Our Helper

If King Uzziah is to be remembered it would be as the king whom God helped. We see the word helped over and over. His early life was an example to all but he made a huge mistake. He lifted up his heart deciding to be his own helper. His life came tumbling down. He made the mistake of forgetting his helper. Thanksgiving reminds us of this: without the help of God where would we be? Every blessing of life comes through the help of God. The devil doesn’t help us at all. He’ll only help get people faster down the road to hell. We can help ourselves to a certain extent but that’s only as God gives us strength to do it. There is no such thing as a self-made person. Every prosperity of Uzziah was through the help of God.

II 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. 5 And he sought God in the days of Zechariah, who had understanding in the visions of God: and as long as he sought the Lord, God made him to prosper. 7 And God helped him against the Philistines, and against the Arabians that dwelt in Gurbaal, and the Mehunims. 8 …and his name spread abroad even to the entering in of Egypt; for he strengthened himself exceedingly. 9 Moreover Uzziah built towers in Jerusalem at the corner gate, and at the valley gate, and at the turning of the wall, and fortified them. 10 Also he built towers in the desert, and digged many wells: for he had much cattle, both in the low country, and in the plains: husbandmen also, and vine dressers in the mountains, and in Carmel: for he loved husbandry.15 And he made in Jerusalem engines, invented by cunning men, to be on the towers and upon the bulwarks, to shoot arrows and great stones withal. And his name spread far abroad; for he was marvellously helped, till he was strong. 16 But when he was strong, his heart was lifted up to his destruction: for he transgressed against the Lord his God, and went into the temple of the Lord to burn incense upon the altar of incense.

God made Uzziah. He had no special qualities. His father must have taught him well for he followed his ways. When his father’s health went down he knew his son was sincere in serving the Lord. He was humble with a desire to submit to God. When his father could rule no longer, at 16 years of age Uzziah was made king. He didn’t have a chance to be a teenager. All of a sudden it was all handed to him. The only way he could do it was with the help of God and he knew it.  We too can prosper if we look to God for help. God blessed Uzziah as he yielded to him. He showed the people by his life that he would do that which was right.

It was under the time of Zechariah that Uzziah reigned. He would have heard the prophecies of the coming of Messiah. As a young man he sought God’s will more than his own. He sought God’s help more than his own. No one could help him like God could. He took the throne at 16. One would think he wouldn’t last long as the king but he reigned 52 years. One of the last things his father Amaziah wanted to do was would the strategic city of Eloth. Uzziah did it for him and honored his father. He treated his parents right. If we honor our parents God will bless. Verse 7 says God helped him against the Philistines and Arabians. On his own he couldn’t overcome them. They were fierce enemies. Uzziah looked to the Lord. He defeated them; they ended up paying taxes and gifts to Judah. Uzziah gave glory to God. God has prospered us all. We have food. We have clothes. Don’t forget your helper.

Uzziah was a farmer king. He set up the fields and the land enjoyed wonderful harvests with plenty for everyone. God helped him be the good farmer. Our provision comes from our helper and with him we can do all things. Because Uzziah sought God, he received what he had. God brought it in. The world doesn’t want to give God credit for anything. Don’t be like the Pharisee who prayed to himself. When we steal the credit that God deserves we’ll be in trouble. We must have an open realization that asks “who am I?” Can we do anything of our own hand? No. So remember not to bite the hand that feeds you and that hand is God’s. As long as Uzziah sought God he was marvelously helped. Can we not say that as well. Are we in a 80/20 relationship? No. We’re 100% helped as we seek that which is right.

A Uzziah experience can be had by each of us at an altar of prayer. We’re never too old to follow the example. Success comes through complete reliance on God as our only helper.