Context No. 2836 of 4322 · 2 Chronicles

2 Chronicles 26:1-5: in context

1All the people of Judah took Uzziah, who was sixteen years old, and made him king in the place of his father Amaziah. 2He built Eloth and restored it to Judah. After that the king slept with his fathers. 3Uzziah was sixteen years old when he began to reign; and he reigned fifty-two years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Jechiliah, of Jerusalem. 4He did that which was right in the LORD’s eyes, according to all that his father Amaziah had done. 5He set himself to seek God in the days of Zechariah, who had understanding in the vision of God; and as long as he sought the LORD, God made him prosper.

Uzziah becomes king of Judah at sixteen and reigns fifty-two years. He does what is right in the LORD's eyes, and Chronicles pins the whole verdict of his reign to one sentence: he set himself to seek God in the days of Zechariah, and as long as he sought the LORD, God made him prosper.

Everything hangs on that phrase, as long as he sought the LORD. His flourishing was tied not to his talent or his long reign but to a steady seeking, and the quiet as long as hints at the tragedy the chapter will later tell, that once he grew strong his heart lifted up and he fell. Here at the beginning, though, the lesson shines: a young king who deliberately set himself to seek God, and thrived while he did. Seeking God is not a thing done once and banked. It is a posture that has to be kept.

Am I still setting myself to seek God, or living off a seeking I did years ago?

Sources

2 Chronicles 26:5: "As long as he sought the LORD, God made him prosper."
2 Chronicles 26:16: "But when he was strong, his heart was lifted up, so that he did corruptly."
Matthew 6:33: "But seek first God's Kingdom and his righteousness; and all these things will be given to you as well."