In The Year
It cannot be overstated how grievous the death of King Uzziah was to the nation of Judah. Uzziah was one of the good guys. He began to reign when he was 16 and having been discipled by the prophet Zechariah, he sought the Lord and reigned with justice and mercy.
God blessed the reign of Uzziah. The nation prospered both economically and politically. In his later years, he became proud, took upon himself spiritual duties that strictly belonged to the priests, and suffered an outbreak of leprosy as a result, the judgment of God. His last years were lived in solitary confinement, excommunicated from temple worship, with his son acting as his regent, carrying out the daily responsibilities of the king.
Despite the way his 52-year-long reign ended, the people hadn’t forgotten all the good Uzziah had done and how God blessed the nation during his reign. So, his passing was a sorrowful moment in time for them.
Isaiah marks the date of his vision of the Lord by the year of Uzziah’s death. I think this is more than just a chronological indicator. Uzziah’s death created a void. He had become a trusted leader. The people looked up to and trusted their king. While his successor son had some experience, whether he would be like his father was yet to be seen. Uzziah reigned for 52 years. Likely, a large part of the population of Judah had never lived under any other king.
So, it was in the midst of these days of uncertainty, when anxiety and fear were likely to rise, that Isaiah saw the Lord. Questions about the future were answered by the sight of God’s sovereignty. Uzziah’s body lay in a tomb, but the Lord sat on His throne.
He still does. Whatever is happening in our world, whatever uncertainty, doubt, fear, and anxiety that is creating in your heart; look up. Christ still reigns. He is still seated at the right hand of the Father.
Great message for this moment in time! Jesus is LORD!