISUAL AIDS. On a plain
background, figure of a door in the middle titled "The Door of Heaven". See
further comments in the development section of the lesson.
DEVELOPMENT:
Note: The object of this scene is to illustrate ways individuals try to
obtain eternal life without taking God’s word into account.
1) "Good Behaviour”. (A child helping his father).
2) “Long prayers”. (A child, praying sincerely).
3) “Sacrificial living”. (Money passing from one hand to that of another).
4) “Sincerity”. (Two people talking in a friendly manner).
Cmt. What Uzziah tried to do was not evil, for he wanted to worship God, but
he tried to function as a priest. His rebellion is seen in that he insisted
on going against what God had appointed.
5) A Key with the words in large letters “Faith in Christ and in His Word”.
- Nothing else can give access to heaven.
Apl. Those who come to God using their own ways without taking God into
account are going
against the explicit word of God. and will suffer the consequences.
- For Uzziah there was no remedy for his leprosy, and he passed the rest of
his life outside of his
palace, in a separate house.
Apl. Breaking the law of God results in loss of fellowship with other
believers.
Cmt. All the many things Uzziah had done in his lifetime were of no value to
him when he disobeyed God, and suffered the consequences.
Sug. Uzziah would not have suffered the leprosy God placed on him had he
paid attention to Azariah and the other priests.
- Ignoring the advice of those who know the will of God, results in disaster
for a rebellious person.
Apl. God has His “priests” today to warn the sinner of his evil ways and
show him the right way.
Those who serve Him are Sunday School teachers, youth workers, preachers and
godly parents. |
